What’s it like to learn with AWC?

I'm wanting to write a novel but largely hadn't done much fiction writing since school so wanted to get back on my basics.

Loved the course and loved hearing from Nat each week. She was really helpful. She always had thoughtful notes and explained feedback really clearly.

The lessons with Valarie were great, super handy to be able to listen to them at any time. I loved listening to Nat's feedback and tips across everyone's works. Little things that I wouldn't have thought about in my own characters or scenes were really great to hear from the submissions of the other students.

Just that I can write! I enjoy writing but actually doing a novel seemed like a pipe dream but the encouragement from Nat and Valarie makes me feel like it's something I could achieve.

The tutor was kind, honest and focused on building confidence in writers (which was very much appreciated). The feedback was also specific and actionable which was really great. I learned a lot through Nat's comments about small details that might have been overlooked.

The course was approachable and achievable - just what a trepid writer needs to build confidence.

I used to think that when a piece didn't automatically work for me, it was because my ideas were 'bad' or that I wasn't 'talented' or 'knowledgeable' enough as a writer to make it work. This course flipped that thinking around and showed me it's rare for a writer to nail it in draft one (or even in draft five or six!) Now I have tools to help me reframe, rethink and re-envision my writing. I can better identify issues and resolve them without scrapping the whole idea.

I'm also able to engage more in conversations online and with 'formally' educated writers around me thanks to the theories and terminology in this course.

The changing POV exercise blew my mind - it solves a bunch of smaller issues in one go, like developing voice, tension between characters and place, and how going from first to third-person can overcome structural issues. I think a lot more about how and why authors choose characters in novels now.

If you're feeling discouraged or wondering if you're meant to be a writer, this will help reinvigorate your love for words. The tutors offer kind, actionable advice to help you improve your work and the learning materials are designed to take those abstract ideas and make them work on the page, perfect for novice writers.

Pamela provided a very supportive, safe environment. She always found ways to provide active, constructive feedback and also compliments.

I feel better equipped to break down the elements required. Plot, character development, scene construction etc.

The handouts were extensive and covered the full range of what I needed to know. The audio lessons were well put together and Valerie's voice was a pleasure to listen to.

Pamela knows her stuff! She was clear and consistent in her appraisals and made helpful suggestions.

I sometimes baulk at the lack of interaction in lecture-based online courses, but in this case it worked really well. Mainly because of the high standard of the material and the audio lessons, but also because the feedback on assignments was constructive.

It gave me the confidence to leap into my fiction writing after years of umming and aahing.

I learned about the structure of creative writing in a way that made sense. Now that I understand how the building blocks come together in a coherent and readable way, I'm more confident I can pull it off.

Jam-packed with the skills and knowledge you need to begin crafting high-quality fiction. Good value!

I wanted a good foundation course to get me started, and I heard from my friend this was a good course to take!

I was hesitant because it had been a long time since I had written anything, and I was self-conscious about having to show people my work to begin with, but being able to get feedback from Pamela and feedback from others in the course has been invaluable. I also really enjoy the worksheets and going through each subject.

I really like Pamela and I like having her give her impressions of my work and seeing her feedback of others.

It has made me more determined to keep up with my writing and to take some of the other courses (I have already started).

I found the discussion about POV really interesting, and it's something I know I am going to be a lot more cognisant about going forward.

I would say that it is an excellent way to get your feet wet not only learning about writing but also undertaking a writing course, and it will definitely either stoke the fire or provide you with a sense of whether or not you're ready, either for writing or more courses.

Thank you so much, I'm really enjoying the courses I am doing and I look forward to more courses in the future!

The course was very in depth and gave me so many new skills and is going to help my writing go even further.

I really enjoyed the tutor's feedback and how she gave constructive criticism.

The audio lessons were my favourite because of how interesting they were.

Even with everything about how hard the publishing process can be I still know I want to be a writer and write novels. This course helped me realise I have an opportunity in this field.

It's an easy but very in depth course. I feel like I wasn't pressured at all and everything was at my own pace but still taught me so many new things.

I absolutely loved this course and I'll definitely be doing more in the future.

I enjoyed the openness and supportive environment.

Nat was obviously experienced and full of great feedback :)

It covers everything the description said it would and is pretty detailed for an entry level writing course.

A confidence-building writing course with a wealth of knowledge packed into a short period.

I really liked the idea of focusing on something new each week in a different 'module' and then being able to bring it all together for the final assignment.

Margaret gave very helpful feedback. I really appreciated her advice and feel I learnt so much.

I really enjoyed thinking outside of the box with the topics suggested for each assignment and writing about something I maybe may have not thought about on my own.

It has really inspired me to keep learning and put more time into focusing and enjoying writing.

I wanted to begin creative writing to be given tasks to work on and inspire me for future writing.

