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.
The course was very comprehensive, easy to listen to and understand. I feel like Scrivener is going to help me every step of the way as I write.
The Australian Writers' Centre is a really fabulous organisation, very supportive of writers, and offering great learning opportunities.
It's an easy-to-follow video tutorial, and Natasha provided a clear step-by-step instruction on how to use the basic features necessary to help me write effectively.
I believe the training material is packaged correctly to get someone start writing with the use of Scrivener. The course gave me an idea on how to manage or organize my ideas/thoughts - which will directly benefit prospective readers.
Learn from those with practical experience in the field. Best to go AWC!
I found myself bogged down in notes and files, wondering how I could streamline my writing process. Scrivener is a program I'd heard lots about but figured it would be too complex to learn. But after watching the trailer for this course, I decided to have a look to see if it might be something I could manage.
What a surprise! Natasha's course is easy to follow and I'm now successfully utilising Scrivener. I still have quite a bit to learn, but the course has given me confidence to make a start.
I'm now feeling much more in control of my writing process.
I wish I'd learnt about Scrivener years ago. I can now access all my work (including my formerly-ratty post-it note jottings, images, research...) easily. They're all in the one place! The cork board feature also helps me keep track of plot and character arcs.
I was looking for something to help me get started, and I was completely overwhelmed with the idea of starting a manuscript in MS word! I wanted to be sure that I was ready to commit to using Scrivener.
Fabulous course, and I love that Natasha shared her own working manuscripts so that I could see how useful Scrivener really is. This has inspired me to finally get started on my manuscript(s)! I have been procrastinating about getting started, for fear of not getting the structure right. I love how easy it is to move scenes around in Scrivener!
I've done several AWC courses, but for some reason this one has made me feel the most inspired to pull my finger out and get started. All of their courses are brilliant. Money very well spent!
I imported a manuscript that I had abandoned for two years now and finally have the courage to edit it. It needs so much work but at least now I don't have to print out hundreds of pages to do so.
I learned things I didn't know the program could do that are extra helpful. The labels and corkboards. Oh and the Linguistic feature. So handy!
I would say the Australian Writers' Centre is a great place to harness your writing skills. It provides helpful courses that you can incorporate into your life without giving up your day job...or at least until you can...and don't have to give up years for tertiary education. You will learn what you registered to learn.
I think Scrivener is brilliant and the way Natasha explained how it worked was very easy to follow.
I really liked the way you could set up your scenes and chapters and then work on which ever section you felt like on any particular day. I really feel that this capacity will encourage me to write my memoir. Natasha was able to demonstrate different ways that you could use the program which was also very helpful.
I like the way that you can move things around easily, bookmark and annotate what you are doing. I also like the way you can include your research material all in the same place. Having already started my writing I have so many documents already so the idea of being able to keep everything within the one place with easy access is so empowering. It really streamlines the whole process.
I really like AWC's courses. They are very practical and useful. The information you share really empowers anyone new to writing to get started.
I wish I'd done this course before starting on my first book! I can see it would have saved a lot of time.
I'd bought Scrivener, and can usually muddle my way through most software, but I soon realised I could get so much more out of it if I learnt some of the basics first.
AWC has such a great variety of courses. I've done a few now and they have all been very well put together and presented. I look forward to completing further courses.
Quick and easeful learning of the Scrivener software. I feel like I am ready to use it now and have not spent hours trying to find my own way.
It has given me the confidence to use this software which I think will make a huge difference to writing my book. Thank you very much!
I'm using Scrivener to write a memoir for somebody and I knew I was working too hard and too slowly in the program.
I enjoyed seeing how the course was used in an actual manuscript, and the thrilling moment of understanding how I could organise my material and finally start to shape it into a book.
I feel much more capable of actually writing this book now. It made me realise that I already have a first draft in the form of transcribed interviews, I just need to shape that and rewrite it into a narrative that works on the page and is compelling.
I realised how I can organise my material faster, and better, so that it's actually functional and understandable and not a fat hot mess of too much.
I have already recommended this course to another friend who also has the Scrivener software but knows she is not using it to capacity. I told her: this will change the way you look at your manuscript and the way you rewrite it. (She has a first draft)
I was using Scrivener and had written two chapters but felt that I was missing out on some of the functions.
I had no hesitations enrolling in this course because I had completed a few other AWC courses and knew that they were very always clear, targeted and well set out for an optimum learning experience.
I appreciated how Natasha would reinforce learning from previous videos incidentally as she moved through new concepts.
I will be starting my project anew - transferring research and chapters - with much greater confidence that I'm heading in the right direction.
I was on the fence about using Scrivener, but think it's going to be an excellent program to write with. I will now use it and hopefully it will save me time and streamline the writing process.
