When Zoe Crowest signed up for her first Australian Writers’ Centre course, she was a stay-at-home mum to toddler twins. With minimal time and maximum exhaustion, she was craving a creative outlet and a way to stretch her creative muscles.
“I did all three courses when my twins were just 2-years-old,” Zoe recalls. “I was a stay-at-home-parent and had minimal time, but I craved a creative outlet. I was planning on doing one of AWC's courses when I worked full-time, but I naively thought I was too busy because I was also training and competing my dog in various canine sports each week. Compared with raising twins, it turns out I had a lot of time back then.”
That decision to finally invest in her writing has now paid off in the best possible way: Zoe has a publishing contract with Larrikin House for her debut picture book, about a very funny and misunderstood chicken.
From prize to contract
The win came after Zoe’s manuscript took out the Scott Stuart Literary Prize, a competition designed to promote stories that challenge how we think about identity, belonging and self-expression. From there, Larrikin House moved quickly to acquire her story, which will be published in 2026.
It’s an extraordinary achievement, but one that Zoe insists would not have been possible without the courses she completed at the Australian Writers’ Centre.
“Prior to AWC, I had a Literature degree from Exeter University and assumed this meant I had some sort of creative writing knowledge. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong and my biggest regret is not doing a course sooner.”
The path to success
Zoe’s journey with AWC began with Creative Writing Stage 1, which she describes as a turning point. “It showed me how much I didn’t know and I remember feeling very overwhelmed in the first couple of lessons,” she says. “But by the end of the course, it started to sink in. The assignments and feedback sessions were highlights for me and I was lucky enough to have Pamela Freeman as my tutor. It was thanks to her that I considered writing for children. Prior to this, I was adamant I wasn’t interested in writing anything other than adult fiction.”
Still figuring out her creative voice, Zoe then enrolled in Laugh Out Loud, taught by Tim Harris. “Comedy has always been my first love. And what an absolute treat it was – I can’t sing its praises highly enough, it was a pure joy. The lovely feedback I received confirmed I was definitely suited to the kidlit market.”
Finally, Zoe took Writing Picture Books, with Cathie Tasker as her tutor. “Both my children loved books and we would spend hours in the library,” Zoe recalls. “So it seemed like the obvious next step. That course made me fall in love with everything about picture books. I learned about the discipline it takes to make every word count and the challenge of navigating three ‘gatekeepers’ – the parent, the school and the publisher – before your intended audience even see your work. A story that, to the untrained eye, looks simple and easy, but in reality, has a wealth of skill and knowledge behind it. What an intriguing concept.”
Along the way, Zoe also took inspiration from AWC’s Furious Fiction competition. She made the longlist a few times, and one of her entries was even showcased by AWC. “That was a very happy moment for me,” she says. It also connected her to another writer who has since become a dear friend.
The impact of these experiences has been lasting. “The courses have made me very disciplined and I never use the excuse of being ‘too busy’ to write,” she explains. “I remember hearing Pamela Freeman say, ‘if you have time to scroll, you have time to write’. It is so true. Now I show up every day – even if it’s just a little bit. It doesn’t matter how much you write, just write. Even if it’s total rubbish, write now, edit later. It’s all in the edit.”
Finding a community
The AWC courses also gave Zoe a network of supportive peers. She credits two fellow graduates, picture book authors Rory H. Mather and Claire Thompson, with helping her strengthen her winning manuscript. “A big shout-out to Rory and Claire for all your generous time and support over the years,” she says.
Even with this community, Zoe admits she had moments of crippling self-doubt. But Zoe kept going, and when the news finally came that she’d won the Scott Stuart Literary Prize and that Larrikin House wanted her manuscript, it was nothing short of surreal. “I went from hearing nothing from any publisher, ever, to getting all this incredible news within minutes. It was a beautiful, bizarre and bewildering blur I’ll remember forever.”
Now, Zoe is working through edits and preparing for her book’s release. She describes her daily writing practice as non-negotiable – something she’s built around her family and routines. And she’s passionate about encouraging other aspiring authors to take the leap.
“Absolutely do it!” Zoe says. “The courses were both engaging and manageable for me whilst navigating the demands of parenting – you CAN find the time. And, quite simply, I wouldn’t have a publishing contract without them.”
Courses completed at AWC:
