What’s it like to learn with AWC?

I wanted to improve my technical writing ability by being better equipped at adjusting technical speak into plain English, writing clear instructions at work and assisting my staff to write better.

It was a great course, informative, well-structured, moderately paced with a workbook, exercise and engagement with participants

Michelle was an excellent and organised presenter and tutor who engaged well with everyone, shared her extensive knowledge and gave constructive and useful feedback.

Plain English Writing provides the professional edge that allows your writing to glow on the page!

This course was enlightening; there are lots of parts in a book cover to think about.

I felt like I was there. I like the questions that Valerie asked of Julia. Lots of vivid examples of book covers in the videos.

I am now enthused to go take action and research both at libraries and book shops in the various genres that I am interested in and I am thinking about fonts and the branding of the author's name aspect.

Vivienne was extremely personable, professional and an absolute joy to have as a tutor. She demonstrated her knowledge of the genre and always provided invaluable feedback.

The audio lessons (and handouts) were extremely thorough. I found myself excited and thrilled by the new learnings each week. While a little stressful, the assignments were an important learning tool which were definitely enriched by Vivienne's comprehensive feedback. Loved it!

While I already had a base knowledge of the genre, the course provided extensive in-depth knowledge and tips. Utilising the lessons and suggestions, I feel that I can definitely approach freelance writing with more confidence and clarity. I can do this!

I umm-ed and ahh-ed about doing a AWC course for a long time; over two years. Price was certainly a consideration. I wondered whether the course would live up to its claims. Without a doubt, if you are thinking of freelancing as a potential career or part-time option, I would unequivocally recommend this course as a stepping stone. Inspiring, in-depth and invaluable.

Thank you so very much.

I needed a course that just refreshed my memory of previous course materials while giving me a much-needed creative boost. The fact that it was online, at night, with fortnightly sessions meant I could easily squeeze it into my busy daily schedule.

I was worried that I wasn't a "good enough" writer, but this course taught me that we all need to "work out" to get better (and improve our confidence in ourselves).

My tutor, Angela Slatter, was amazing. Got us straight into writing within the first few minutes (which was scary), had our writing exposed to the class (which was nerve-racking) and then edited our work (which was mortifying) but then, somehow, made me feel like a better and more capable writer with each session.

I feel really motivated, confident in my abilities and ready to start writing creatively. It also gave me insight into the benefits of writing regularly and I am planning on incorporating creative writing (which often gets pushed down the to do list) into my weekly schedule.

Just do it. You'll thank me later.

The course gave me the confidence to put myself out there. I am now writing for a local agent and subcontracting for another property copywriter when she is busy.

I'd 100% recommend the Australian Writers' Centre to anyone with an interest in writing. There is a course to suit everyone and they are comprehensive, interesting and the presenters/tutors are engaging and knowledgeable.

Subsequent to finishing the course, I realise how much I learnt. It has changed the way I write my blogs and I am getting more enquiries. I write with more of the reader in mind and the opportunity to increase organic search for me. I feel more confident publishing my own blogs rather than using PLR.

It is a high-quality course and the structure is suitable for non-writers.

I was looking for an online option to help me get (back) into writing, after 40-odd years of putting the dream on the backburner. I saw a recommendation from a former student and author, and decided to have a go.

I'd like to thank Pamela for her valuable feedback, and genuine interest in the work of her students. I found the feedback both encouraging and constructive - I understood why her suggestions would improve the work.

The course has helped rekindle my interest in writing, and desire to write. I will continue courses to further my writing and hopefully develop some craft. :)

A friend of my daughter suggested it to me when she heard I was thinking about trying to write a picture book. She recommended AWC. I wasn't confident that I could do it. I'm 69 years old and I haven't done any study for many years. I've never really done any writing.

Our tutor was very encouraging and her feedback was very helpful. I think we were given an amazing amount of information. And it's good to know we still have access after the course has finished.

I enjoyed reading the stories that my colleagues had written. Such amazing imaginations.

AWC is very organised, professional, helpful and full of information. The feedback is so beneficial and having contact with other online colleagues is very supportive and encouraging.

