What’s it like to learn with AWC?

I'm 70k+ words into my first fiction work and hit plot holes and wondered about my structure.

I loved the detail in each module, the examples given and the templates for applying what I'd learned to my own work.

It wasn't super prescriptive and hence, I could tailor it to my own work. It's making me feel that I'm on the right track with my book. A couple of things might need fixing (lots needs tightening up), but the more I learned, the more I could see how the structure had already been innately applied to much of what I'd already written.

I loved the idea of counting words between plot points to check your pacing. Brilliant.

If you're going to write a work of fiction, particularly as a first timer, Valerie and the AWC team will ensure you're treading the right path - either from the beginning or wherever you find yourself stuck in your writing.

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

I had completed my first manuscript, believing that I could just write. How far from the truth that was! After researching online and listening to feedback, I was encouraged to undertake a writing course which has been invaluable. I was guided to your website and immediately connected to this course which has led to my complete re-draft of the original using the structures and tips. It has helped me to translate my story idea onto paper in a meaningful way that has received great feedback.

Through this course I have brought my original story to life in a way that makes sense but also engages the reader from their perspective rather than from my own intention. I have confidently submitted it to a number of publishers in the hope that it will be published. This course definitely helped me get there and impressed my beta readers with the dramatic changes I was able to make. I think I have surprised a few friends!

It guided (forced!) me to completely rethink my first manuscript and has brought it to life. I have loved the addition of structure, pacing and narrative tension, as I understood its purpose and meaning. This has translated my relationship with books that I have loved reading and helped me to understand why I loved them.

It is practical, applicable, informative and meaningful to translate into your writing practice.

I learnt practical techniques in structuring a story, but the prompts have already helped clarify long-standing areas of uncertainty in my work in progress. Module 3 on theme and subplots was a revelation.

There were so many solid and tangible lessons along the way about such things as subplots and story questions (e.g. handouts 2.7, 3.9, 4.2). I really loved this practical advice on how to weave a story.

I wish I'd done this course decades ago. It was brilliantly practical and gave solid tools to BUILD A STORY in an engaging way. There was nothing wishy-washy about your advice, but a beautifully methodical, scientific process that removed the mystery from what to do, so I can just GET ON WITH IT and allow my story to shine through.

Very easy to follow and helped with clear explanations. Made me think more clearly about the way stories are put together properly.

Great courses, some long ones, some short ones, giving great advice in easy lessons. I highly recommend them and will possibly do more as well.

This course far exceeded my expectations. I understood what it was going to be about from a practical point of view, but the content and in-depth analyses about the different parts of structure were so much more. I feel more confident moving forward with my own writing, with a completely holistic overview of the way structure functions and the rules surrounding it.

This course just reiterated for me what I knew, but in a way that was fresh, easy to understand and allowed me to think in new ways.

The Australian Writers' Centre is absolutely worth the time of anyone looking to resell, refresh and reevaluate their own work through a comprehensive and well-articulated series of courses.

My writing was stuck, I was in major story writing doldrums, and I had some sense it had to do with not having a good understanding of foundational elements of structure, such as 3-act structure.

Voila! my writing is no longer stuck, and I'm out of the writing doldrums. I've made so many new discoveries in my story over the past week (as I went through this course) that are not only exciting to me, but which I know will excite my eventual readers.

I've had the plot for a long time, the characters, etc. And I'm a damn good writer. But even my long history of reading, writing, and even an MFA in Creative Writing (in poetry, however) did not teach me the fundamentals of story structure. Now, all of a sudden, things are falling into place. Now I know what to write next, and where it goes in the overall story.

Every course I've taken from AWC has exceeded expectations. And believe me, I have recommended your courses, and will continue to do so. A German friend of mine is taking your Romance writing course right now. Let me add that I'm an American, and was put on to AWC by a Brisbane friend a couple of years ago. Maybe there's something as good as AWC in the U.S., but I haven't seen it yet.

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for in a course about structure! So very thorough, well-organised, clear & concise, and with lots of worksheets to guide the student along the way. I definitely feel my understanding of structure has improved, and I'm eager to apply this knowledge to my work-in-progress and future works. Thank you so much!!!

I enjoyed EVERYTHING!!! The content, organisation, audio recordings, handouts... All EXCELLENT and very thorough! Fantastic value for money! I also really liked that this course covered multi-book storylines & structure!

