Alumni/Student success stories | Australian Writers' Centre

Alumni/Student success stories

Carolyn Swindell’s brilliant novel ‘We Only Want What’s Best’

Carolyn Swindell was working in a “high heels and business suit job” in corporate responsibility when she decided to enrol in her first AWC course.

“The biggest thing about the courses is the permission you give yourself to be a writer by investing in yourself,” Carolyn told us. “I had been shy about admitting this ambition, but going along and sitting with other aspiring writers and learning the craft and the business was such a boost to my motivation and my skill level.”

Carolyn put that motivation and skill to good use, with her debut novel, We Only Want What’s Best, out now with Affirm Press.

19 July 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

WRITER 548: Megan White, author of ‘The Anatomy of Songs’

Meet Megan White, author of The Anatomy of Songs. Finding inspiration and the importance of writing great openings. Also win The Little French Village of Book Lovers by Nina George. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite

11 July 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

From physiotherapist to published novelist

Megan White loved to write during high school and university, but always in a wishful way. It was only after taking the course Creative Writing Stage 1 that she realised she could take her love of fiction further.

“Creative Writing Stage 1 taught me how to write a scene which instantly changed the way I looked at writing,” Megan told us. “Having a little knowledge in craft meant I could begin to take writing a little more seriously. It meant that becoming a writer felt more attainable as something you could learn and practice and less about being a natural prodigy.”

5 July 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

Claire Thompson fulfils her dream to be a published picture book author

Deciding to write picture books was literally a lightbulb moment for media and communications manager Claire Thompson. Each time she put her newborn baby in the carseat, the interior lights flashed on, so Claire and her four-year-old invented a story about a magic baby. She immediately realised she wanted to write a children’s book and enrolled in the course Writing Picture Books a few days later.

2 July 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

AWC graduate Fiona Lloyd’s debut novel ‘Being Jimmy Baxter’

Fiona Lloyd had assumed her creative writing aspirations were nothing but a childhood dream. But after deciding to reconnect to that former love, she threw herself into the writing community, attending writing events and completing the course Plotting and Planning at the Australian Writers’ Centre. Fiona’s debut middle grade novel Being Jimmy Baxter has now been published by Puffin (Penguin Random House Australia).

28 June 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

Racquel Collard publishes her book Marketing Launchpad

Racquel Collard was at the peak of her career in marketing but felt that she needed a new challenge. The next natural step was a CEO role, but that didn’t feel like the right fit for her, so instead Racquel decided to write a book. She completed Write a Book That Showcases Your Expertise with the Australian Writers’ Centre and, with the publication of her debut, Marketing Launchpad, has now left the corporate rat race behind and embarked on a new career.

21 June 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

WRITER 545: Meet Carolyn Swindell, author of We Only Want What’s Best

Meet Carolyn Swindell, author of We Only Want What’s Best. What are eggcorns and what have they got to do with words? Win Feast by Emily O’Grady. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.

20 June 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

Jennifer Mackenzie Dunbar: from writing student to published novelist

“It might sound cheesy but the AWC courses changed my life! I finished a (very rough) first draft of my novel while I was in Scotland and haven’t stopped writing since. The courses provided me with great foundation information, the basic building blocks for any novel writing. It is information I have retained and, through my writing groups, I’ve felt confident in sharing my learning with others.”

9 June 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

WRITER 543: Richard Pritchard, co-author of Wylah The Koorie Warrior series

Meet Richard Pritchard, co-author of Wylah The Koorie Warrior series. How to the select the right quotes of praise for your pitch to a publisher. The unique meaning behind lagom. And win The Interpreter by Brooke Robinson. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or

6 June 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

How Richard Pritchard became a successful children’s author

Having worked for years in the visual effects and animation industry, Richard Pritchard knew a lot about storytelling. But when he wanted to write a middle grade novel, he felt that he needed solid guidance, so he turned to the Australian Writers’ Centre.

26 May 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

WRITER 541: Samera Kamaleddine, author of The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart

Meet AWC graduate Samera Kamaleddine who reveals the writing process behind her second novel The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart. What you need to do if you have two main point-of-view protagonists. And win Search History by Amy Taylor. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on

23 May 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

WRITER 538: Emma Grey on her novel ‘The Last Love Note’.

Emma Grey on her novel The Last Love Note. And she’s interviewed by the wonderful Allison Tait! Gearing up for the Sydney Writers’ Festival. When should you write a scene versus a summary? And win The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks.