Thank you so much! I enjoyed the course very much.

I am a published illustrator and author, but writing is not my strength. I have been wanting to learn the fundamentals to aid and improve my stories for submission.

I enjoyed the recordings that accompanied the text and modules. I found it preferable to reading alone and the additional videos and extra tasks have been also beneficial.

Zanni was very generous with her feedback and having her read everyone's stories with the feedback online was very useful and honest.

The content was thorough. I found having the class chat a useful and helpful platform for us to share and keep each other accountable. I enjoyed Zanni's recording her feedback for our projects and the exercises to complete.

This is an important place to start if you've ever wanted to write a picture book in an easy and informative way. Not only does it give you an overview of structuring, use of wording and pacing your story, you'll also learn about publishing and the importance of the illustrator's role when writing picture books.

I learnt so much, felt engaged with the other participants even though it was online, had the chance to ask questions, and felt inspired and energised. I learnt techniques for living a daily creative life.

During this course, I was offered two contracts from two publishers for my two manuscripts! Kate was very generous in offering me support through this process.

I am determined to become a children's picture book author. This has started me in the direction to get started. The information was exactly what I needed at just the right time. It is a fantastic way to learn, with a high level of professionalism and great value for money.

The feedback was explicit giving great positives but really concise ways to improve. As a teacher myself I am really impressed with how effective Zanni's feedback was. It really motivated me.

The progression that it is taught in, being accountable to hand something in each week, Zanni's feedback, the course handouts, all made for an informative and rewarding course.

A friend recommended this course to me. I wanted to learn the craft of writing only 500 words within 32 pages to tell a story suitable for picture books and young children. It was a challenge at first for me, but now I feel more confident in my writing.

My overall impression of my online tutor was that she was very helpful and the advice helped me see my mistakes. Therefore I rewrote, redrafted, and corrected my manuscript, which has made the manuscript more presentable for publishing. Excellent tutor.

For me the most enjoyable part is being able to log on at odd hours of the day, working around my family demands. I do also enjoy being able to download the notes to read over, and over.

I feel confident that I have three manuscripts ready to submit to publishers. I am also looking forward to finishing the other courses I am enrolled in at the AWC.

In learning about writing picture books, my 'aha!' moment was learning about the structure of the story, then everything just fell into place in my mind and on the page.

It is a great learning experience, generous with information and helping new writers achieve their goals.

Kate is a delightful teacher who has opened my eyes to the joy and art of writing. This is the third course of Kate's I have taken in a year of courses with the Australian Writers' Centre. I started with History, Mystery and Magic, followed with Plotting and Planning, and finished a year of learning the craft of writing with Dare to Dream.

Kate quotes C. S. Lewis: "He does not despise real woods because he has read of enchanted woods: the reading makes all real woods a little enchanted."

This is the magic of Kate's class; she imparts the possibility of an enchanted and inspired writing practice and provides you with the tips, tricks, tools and techniques to make it so. Her classes are an ode to beauty, expression and the craft of writing. Each class is a carefully considered work of art. I love, love, love Kate's generosity, passion and joy.

Over the three courses, Kate has changed the way I view writing, and opened up a whole new world of the poetics of writing, and grounded the practice in science and technique. Her comments, feedback, and answers to questions contain subtle, deep insight into the strategic thinking of a professional writer. Kate's love for her work emanates from her and we are all better for it.

This year I have completed a number of course at the Australian Writers' Centre and it has been extraordinary to learn the craft of writing. I feel I have a solid foundation of skill and knowledge under my belt which will assist me as I begin my journey as a writer. I have had a great year with the Australian Writers' Centre. Thank you!

Do it. You cannot lose.

The course is very comprehensive. The layout and instructions are clear and I liked the repetition. I have been attending a weekly writing group for years. We do quite intense feedback and editing. I was concerned that this course would just repeat a lot of information that I knew. However, the opposite was true. I have learnt 'heaps'. Thank you for a well run and enjoyable course.

I have heard all sorts of tips and tricks for structuring stories - but the vast amount of information has always overwhelmed me. I was looking for one central course to simplify things whilst digging deep into each method.

