What’s it like to learn with AWC?

Margaret was great and I particularly appreciated her specific feedback on my synopsis and 3000 word submission.

Got me focused on writing my novel and words counts and I now have a 1000-words-a-day practice in place.

Thank you for an excellent course! I loved it and am now well on the way to the first draft of Finding Elsie.

Reading other works as they are being birthed is amazing! I enjoyed the variety of genres that I got to read and comment on. Getting feedback from other writers and readers was also helpful and eye opening.

It has got me to show up for my writing. I learnt how to set time aside and get over humps. I was able to write the first turning point and the mid-point through the duration of this course.

I would say that AWC don't faff about like most university courses do. The lessons are packed with information that is valuable and practical.

I struggle with procrastination so I wanted something to push me to make progress and commit to my novel. I was also drawn to the technical aspect, and the opportunity to receive feedback from both the tutor and other writers.

Margaret was helpful in resolving any queries posted to the course chat and her line editing feedback on the pieces was great, good to get an insight into what an editor would identify. Appreciated her enthusiasm on everyone's pieces, and the method of delivering feedback was also effective.

I enjoyed connecting with other writers on the course chat and my classmates who organised writing sprints; that was great for accountability and lovely to have people to bounce ideas off and discuss shared struggles.

I have more time for writing than I think!

This course was such a great tool for keeping myself accountable and making time for my writing. The opportunity to receive feedback from a developmental editor was fantastic, and it has been so lovely to connect with other writers on what can often be a solitary journey. The other writers were so lovely, there was a great sense of community where we could share struggles and bounce ideas off each other. I will continue doing writing sprints with them to keep up the momentum well beyond the course.

Thank you AWC :)

Margaret was absolutely fantastic, and I especially benefited from her video feedback. So enlightening!

I most enjoyed the people in our cohort, the social interaction, and the wonderful feedback I received from everyone involved in the workshopping process. I also loved reading and giving feedback on others' stories.

Workshopping is crucial and so beneficial.

Just do it - the best writing course I have ever taken.

Thank you to Margaret and AWC!

Kate analysed very different texts that explored the genres, and her interpretation is excellent. I enjoyed Kate's gentle soul that comes through in her teaching.

My manuscript is a mix of genres, but I couldn't find something like it as a comp. I still wrote my story, and now I have more confidence in my ability to experiment.

I learned how to use rhyme, rhythm and repetition effectively.

Go for it; it is worth your time and money.

I have always loved reading and writing and wanted to learn more about the craft of writing. I was intrigued as I have heard many good things about this particular course and thought it would be a great foundation to decide whether or not it would be within my reach to pursue the goal of becoming a published author myself.

I really appreciated the way Margaret was very honest in her approach to reading and critiquing our work. I found her feedback immensely useful and encouraging, and definitely feel that my writing has improved already. I enjoyed seeing her instant reaction to my work on her video feedback format. I thought that was a great, authentic way of showing the reaction of a reader to a piece of written work and it was exceptionally helpful.

I loved all of it. I would listen to the audio modules on my drive to work and read the handouts at night when the rest of the family were asleep. The flexibility of the course was great. I thoroughly enjoyed receiving feedback. I was definitely nervous to put myself and my work out there for others to read and critique at first, but towards the end felt very comfortable with it. I found myself very excited to hear Margaret's feedback which I found invaluable.

It has really encouraged me to pursue writing and given me a glimpse of hope that with effort and hard work, I may be able to publish a book myself one day.

Being new to learning the craft of writing, things like when to cut out 'filler' words has already helped me improve the impact of my writing. The 'aha' moment for me was realizing how much I was doing that, and how much of a difference it made when I became aware of it and edited those sections! The importance of setting was another one, as simple as it may seem, it didn't really occur to me how important setting the scene was to a story.

I truly believe it's a great first step to anyone who wants to begin to write professionally or to polish up their writing. Everything is explained so clearly and in depth in such a short amount of time. The feedback is invaluable and I know I'm a better writer for it.

