What’s it like to learn with AWC?

Margaret was great! Offered feedback that boosted my confidence and pointed out areas where I could improve.

Loved the personal feedback and the layout of weekly content.

Provided a confidence boost and the drive to continue writing.

Definitely worth it. Engaging course material. Flexible with work/study. Easy to comprehend and I learnt a lot in 5 weeks!

Bernadette was a great tutor - sharing her business skills.

The course was easy to navigate around. Has helped me become a better writer.

Give it a go. You might surprise yourself.

Exceeded expectations. Fabulous research ideas! Focus on how to get the details and avoid vague times, places and characters.

I've got some ideas that I want to work on writing, but I don't have a lot of confidence with the technical and structural aspects of a novel. This seemed like a good way to learn the basics.

The course was clear and straightforward, and all of the content was useful.

Margaret was very knowledgeable and constructive with her feedback. She presented her assignment comments in a clear and concise way.

It has given me some tools to use in my writing, and helped to address some challenges I'd been having.

The Creative Writing Stage 1 course is a good way to get an introduction into the process and industry. It is a good starting point for people thinking about writing.

I have been thinking of writing a novel for a few years, but need some accountability and also realised I have a lot to learn. I also have not received a lot of feedback on my writing, so I was keen to get an understanding of where I was at.

I loved doing this course. I looked forward to a new module opening up each week, seeing everyone's assignments and listening to the feedback. I learnt a lot in such a short space of time. The feedback is also so helpful.

I thought Margaret was great. I liked the fact that she gave feedback over video. This helped her impressions of the writing come through as she read aloud, and also meant I could listen to all the feedback while keeping up with other things in life. Margaret gave very clear and direct feedback, which was very helpful. She always pointed out what worked, what didn't and also gave great tips on grammar and punctation. It was very helpful!

It has convinced me to keep chasing my dreams!

Definitely check it out! There are an abundance of courses to choose from, a very friendly community and you learn so much. Above all, it's great fun! I found listening to the "So you want to be a writer" podcast gave me an insight into who AWC was, which ultimately led me to want to sign up for a course.

Bernadette was supportive, kind, professional, good sense of humour, good comments and assistance.

I'm in a moment of transition and was wondering whether I could/should make space for my old love of writing in my new life. The answer is yes.

If anyone feels anxious about writing, this course offers support and will go a long way toward removing stress.

The course was great; it strengthened what I already knew and taught me a lot I didn't.

Margaret was fantastic. Her feedback was very helpful.

The character creation checklist handout has been brilliant! It's reminded me I don't know some of my existing characters as well as I should and been very helpful in creating new characters.

I have so many unfinished manuscripts on my computer in various stages of editing, all of them a compete mess! I'm ready to trust the process and finish the first draft of future stories first, then trust that any problems I have will be fixed in the subsequent drafts.

I would warn you the course is so good you'll want to come back to do another unit as soon as you're finished!

Thank you for the unit and you'll be seeing me again soon!

I enjoyed the way it was presented and the broad range of information with ideas of where to go for more on the parts that resonate the most.

I can do this. It's not too late. I am already starting my website and adding my writing and I have so many ideas forming. I'm just choosing which course to do first now.

I realised I can start now - stop waiting to be perfect. Just be brave and start.

AWC offers really professional yet practical courses online that cover almost all areas of writing. The courses are affordable and not too long. It's great to be able to do self-paced courses too so I can work in around my other commitments.

I want to learn about different types of writing. This course has opened the door for me on wanting to explore some of the other types of writing courses out there such as copywriting.

This course had all the information you need to start off with in a manageable and fun learning environment with online classmates and a supportive teacher that gives you great, clear and constructive feedback and advice. I think it's a great way for people to look at up skilling in their writing abilities.

It's made me believe that what I want to do is possible. I don't have to 'be good' right off the bat. I can learn the craft of writing the same way I learned Pilates: practice, practice, practice. I'm more willing to do the work because I now view the work – and the learning/stumbling along – as fun.

I would say that Creative Writing Stage 1 is a great place to start learning about writing fiction because you learn the rules and tools of crafting fiction.

Nat is an excellent presenter. She really got me excited about the idea of doing author talks and school visits.

It has made me feel more confident and prepared to present to kids, including all the content, style, technical, organisation and business perspectives.

I frequently recommend the AWC to friends and colleagues who want to take their writing to the next level. I tell them that the AWC's courses really helped me on my journey to becoming a published author and that I will keep doing their courses as I hone my craft.

Great value course. Make sure you buy a big notebook as you'll take lots of notes! :)

I have started so many stories but never finished them. The book I am working on at the moment is just stuck - so many ideas but no structure. I read the course outline and thought, 'this is what I need to know where I'm going'!

Being a neurodiverse person makes it very hard for me to organise my thoughts logically. I feel so much more confident and less lost knowing I can plan my novel in ways that work, and work best for me. Having it self-paced was so helpful, because it meant I could go back to any points I missed or didn't understand.