I'd hit a roadblock with my work-in-progress, primarily because I felt the structure and pacing were off. I've done several courses in the past that dealt briefly with structure in theory, but never came away feeling satisfied on the practical application of the subject to my own work; I knew what The Hero's Journey, 3-Act Structure, etc. were, but still found it difficult to shoehorn my story into those structures. I really love how THIS course takes the student STEP-BY-STEP through the process of discovering their theme, building their structure & increasing the narrative tension -- all with supporting worksheets & exercises to further understanding & practical application.

Hard to limit it to just one 'aha'! But if I had to choose, then it would probably be understanding the differences of dual storylines and subplots, and how these interweave within a story's structure, as well as how to apply these concepts to a multi-book storyline.

Australian Writers' Centre offers affordable, detailed, and high-quality educational courses that help both the budding novelist and the seasoned pro to greater understand the fundamentals of writing, and how to practically apply these fundamentals to their own writing. A++! Highly recommended!!

I had heard wonderful things about AWC courses and was wondering if my writing needed more structure (turns out it did!) so I invested in the course.

It's made me see how my own writing lacked proper structure and allowed me to be able to build it in.

I've studied plenty of structure things before, so I was concerned I would be treading on the same ground. But I found it really helpful, breaking things down in a much more practical way than other resources.

It's absolutely worth doing, and it helps break down a sometimes mystifying process into something that feels like it can actually be achieved.

I received feedback from a publisher that I needed to work on my structure. Having done many AWC courses before, this was the first place I looked.

The handouts and practical exercises really help with applying what I learned from the course to my own work.

I finally 'get' structure! Everything was explained so clearly with real practical information that I can use to build a solid structure for my new novel.

I always write my plot first but my aha! moment came in discovering that the major plot events can naturally come from well-developed characters. That character should come first!

AWC has courses to support writers at all stages of their writing journey. There is always something to learn.

As a freelance editor working with many beginner writers, I thought this course might help to explain what story structure is in a more succinct way.

I enjoyed being able to work at my own pace and the down-to-earth tone of the narrator.

An AHA moment was understanding how to explain the difference between structure and plot in a way that clients will understand.

This course is comprehensive and easy to follow. A worthwhile investment.

I enjoyed understanding more about structures, particularly over a multi-book story arc. The worksheets will come in very handy too!

AWC courses are packed full of information that can be digested in nice, bite sized chunks.

I have previously completed a course with Pamela and found it incredibly informative and inspiring. She is a wealth of information and I have so much to learn from her. I am partway through writing my first novel and am absorbing as much as I can learn about the art of writing :)

The course has clarified so much about my novel in my own mind and helped me move forward with writing in a more structured way. I now understand how narrative tension really works and what techniques can be applied to increase narrative tension.

There is such a wealth of knowledge to be gained from undertaking these courses and I have not yet undertaken one course that hasn't vastly improved my writing.

I wanted a detailed explanation of the three-act structure and was happy to also get information about other types of structures. The handouts were really useful for me. It enabled me to plan the novel I am trying to write in a more considered way.

If you have never been taught about story structure, or need a more in depth explanation than you have had previously, then this is a fantastic course.

I enjoyed most learning more about the different types of structure, and plotting and subplots, and how to apply these to build stronger and well-paced stories.

I feel that I have a deeper understanding of story structure and better idea of how to write and restructure my book so that it will have more impact and interest and draw a prospective reader in.

I have been struggling with the concept of turning points, rising action and climax, and their relationship to each other in building narrative tension. I think I have finally got a handle on what these are all about.

Do yourself a favour, if you are struggling with any aspect of writing, do one of AWC's writing courses. It will definitely help with putting you on the 'write' track. :-)

As an accomplished musician but beginning writer, I needed to explore the structural elements of creative writing.

I found the common links between musical structure and writing structure fascinating. It has given me the skills to identify structural patterns in my writing.

This course is well presented, informative and provides masterful insights into structuring your writing.

I enjoyed looking at the different types of structure and how they work for different stories. I particularly appreciated the Bonus Module on series.

I now feel like I actually understand how to structure a novel and this course has given me the tools to be able to troubleshoot if I find myself going off track.

If you want to write a novel and aren't sure where to start, this is the place to go!

I understand much more about pitfalls and things to avoid when writing scenes. In addition, I have a better appreciation of how to use conflict in a story to increase narrative tension.

It is definitely worthwhile investing time and money to do some of the basic "Fiction Essentials" courses.

Something was wrong with previous stories I have written and ultimately I decided it was the structure (and after completing this course, I realised it definitely was my structure!).

The course was very well set out. Handouts were helpful. The audio was well paced and informative. Realised I previously had veeeeery little structure.

I encourage anyone who is struggling with their story and wondering why 'it isn't quite right' to go ahead and do a course.