WYN is a fantastic course. It is a great way to finally finish the manuscript you have always wanted to write with the support of your tutor and fellow classmates. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to write a novel.

Pamela was great and gave feedback that was detailed and actionable.

I now have confidence that it is possible to write a novel and continue working towards my dream of being published.

Worth every cent!

Vivienne is a great presenter and her material was very thorough. I liked the way she stepped through everything very logically and provided plenty of examples along the way.

I enjoyed being able to participate as a group and learn from other people's submissions and feedback as well.

The flower model provided an excellent way of analysing opinion pieces in a way that's different to other types of feature writing.

Just do it!

This course is excellent as it gives helpful information to let me proceed with my books. It was also inspirational and has given me confidence to move on with my writing.

I enjoyed the ease of being able to stop and start whenever I wanted to. I really liked being able to go over it as many times as I wanted to ensure it stuck in my head.

It has inspired me to continue with my writing and has given me the confidence to edit my final drafts and send them to a publisher.

If you want something that is easy to understand and to follow at your own pace; this is the course for you!

I thought the course was well-paced, covered all the themes/topics that I thought should be included and that I wanted to learn about. I loved Dean's wealth of knowledge (which he was readily willing to share) and relaxed and engaging style. The pace was just right for me. I also enjoyed hearing the passion in Dean's voice as he delivered the course.

It confirmed that I am on the right track with my choice of direction for my copywriting business and that I have the knowledge, skills and capability to pursue it head on! I'm very excited about my next steps!

I'd say that it is well worth undertaking a course with AWC! The cost is affordable, the courses not too lengthy and the tutors knowledgeable about their subject.

I enjoyed the interviews with writers who have backed themselves to change and succeed despite their personal doubts. Knowing that even successful people have reservations about their ability to succeed, and the need to plan the steps necessary for getting to where I want to be.

I was particularly struck by the interview with the screenwriter and his response when asked about planning and identifying plot points when writing a set-time movie script - just create a character and an incident and start writing! Sounds so easy.

AWC is an established and highly successful training provider. Pinpoint the course you need from their extensive list and jump in!

The modules were well presented and easy to follow. They gave both an understanding and practical advice towards writing compelling stories for this age group.

The tutor was very positive, and supportive.

I loved Kate's insights and the way the course was structured. The handouts were very helpful and reinforced learning. They are also excellent to have on hand as references when writing that next novel.

It gave me confidence that the way I was approaching my novel was on the right track, but it also gave me many insights on how to improve the way I approach planning and preparation for the task of writing. It was the clarity I was seeking. Having just had a short story published I was thrilled (to say the least) but then comes the inevitable fear about trying to get bigger works published. This course has helped me to prepare for that journey and I am very grateful.

This course will provide a simple set of guidelines in how to plan, structure and then write your novel. Kate's passion is clear, her insights invaluable and the resources she provides are practical and applicable across all genres. She is a gem, and this is a gem of a course. It has given me more confidence to keep pursuing this writing journey.

I was attracted to the diversity of the course - covering 5 genres in popular fiction. That breadth allows for incorporating those elements in different combinations, which made the course such good value for me.

I was dubious about one genre, Romance, as I don't read romantic fiction as a rule. But it was more engaging than I had expected, and I was able to apply the learning to fiction I have read and enjoyed, by Jane Austen, Mary Stewart, LM Alcott, etc.

I enjoyed the academic depth that was included, and which was woven seamlessly into each workshop. I could see the principles of adult learning at play, in how well-structured each workshop is, with relevant learning just when one needs it. For example, there were discussions of poetic devices, and the use of metre and rhythm. They made clear sense in the contexts in which they occurred, though I haven't thought about iambic pentameter in many decades!

I am reading with a more alert perception of the author's use of language and structure. I am more aware of developing a narrative arc for major characters, and of considering whether a character is dynamic or static.