I appreciated that additional information on topics such as character-building were still offered where they were relevant to story structure, giving you a little more than what was promised. That was a nice surprise!

I feel that I am now able to apply structures to books and films I see and read. The course has solidified my understanding of story structure and going forward I believe what I have learnt will flow naturally into my outlining and writing processes.

Great way to expand your knowledge of 'writerly' terms and processes - gives you the broad scope but delves deep into the important bits. Will definitely be purchasing more courses as I need them in future.

I enjoyed the depth of information shared and interacting with the tutor and other participants. It has already helped me to redesign my own website, which should go live in the next few weeks.

UX Writing is an excellent course for anyone interested in learning best practices for website design.

I was already submitting entries to AWC Furious Fiction, and it dawned on me that I needed help. A friend suggested I investigate the courses offered by AWC. That's the first realisation - an epiphany if you like.

I didn't become a registered nurse (actually a midwife) by just dreaming about it. I had to take action and do the work on myself, to acquire the skills that enabled me to act and become proficient and professional. Learning a new skill is no different.

There were little surprises in every module. I was unprepared for the joy that flooded over me as I heard about narrative tension. I had no idea such a process as "building narrative tension" existed. Before, it was like trying to build a house without a hammer!

I think the length and content of this course was highly satisfying to me, and I am now looking forward to the next course - Fiction Essentials: Characters. I know I am going to develop even more as a writer with Pamela Freeman's tutelage.

I will never be able to write again without the consciousness of building narrative tension and POV characters pervading my thoughts. The advice I received in this course about those topics alone was worth the asking price. The rest of it is a bonus.

This has made my writing "come alive" again and I am keen to get into it once more, because as any writer knows, it's a buzz to bring a story to life. My characters are telling me - "Thanks for showing the real me in this story." Now I won't disappoint them.

AWC is more than a one-stop-shop for writers and budding writers. No matter what stage of your writing career you are at, AWC can take you to the next level. I find that the courses are fairly priced and easily accessible online. It is clear that there is real caring behind this business. The AWC team love what they do, and clearly share in the pleasure of seeing all writers enjoy the craft of creative writing.

No matter the genre, there is a course for you and a tutor standing by to bring you to a professional standard. Takeaway point - don't hesitate.

I have self-published my first book and wanted to improve my skills for the second one. Also identify any gaps in my knowledge and learn from a published author.

I was hesitant about the time needed to complete it. To my surprise, I really enjoyed it and found the time to go through the modules and tasks every week. They didn't take up too much of my time.

I really enjoyed the live Zoom call with Angela and the rest of the class. It was so useful to get a chance to chat with Angela and get her feedback. She knows her stuff and yet was so approachable and encouraging.

The information was broken down into chunks which were easy to follow and understand.

Some of the stuff covered in it like setting scenes and dialogue etc really got me thinking about how to incorporate these skills in my next book. I also saw clearly where the gaps in my knowledge and skills were. I'm excited to put these skills to good use in my next book and hope it'll be an even bigger success. I'm planning to go through the course many times to pick up any nuggets I may have missed.

The AWC has some of the best courses for writers. Relevant information, great tutors and so flexible.

I loved the sense of camaraderie obtained by week 4; I also loved the inclusion of the reasoning mechanisms of the brain and how writing can induce / influence responses for the writer and reader. It also opened questions that have been very productive in my writing journey that I will be forever grateful for.

I have found a new way of writing I had not considered and it opened me to ideas for my work and validation for my ideas. I wish it wasn't over. It was a fascinating course!

I always recommend AWC as every course I have done has provided really useful honest information.

It was great. It met the expectations I had based on my research on the website. Enjoyed every week learning something new and stretching myself by putting it into practice.

Lovely tutor, good at delivering feedback in a sensitive way and generous with her knowledge.

I was initially worried I couldn't handle the commitment on top of my existing family and work commitments but it wasn't a problem. The audio files meant I could listen and learn on the go while driving, walking or doing tedious tasks.

I want to do so many AWC courses now. I loved learning so much in 5 weeks. It was more meaningful and handled better then creative writing I did at university years ago.