Kate is so supportive - like a fairy Godmother of sorts. Her manner is warm and encouraging, with so many interesting stories to tell about her own writing process, and the history and inspiration behind those beautiful artworks. She is the guiding voice I have needed all this time but didn't know existed until now.

I've been going about writing my book all wrong!! The 'flying by the seat of my pants' method when inspiration strikes left my story disjointed and going nowhere. I've learned that the right structure and creating a plot list/five key turning points in particular is needed to bring my story to life and go forward in my writing goals. I'm so excited to go off and start putting this all into practice!

Do it. If you want to improve yourself as a writer and put out to the Universe you want to take this seriously, this is the way forward.

This course is packed with information. After doing this course there really isn't any reason a person couldn't set up their own freelance business.

Bernadette Schwerdt is a warm, engaging, down to earth, encouraging tutor. I am doing all of Bernadette's courses because she instils so much confidence along with providing each and every practical tool to set us students up for success. She provides valuable, pointed, considered feedback on assignments and always weaves through the 'you can do this' encouragement. I believe in myself because Bernadette believes in us. I wouldn't be as far along in my journey without Bernadette's wisdom and guidance.

Apart from all the practical tools and tips, I was able to focus on exactly the first offering so I feel empowered to start my business. And that is helping small businesses to tell their origin story and their USP to attract the right customers. I am enthusiastic at crafting this for business.

It is the perfect place to learn all about copywriting while balancing your fulltime job and home life. It is not limited to just online modules, you get personalised feedback on your assignments to help you improve and get real about what you are offering and how you can improve.

Bernadette Schwerdt is worth her weight in gold and is one of the best tutors due to her generosity of knowledge and lovely way she encourages her students and keeps them focused on simply putting one foot in front of the other until they achieve their goals. AWC are honest and promote accurately the amount of time the courses will take. This means you can feel confident that if the course is advertised at 5 hours a week then it is approx. 5 hours a week. This is important when considering if you have capacity to do the course. Additionally, the office admin staff are always super lovely, helpful, supportive and demonstrate true customer service in every interaction.

I have learned so much about the techniques of fiction writing. The course materials and audio lectures were excellent.

The constructive feedback from Bernadette Foley was excellent; she deconstructed the assignments I submitted focusing firmly on the shortcomings and areas for improvement.

I enjoyed the audio materials (well-presented by Valerie Khoo) and the hand-outs and additional exercises. The Write Direction Zoom webinar presented by Pamela Freeman was just great.

I was so overwhelmed by the user-friendly materials and the tutor's timely constructive feedback. You've also transformed my writing skills.

The Write Direction Zoom Webinar was the 'aha' moment for me. This was unexpected for me to have a live encounter with an award-winning author.

I would recommend the Australian Writers' Centre without a single hesitation.

I loved the course and learned a lot in a short amount of time. Bernadette was lovely. Ten out of ten! She was really nice on giving us feedback and she has an amazing vibe as a person. I also enjoyed seeing the excitement and writings of others in the course.

I now believe a bit more in myself that I can write.

This amazing course helped me a lot in many ways. Now, I see creative writing differently, so check this awesome course!

I was hesitant because of time commitment but I was at the point of needing direction to take my stories and ideas to the next level. Really glad I took the plunge and enrolled!

I looked forward to Cathie's weekly feedback. I like the fact she was tough - her own words! Her feedback was constructive and helpful. She gave me confidence that I could resolve the story to the next level while providing valuable insights into the publishing world.

I enjoyed listening to respected children's book experts; the feedback; and of being challenged - using a different story idea each week.

At the end of the course it felt great to have presented a correctly formatted manuscript with two pitches and a blurb. While some elements need work, it was satisfying to understand the whole process of writing and submitting a children's picture book.

The course has improved my writing and made me more efficient in the process. My increased understanding of the synergy between author and illustrator has helped me to focus on writing well, with an economy of words.

Several 'aha!' moments were - understanding how emotion is the driving force of fiction, discovering how helpful storyboarding the text is, and the importance of killing your darlings.

Do it! The course is enjoyable and there is so much to learn.

Thank you AWC, Valerie Khoo and Cathie Tasker.

I was very pleased that Bernadette had so much experience in publishing and as an editor. It felt like an added bonus. And she was very helpful and considered in her feedback. She took everybody's work seriously and provided great feedback and interest.

I think it has made me less fearful of receiving feedback and of the idea of perhaps pursuing the dream of being published. At the very least it has encouraged me to engage in more courses and continue writing.

I think the Australian Writers' Centre provides courses that encourage writers, especially new writers, takes them seriously and provides the opportunity for some growth through exercises and feedback that is confidence-building and overall motivating.

The course was very practical and made sense. This is a good program as a pathway to defining the area of writing you're interested in, developing a plan and not letting negative thoughts get in the way of moving forward.

Stay focused, dedicate a small amount of time daily to write, and practice, practice, and practice.

I've done several of the AWC courses now, and they are excellent. Thorough, well thought through, and practical. Well worth doing.

Great feedback! Very helpful.

Great way to find out if your plot is working as well as voice, style, tone etc from different perspectives! Embrace your unique writing style!