AWC courses are interesting, focussed and good value for money if you choose carefully.

Charlotte was very encouraging and gentle with her feedback. She provided good feedback about issues which needed to be addressed.

The writing exercises were fun. I really looked forward to Charlotte's feedback each week.

Although 5 weeks is not a long time for any course, the lectures were densely packed with great insights which will require further unpacking by me over the coming months.

Point of View was clarified for me in a way that meant something.

Even though most of us are unlikely to get published, do the course to enjoy the process - make that your goal. And if you end up with a manuscript that interests publishers, see it as a bonus. Any art form requires an audience but not all artists can achieve it. The process of trying and learning has many other benefits and the possibility of finding your audience gives hope.

I've started writing my 2nd psychological thriller and I wanted to learn the specific genre elements to make sure that my book has the best possible chance of getting published.

The writing exercises were hugely helpful, especially the ones on elevator pitches and openings. I now have an awesome new opening for my book!

Louisa is incredibly knowledgeable in her field and I loved how engaging she was throughout the whole course. She's very personable and I felt comfortable asking questions and sharing my own writing, which doesn't happen often.

I enjoyed the level of engagement with Louisa and the rest of the group, and the ideas that came from this.

I'm back in creative flow and my mind is oozing with ideas and scenes for my second book. Since completing the course, I now have the confidence and inspiration to write my first draft.

AWC is the best place to learn about creative writing and gain the skills to become a professional writer.

Pamela Freeman is fabulously enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She knows when to praise and when a thorough (and necessary) critique is called for.

Fantastic and assorted feedback. Pamela's was the most useful but everyone contributed in some way. A good, hard critique is jarring, but it is enjoyable in the long run when your novel improves.

If you're serious about writing, do Australian Writers' Centre courses.

Thanks for everything! I'll be doing more courses!

I thought the course was better than I hoped. Lots of practical and specific information as to writing and researching articles, how to structure articles, and how to approach potential editors. I can't think of an outstanding question the course does not cover.

Alex had a very professional and encouraging manner. Feedback was specific and comprehensive. I liked being able to see/hear the feedback on others' work too.

I enjoyed the tone and content of the online course. I liked that the course covered the nuts and bolts of how to go about being a freelance writing, not just the writing itself. Learning about who to speak to, what to say, when to contact is invaluable insight to someone who has no links to the media industry. I was very aware that I had no idea about how to approach getting published and this lack of knowledge was a showstopper in pursuing a writing career. I feel I now have the tools to proceed with some confidence.

I liked listening to the online modules - Valerie Khoo's engaging delivery hit the right combination of professionalism and friendliness. The assessments built on each other in a logical way and always felt achievable (by contrast, my first task in Week 1 as a journalism student at the NSW Institute of Technology in the 80s was "go and cover tonight's City Council meeting". No scaffolding, no background, no advice - nothing. It was sink or swim. I lost confidence in myself and changed my course - and my life!)
I also liked that the pacing was good - the content and assessments were doable in the time frame.

I feel I have the tools to draw on make a start on getting published. And here's that word again - confidence. Doing the course has given me confidence to proceed.

I think a major learning was the freelance writing hasn't been killed by the internet. Rather, the internet has expanded potential markets and has certainly enhanced research. Good to know, as I was half expecting to learn that potential markets were dying.

Expect an enjoyable and challenging course. Do it!

Just a pleasure learning. I will enjoy enhancing my knowledge and experience as I do my next course

The tutor was excellent.

Learning about how stories are developed and the insight I have gained now allows me to look at movies/stories in a more informed mind. It has opened my eyes to what I can do.

I have recommended it. Broaden your mind... Looking forward to my next course.

The tutor was very clear, concise, motivating and affirming.

I enjoyed all of it!

I am determined to become a published author and to share my recovery story first as my memoir followed by a fiction novel about Family Violence. I have ideas for poetry and four other books. This course has helped spark my creativity.