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.
So many gems were sprinkled throughout the course and I really enjoyed the questions to ask and the worldbuilding aspect as well as the breakdown of structure, particularly over more than one book.
I enjoyed Pamela's love of the genre and the zoom sessions.
I've done a few courses now and have enjoyed all of them. There is always something more to learn or sometimes relearn with a better understanding than you had before. If you are serious about your writing, then a course is a great investment to improve your skills and hone your craft.
The way the content was presented was extremely accessible. I'm an experienced writer but love doing courses because I always pick up something new or am reminded of something I've forgotten. This course did both of these things with nearly every video.
I enjoyed:
The accessibility of the content
The logical progression of the content
The self-paced aspect of the course
The availability of the presenter and other participants, which increased the sense of community
The contact with other participants via Facebook group
The zoom meetings which increased personalisation.
I'm a pantser and have been looking for a way to reduce the amount of editing I need to do. I've always understood structure intellectually but have struggled to find a way to make that sort of planning work for me. I've been able to combine what I've learned in this course with beat sheets and, suddenly, it all makes sense. Of course, my pantsing nature takes over and I'm constantly editing the beat sheets, but that's a lot easier than completely changing a whole book. I'm hoping my structural edits once I'm done with this book won't be the massive multiple rewrites other books have been.
I thoroughly enjoyed this course and found it one of the most useful of all the courses I have done with AWC. It released my creativity.
It shifted my story of historical fiction to historical fantasy. Once I could move it from colonised countries to made-up countries (without changing the story at all), as well as providing a fabulous introduction to world creation, I was back on track.
I have already recommended it, and a fellow AWC student enrolled in it. I told him that the world-building component of the program was fabulous (Pamela did an excellent job) and that it would help him in the genre that he likes to write in.
I enjoyed the combination of self-paced and the zoom sessions with Pamela and the other students.
Gives me a framework to follow
Pamela believes in us!
I've done many courses through The Australian Writers' Centre. It's a one stop shop. Excellent courses and excellent tutors.
I really loved the content, and Pamela's love for fantasy really showed which makes her a good teacher. I also loved the exercises as they gave me so much more insight into my own story in a way that I hadn't done before.
It showed me that I instinctively knew a lot about writing a fantasy novel which gave me a lot more confidence, while at the same time, teaching me so much more than I could've imagined. I never once felt out of my depth, instead I felt encouraged and empowered in my writing.
The Australian Writers' Centre is perfect for those of us who have no formal education or training in writing. I was worried that doing a course would get in the way of my natural creativity, but instead the course enhanced it.
Easy to follow yet packed with really inspiring information.
Pamela delivers with enthusiasm and encouragement - her knowledge and passion impressed me.
I'm enjoying researching and background reading - I'm no longer daunted by a huge project - it will take time but unlike most work I've done the process is great fun.
This is not something I have to do alone.
I have recently finished the first draft (although many drafts for the first half) of the first book in my story and this course has been so beneficial in helping me develop the world and characters further before I continue with further drafts. I had planned basic structural changes for the second draft before I started the course, but if it wasn't for the exercises and videos, I wouldn't know the world and characters as deeply as I do know. It has helped me organise things properly. It also helped develop the plot further, see plot holes, things that don't make sense and avoided things that I may have found many drafts later.
The videos have been terrific and a good length. Pamela's explanations have been interesting and thought provoking. The addition of writing examples has also been beneficial. I am now looking for them more in my own reading.
I loved watching Pamela's videos and the way she explains things. I enjoyed the humor and fun of writing which came through. It is easy to take things too seriously doing a course and then an example comes up like getting torn apart by dragons and being brought back in a bag in many pieces. It fosters the creativity we had in childhood which is so easy to lose in adulthood.
Pamela's heartfelt reassurances at the end of the course were especially lovely. The Zoom calls and Facebook Group have also been great additions to meet others doing the course. I don't feel lonely! It was also enjoyable to specifically focus on Fantasy Fiction, talking about worldbuilding etc. Thank you Pamela!
It has helped greatly to deepen my relationship to the world and characters before I start the next draft. I has also helped me to be motivated and given me the tools for future writing. It has also helped be come back to being in a community of writers and has helped things seem achievable.
The content in AWC courses is exactly what needs to be there with no frills or things that aren't actually used. Everything is usable and relevant. They are easy to follow, well organised and the people are open, friendly and helpful.