The AWC is an awesome resource for writers of all levels. Such a great support and champion for writers.
I loved the course, and learned so much. It is a massive program that will take time and patience to master.
Natasha led the course in an easy-to-understand manner. I liked that she, as a skilled and successful author, showed us in a practical manner how she uses it. She illustrated probably most of the basic 'getting started' tools that are most often used and useful, and I'm almost at the stage of making the decision to plunge into being a Scrivener user. (Wish it could also help me write as well as Natasha!)
I wanted to get some baseline info about Scrivener before purchasing the program.
Natasha explained things in a way that was extremely clear. I was able to pick things up quickly and rarely needed to pause or rewind.
I am still early enough into my manuscript that I have words down and a general idea, but not far enough to have a full grasp on things. Trying to keep track of notes, ideas and direction has been so difficult and putting me off writing at all. I had an idea Scrivener would suit me but after completing this course I am really looking forward to importing my WIP and get organising - I can already see how easy it will make things.
Having now completed a few AWC courses, I feel confident in recommending them. I find the structure very easy to use, especially when you have other commitments and need to stop and start. I have also liked all of the tutors and found them easy to learn from.
When I was given Scrivener as a gift, I was really daunted by what appeared to be the complexity of it. I was recommended to enrol in 2 Hours to Scrivener Power and it has proved to be a fantastic low-cost investment, saving hours of struggle and time. Each video covered off the basics and, by the time I had finished the six modules, I was looking at my own complete manuscript uploaded, utilising the various functions and tools covered.
Scrivener makes everything so much clearer in terms of an umbrella view on the manuscript - combined with the ease of accessing and moving information around within the document itself.
The course presenter, Natasha, delivered the information in a clear, concise and easy to follow format. I have already recommended it to the other members of a writers group I belong to.
I am amazed had how powerful this software is and have already started using it by importing my manuscript into it. It takes a bit of getting used to but I am finding it very user friendly.
The course covered a lot of ground for an introduction to this software. The fact that I am able to go right ahead and start using it immediately has converted me to a full time Scrivener user. I am sure that I will be able to get my head around the more in-depth features as and when I need them.
In my opinion, this course covered everything that a new user would need to get started right away. I can see no need for improvement at all.
I have just finished my first draft of 80,000 words and was struggling with manipulating scenes and seeing an overview of the whole project. This software has so many ways of looking at a manuscript. I can see everything, scenes, chapter layout, timeline and so much more. As a creative tool it is an amazingly powerful and will save so much time.
I had Scrivener a couple of years ago, but found it onerous to adopt. I purchased it recently with a view to learning how to use it to assist my writing. I think Natasha is a brilliant facilitator of this training because she is a successful, published author who uses the tool successfully.
Most enjoyable was the capacity to work through it with my Scrivener open - practicing each new skill as I went.
Scrivener is like outsourcing your executive function as you tap into your creative flow. I would highly recommend this course.
I've tried to use Scrivener but felt overwhelmed at its complexity. After the course, I now have a really good understanding of what Scrivener can do and it's prompted me to start writing. Thanks!
It has helped me to understand how to structure my ideas for writing and how to overcome blocks, as well as storing things and labelling things. Really helpful.
I was prompted to shift scenes in a way that altered how the story was told. This brought excitement to my writing and I felt less bogged down. Corkboard thread, composition mode - it all opened my creativity.
Do this 2-hour course. It will kick off your creative ideas. Natasha is an excellent and thorough teacher.
I loved the course!!!
I found the most enjoyable part of this course (and other AWC courses) to be that it was so enjoyable! The videos and handouts are easy to digest and the information so practical.
It has given me more confidence to start writing, knowing I have the program and knowledge to organise my work. It's scary to be heading down this path so all sources of confidence are much appreciated!
AWC courses are very easy to digest, very practical, and pave the way for a career in writing.
Scrivener was a program that has been recommended to me but I was not inclined to pay for and download something that I was unsure how useful it would be. After having read through the instructions that come with Scrivener I was in despair, but seeing it explained by Natasha opened many doors and now their instructions mean MUCH more.
The course went into what I think will be the most practical aspects of the Scrivener program. Good, clear, concise video instructions with matching printed sheets to refer back to.
It has addressed a few problems I was having juggling aspects of my writing in "Word".
The AWC provides encouragement to emerging writers by offering good practical advice.
I had heard about Scrivener and tried using it myself but felt overwhelmed.
Natasha was absolutely brilliant. I feel empowered and know that understanding Scrivener will positively impact my writing process. Natasha's information and instructions were clear and thorough. A great overall grounding.
I have already imported an 11,000+ word document which I had felt a bit lost in. I have divided it into scenes and feel able and excited to move forward with my writing.
The course was extremely good value - actually the knowledge imparted is invaluable to my confidence as a writer.