This could be you | Australian Writers' Centre

Al Campbell: From full-time mum and carer to published author of ‘The Keepers’

Al Campbell knew she needed a creative outlet to balance her full-time responsibilities as a mother and carer. She enrolled in a creative writing course at AWC – and then another and another.

“Enrolling in those AWC courses made all the difference in the world, the best thing I ever did – I wouldn't be published now if I hadn't!” Al says. Her debut novel, ‘The Keepers' published by University of Queensland Press is out now.

More than 50 AWC alumni and presenters published books in 2021

More than 73 books published by AWC alumni and presenters in 2021!

Success comes in all shapes and sizes and for more than 62 of our alumni and presenters, it came in the size and shape of a published book. That’s right, 51 alumni from the Australian Writers' Centre community published more than 57 books in 2021! Of course, that’s no surprise when they are taught by […]

Writing Podcast Episode 458: Meet Anika Molesworth, author of ‘Our Sunburnt Country'

Meet Anika Molesworth, author of Our Sunburnt Country. Want to enter the 2022 Penguin Literary Prize? Plus, discover how you could win our massive holiday reading 15-book pack!

Writing Podcast Episode 452: Meet Fiona Murphy, author of ‘The Shape of Sound'

Meet Fiona Murphy, author of ‘The Shape of Sound'. Prizes for unpublished manuscripts that are now open. Discover your must-read lists for children's and young adult books. Plus, we have 10 double passes to ‘A Boy Called Christmas', in cinemas 25 November to give away.

Writing Podcast Episode 451: Tania Blanchard discusses her latest novel ‘Echoes of War' [Story Sessions series]

We've been big fans of Tania’s gorgeous historical fiction ever since her first bestselling novel, The Girl From Munich, which she published after attending a few of our courses here at the Australian Writers' Centre. She has since gone on to publish its sequel, Suitcase of Dreams, and another wartime novel, Letters from Berlin – and […]

Writing Podcast Episode 449: Joanna Nell discusses her latest novel ‘The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital' [Story Sessions series]

This is the latest novel by Joanna, whose previous bestselling books include The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village, The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker and The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home. And of course, it’s wonderful to see Joanna doing so well in her writing career as she is one of our […]

Jacinta Froud: From teacher to published children’s author

When Jacinta Froud came across the Writing Picture Books course at AWC, she jumped at the chance to learn the practical storytelling skills for children's fiction.

“I loved the fact that it was online, self-paced and that I could complete the course around my family commitments,” Jacinta says. “I made connections with the lovely writing community and more recently I secured a publishing deal with the amazing Larrikin House.”

Jacinta's debut picture book Jingle Belly will be published by Larrikin House in November 2021, with illustrations by Gabriella Petruso.

Gary Nunn: From freelance journalist to published author of ‘The Psychic Tests'

Although he had a successful career as a freelance journalist, Gary turned to the Australian Writers' Centre to help hone his craft in writing fiction and creative non-fiction. The result is his first book, The Psychic Tests: An Adventure In The World Of Believers and Sceptics, published by Pantera Press.

“The AWC was such a key part of that: meeting other writers, access to those who'd done it, the community that forms around those taking a course. Writing can be such a solitary pursuit for a gregarious, garrulous person like me! The AWC was the antidote to that.”

Congrats to the AWC alumni shortlisted for the 2021 Richell Prize

The shortlist for the 2021 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers has just been announced, and we are proud to congratulate our talented AWC alumni on the list! The winner will receive $10,000 in prize money from Hachette Australia, and a year’s mentoring with one of their publishers. Kay Harrison has been shortlisted for Flip the […]

AWC alumna Veronica Lando wins the HarperCollins 2021 Banjo Prize

Publishing house HarperCollins launched the Banjo Prize in 2018, as “a quest to find Australia’s next great storyteller” – inviting unpublished commercial fiction manuscripts and awarding each year’s winner with a publishing contract. Now in its fourth year, the Banjo Prize recently announced its 2021 winner. And we were SO excited to see that it […]