I loved Nat's feedback where I could hear about all of the other writers' attempts too. This was so interesting and formative for me too.

I enjoyed making my first steps to crafting stories. I'm now planning to write each week and most days. I have started a novel.

A really good course to start with.

I enjoyed the writing exercises and receiving feedback on my own piece of writing. Being able to listen to the audio lessons numerous times - while walking the dog, at the computer taking notes, again and again.

The tutor was very enthusiastic, very knowledgeable about the English language and sentence structure. I really enjoyed Nat's reading of everyone's piece of work.

I have set myself a period of time to write and I have booked another writing course.

Nat Newman was a really great tutor. Very generous and with great, constructive feedback.

I enjoyed the assignments, getting feedback and reading other students' work. It kickstarted my brain thinking seriously as a writer.

It's a supportive environment and you're guaranteed to learn something new.

The tutor was fantastic. Margaret's feedback was thoughtful and constructive. I enjoyed listening to her weekly videos.

I will be trying to write 500 to 1000 words a day now! Just sit and write, bum in seat and words on paper. Get the ideas out and worry about details later.

Give it a go! It's easily accessible, fun and encouraging.

Margaret provided well considered, helpful and constructive feedback to myself and the other students in the course.

I enjoyed the variety in the assignments, the opportunity to be creative, and then being able to read other students' wonderful writing too.

I learnt some new techniques that gave me a bit of a jump start to get motivated to write regularly again. It is nice to have a push, in that I have thought it is all a bit too hard, but this course showed me it is not that hard, and I just need to write. I appreciated that a lot.

I have recommended it already to friends!

I loved it. I enjoyed learning new information and applying it to my work.

Margaret is a fantastic tutor. Her feedback is gold.

I have a clearer understanding of areas I needed to work on. I'm excited to keep improving on my current manuscript and making it better.

Thank you so much. This is one of the best courses I've ever done. I feel more confident to keep moving forward with my writing career.

I enjoyed the writing - the lectures were also so well done, very interesting and educational. I loved that it forced me to start writing :)

I really appreciated the feedback given; it was very helpful!

It got me started and feeling more confident.

Definitely a great course if you're unsure how or where to start.

The course being online and flexible was a big attraction, coupled with the length of time and the expectations of the course. I felt I could have a fun introduction to writing that could be done outside of full-time work, and it felt achievable. It was also a reasonable price point and didn't require me to commit for six months or a longer period of time without knowing if I could like it.

Nat provided really helpful constructive feedback and it felt like she took the time to provide useful insights. She was great, knowledgeable and constructive but also positive which was motivating.

I enjoyed learning something new every week and the ability to provide some structure to my writing. It was a great kick start.

It has encouraged my love of language and to use my voice for something I am interested in, rather than as a professional mouthpiece which is liberating. It has forced me to use my imagination which I have enjoyed, the world is limitless when you can create your own!

It was a great way to reinvigorate an interest in writing, and provided some really great, flexible learning options in a supportive environment.

Thanks very much, I enjoyed it!

The online audio guides were helpful and easy to follow. The feedback was timely and helpful from our tutor. I think it was the right amount.

I feel more organised and I have a series of tools and processes to follow now.

I realised after about three sessions that writing is a process - even a science. What the writer brings is the artistry to add to that process.

It is a friendly and non-confronting way to decide if this is something that is for you to seriously consider spending more time on.

I enjoyed Nat's enthusiasm and great feedback. She was fantastic, absolutely loved getting her feedback.

The course has helped me overcome my anxiety about creative writing. I have already recommended it, saying that the tutors are fantastic and give excellent feedback.

Forever a cynic, I thought the course might be too basic and that I might not learn anything new. I'm happy to say I was very wrong! I have learned so much and realised that I didn't really understand how important character development, structure and POV choice are to creating a compelling story.

I found the assignment feedback videos to be the most enjoyable. It's always nice to hear praise for your assignments, but it's even more valuable to understand what I'm doing wrong and being armed with the knowledge to fix those mistakes.

The tutor was very positive! Nat was very much on my wavelength with regards to feedback and I looked forward to watching her videos each week. Many thanks, Nat!

Now that I understand how stories are structured and the basic rules of good story telling, I feel much more confident in my ability to create a compelling story with fully realised characters. Armed with this knowledge, I'm now going back and reading my favourite stories to better understand how and why they work.

If you're looking to start writing, either professionally or for yourself, sign up for the Creative Writing Stage 1 course. I spent way too much time watching random YouTube videos about writing, but without a structured course with feedback from an actual working author you will just be going around in circles.

I have an idea for a book but wanted to learn the fundamentals of writing historical fiction before embarking on the task.

The tutor was excellent. I enjoyed getting personalised feedback.

Psychologically, I now understand that writing a book involves multiple iterations and that it's ok to only produce 100w a day.

Do it. Great introduction to the technical skills required to take the next step.