9 May 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

Samera Kamaleddine fulfils her publishing dreams

Samera Kamaleddine quit her job as editor of Women’s Fitness magazine to finally write the novel that was in her head – but she quickly discovered she had no idea where to start! After taking a course at the Australian Writers’ Centre, she found her writing rhythm and has now gone on to publish her debut young adult (YA) novel, Half My Luck.

3 May 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

Matt Samuel turns his dream of writing picture books into reality

Matt decided to enrol in Writing Picture Books at the Australian Writers’ Centre and was hooked. Finally, he could put his picture book ideas into practice. After a meeting with an editor at Yellow Brick Books, Matt was offered a contract and his debut picture book The Other Side of the Clouds will be published this year.

28 April 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

Ep 533: Karina May, author of Duck À L’Orange for Breakfast

Karina May, author of Duck À L’Orange for Breakfast. Can you swear in your novel? And win Girl in a Pink Dress by Kylie Needham. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app. Links mentioned

11 April 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

From a career in finance to children’s book author

Katie Jones was possessed by scenes of a story after visiting a haunted house at Disneyland. She felt that she needed help collecting the scenes into a coherent narrative, so she enrolled in Fiction Essentials: Structure at the Australian Writers’ Centre. That manuscript went on to be published as Storybook House, along with the sequel Storybook House 2: A Spirit’s Revenge, both out now with New Holland Publishers.

9 April 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

Sandie Docker: Successful women’s fiction author

Although Sandie Docker always imagined she would be published one day, she knew it required a lot of self-belief and determination. But after studying at the Australian Writers’ Centre, Sandie finally found the confidence and passion to keep going until she reached her dream of becoming a women’s fiction author. She has now published three books with Penguin, including The Kookaburra Creek Cafe, The Cottage At Rosella Cove, and The Banksia Bay Beach Shack.

3 April 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

Ep 531: Sandie Docker reveals her inspiration and writing process behind ‘The Redgum River Retreat’

AWC alumna Sandie Docker reveals her inspiration and writing process behind The Redgum River Retreat. Plus: how to write your novel faster. And win The Briefest English Grammar and Punctuation Guide Ever! by Ruth Colman. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast

28 March 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

Inda Ahmad Zahri achieves her childhood dream to become a published author

Inda Ahmad Zahri likes to keep busy. As a working surgeon with a young family, she can now add ‘published author’ to her repertoire of achievements with the publication of her debut picture book Salih, out now with Ford Street Publishing.

“I’ve wanted to be a published author since I was a little girl with my nose stuck in a book for most of the day (and night!). Writing was always an outlet for me,” Inda says.

Inda is a self-confessed course junkie and knew that she would need structure, deadlines, and the best training available to make her publishing dreams come true. That’s why she turned to the Australian Writers’ Centre for its creative writing courses and community.

16 March 2023

Alumni/Student success stories

AWC graduate Ky Garvey’s debut picture book is published

Ky Garvey had put aside dreams of being an author, thinking they weren’t compatible with having a ‘real job’ and paying the bills. But when she discovered the online course in creative writing at Australian Writers’ Centre, she realised she could fit writing around her work and family commitments. And now Ky’s dreams have come true, with the publication of her debut picture book Easy Peasy with EK Books.

3 March 2023

Category: Alumni/Student success stories

Carolyn Swindell’s brilliant novel ‘We Only Want What’s Best’

WRITER 548: Megan White, author of ‘The Anatomy of Songs’

From physiotherapist to published novelist

Claire Thompson fulfils her dream to be a published picture book author

AWC graduate Fiona Lloyd’s debut novel ‘Being Jimmy Baxter’

Racquel Collard publishes her book Marketing Launchpad

WRITER 545: Meet Carolyn Swindell, author of We Only Want What’s Best

Jennifer Mackenzie Dunbar: from writing student to published novelist

WRITER 543: Richard Pritchard, co-author of Wylah The Koorie Warrior series

How Richard Pritchard became a successful children’s author

WRITER 541: Samera Kamaleddine, author of The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart

WRITER 538: Emma Grey on her novel ‘The Last Love Note’.

Samera Kamaleddine fulfils her publishing dreams

Matt Samuel turns his dream of writing picture books into reality

Ep 533: Karina May, author of Duck À L’Orange for Breakfast

From a career in finance to children’s book author

Sandie Docker: Successful women’s fiction author

Ep 531: Sandie Docker reveals her inspiration and writing process behind ‘The Redgum River Retreat’

Inda Ahmad Zahri achieves her childhood dream to become a published author

AWC graduate Ky Garvey’s debut picture book is published

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