What’s it like to learn with AWC?
Each year, thousands of students just like you achieve their writing goals through our courses and world-class presenters. Here they share how their new-found skills and confidence enriched their life.
Pamela Freeman is a good teacher. I'm very happy with the course.
It's motivated me to keep moving with the book I am currently working on.
I loved the videos with Pamela. It was lovely to see her expressive face and passion she has for the for the subject of fantasy. I also enjoyed the exercises that were set especially the map making. The course provided reflection, revision and renewed enthusiasm to continue with the development of my story.
The course gave me the depth of information I was looking for to develop the story plot, characters, and magic system, as well as the enthusiasm to start putting my story together.
It's an excellent course. There are a lot of smaller details that Pamela goes into regarding the world building aspect, details that I probably would not have considered if not for the course. It was enjoyable thinking about these and applying them to my own story.
It has made me realise that I need to put in the time and effort to be a much better writer.
If you are interested in pursuing writing but are not sure where to start, then AWC is the perfect place. If you are already past that point but needing some help, then AWC is great for that also.
I'm walking away from this course with more knowledge than I could've dreamed of. There is so much information about fantasy as a genre, from both a writer's and a reader's perspective, packed into the modules. I appreciated that it didn't focus solely on epic fantasy but also acknowledged and explored other fantasy subgenres.
A lot of the information shared was information I took from the books I was reading and was able to apply/see for myself. This course (along with other AWC courses) emphasises the need to stay on top of trends/what's currently being published because the industry/reader expectations change, and I like that the course feels fresh and not dated at all. I thought the practical examples were excellent in showcasing the different ways authors have threaded worldbuilding and character development, and I found the breakdowns in the presentations easy to follow and apply.
I think the exercises at the end of each module are really great, and I like that I can apply them to my reading as well.
AWC's courses go deep. They aren't surface-level. And I find them so valuable when they talk about the publishing industry and what agents/editors/readers want, how they're similar, and how they're different. I appreciate the fact that Pamela didn't keep the industry module as surface level but actually spoke about personal experiences.
I had very high expectations for this course, and they were met. I was given the information I was after, and more.
I enjoyed the discussions on magic and how it is central to a fantasy plot.
It has prompted me to refine my magic system, as there were aspects I hadn't considered, such as cost of the magic. I realised including those aspects would lift the story.
AWC courses are excellent and they WILL make you a better writer.
I enjoyed the breakdown of why magic is so crucial to fantasy stories and, because it exists, the need to consider its impact directly on society and characters. This helped me with the stumbling block I had in a story I had previously written which lacked depth.
AWC courses are easy to follow at your own pace.
I loved Pamela's points about world building. It's made me think about my own story and world in another light, taking into account things such as what kind of society and culture would form in a particular environment and why.
I'll approach my writing and world building in a more thoughtful, considered way. The story will still be most important, but the details I add to the world, characters and story will be chosen so that everything is cohesive.
It is well presented in coherent modules and topics or subsections. There was a breadth in the writing examples, and a good academic foundation in the approaches to structure.
It has given me new insights into world building and the complexity of that aspect of fantasy.
I often recommend AWC courses. Usually I say they are of exceptional quality, and I haven't had any regrets about courses I have completed so far.
The tutor was great! Very reassuring and clear steps/progressions. Made me want to jump back into writing.
Short and sharp (bite-sized) content. Very knowledgeable presenter. Really enjoyed it!
Very reassuring that many writers experience the same blocks/challenges and nice to know realistically what to expect. I am on the right track and to get back in and keep on going.
Well worth it!
I was in the process of writing my own novel, and thought this would be a great opportunity to elevate my writing. I thought it might be a few points, maybe some useful feedback here and there, but it was well-structured, and I got a lot out of the live zoom sessions with Pamela.
The fantasy structure and worldbuilding parts were my favourite. It really helped for me to pull my story into a better-formed version of itself, and parts are readily applicable to other genres!
It helped me get a lot more serious about my writing and realise that I did have the potential to write a story that other people would find good, too.
Pamela Freeman is such a fabulous course facilitator. She covered so much in the modules, and I completed this course feeling well equipped to continue my writing practice. Trusting myself more, feeling more confident that this is something I can do.
Don't hesitate! If you love writing, if you want to be a better writer, the AWC is a great place to go.
I thought it was great. I enjoyed learning more about the genre, and the map making.
The course has given me more confidence. I am getting a lot out of it.
Pamela's presentation was natural and friendly.
The course challenged me to think about details in my story which I had not considered. This gave me a chance to expand my world building.
It covers everything, it is well presented and I enjoyed the interviews with AWC alumni.
I will get on with writing my story. I'm determined to complete it in 2026.
AWC courses are well worth it.
A well-structured course that left me feeling I could start on my book journey.
I enjoyed the self-paced aspect. I also appreciated that exercises and summaries of the video content were provided in PDF handouts.
I (hope!) that my writing will be more well-rounded and interesting.
The course exceeded my expectations. An enormous amount of detailed advice.
I've now realised how much there is to creating a fantasy world.
Strongly recommend.
I write Fantasy, and Sci-Fi fan fictions. This course is what I needed to improve the quality, and depth of my stories. I discovered there is a lot more to writing Fantasy than expected.
The flexibility of the course was very helpful. It covered a lot of different sub-genres.
The whole course was an eye opener for me. It made me realize I have to spend greater time in character development. Especially in regards to magic systems, abilities, and use.
It is well worth doing the courses. They give a good foundation into writing, that can only improve your stories.
I love the way this course made me think and ask myself a lot of questions.
The world building module really helped me understand some aspect that I didn't think to include in my novel.
If you are looking to learn how to write and want to become a published author, check out the AWC and their courses that they offer. They're so insightful and really enjoyable.
I thought the course was great, very informative. Pamela was a really good teacher because she showed her knowledge and enthusiasm for fantasy.
It has helped me see my natural story telling ability, as well as teaching me things I had overlooked.
You should do one of AWC's courses, they teach you so many things that you won't even know you needed to know. The way it's done gives you confidence in your story and that you will be able to write it.
I enjoyed the interactive zoom sessions and being able to ask questions and listen to others.
The in-depth knowledge about world building and all the aspects to consider was invaluable. Just feeling more confident going into the next draft of my book.