This could be you | Australian Writers' Centre

How vision impaired Graham Frizzell gained the confidence to become a successful freelance writer

Living with profound vision impairment (Graham is legally blind) and growing up prior to the advent of the adaptive technology that has so enriched his life today, Graham felt completely lost when it came to mainstream employment. He had finished a Certificate IV in Professional Writing & Editing qualification at Melbourne Polytechnic TAFE but felt it was geared predominantly to fiction writing. So he decided to enrol into AWC’s online Freelance Writing Stage 1 course, and has never looked back.

Mandy Foot lands children’s book deal as writer and illustrator

Congratulations to Australian Writers’ Centre Writing Picture Books graduate Mandy Foot for the publication of her second picture book, Lucy and Copper, with Hachette Australia.

Catherine celebrates her second children’s book published this year

AWC alumna Catherine Pelosi is kicking goals again with the publication of her second book this year. Something for Fleur is Catherine’s first picture book and it comes hot on the heels of her first junior fiction novel, Quark’s Academy.

So it’s been a big year for the author who completed the course How to Write for Children and Young Adults at the Australian Writers’ Centre.

Mandy McKeesick has never looked back since taking AWC’s Freelance Writing course

Mandy McKeesick completed the AWC Freelance Writing Stage 1 course with the aim of showcasing the Australian bush. Today she has a successful business working with both magazine and corporate clients doing just that!

Ali Berg knew she wanted to be an author from the age of three!

When Ali (on the right above) gave up her job in advertising at the age of 24 to travel the world, little did she realise it would culminate in an innovative career built around books and a two-book deal with Simon and Schuster Australia and The Book Ninja (Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus, 2018) in bookstores around the world. Ali and Michelle's second novel, While You Were Reading followed in 2019, and their latest book Fancy Meeting You Here launched with rave reviews.

Ingrid Alexandra fulfils a lifelong dream to be a published author

Ingrid’s tenacity and stubbornness to keep at it no matter how many rejections were thrown at her have paid off with the launch of her psychological thriller The New Girl published by HarperCollins imprint Avon Books UK.

Brad Kelly: From history teacher to full-time freelance writer

After a 15-year career as a history teacher, Brad Kelly was ready for his next challenge. With a keen interest in the world of writing, he completed a course at the Australian Writers’ Centre. “I had always been drawn to long form journalism and features, and I wanted to learn the nuts and bolts of the trade,” says Brad.

Joy Adan: Living her dream as a freelance writer

Even though Joy Adan dreamt of becoming a writer, she initially didn’t have the confidence to pursue this passion. “I had a recurring voice in my head – that sounded a lot like my mother – that kept telling me that the only people who could call themselves writers were either really lucky or really poor. That I should do the responsible thing – and set aside my creative ambitions in search for a secure, well-paying job.”

How Jennifer Johnston gained the confidence to become a freelance writer

Jennifer Johnston is living proof that you never stop learning – in fact, she has built a career on it. Having completed a postgraduate certificate in creative industries, she realised that while she had a lot of theory, there were many gaps with regard to practical skills. On the long-time recommendation of a friend, she chose a short online course in Travel Writing at the Australian Writers Centre – and wished she had taken her advice sooner!

Jenna Guillaume: Journalist turned YA fiction author

After putting off the idea of creative writing for many years, Jenna Guillaume signed a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan for her YA fiction. Her latest novel is You Were Made for Me and her debut was What I like About Me published in 2019.