What’s it like to learn with AWC?

Tim did a great job! I appreciate how organized he was. He also put a lot of effort in giving us homework. I thought it was a good thing. I am learning and growing and that requires work.

I love laughing and we all need more joy in our lives.

I will be a better writer after taking this course.

I always recommend AWC courses to my writer friends. AWC offer quality courses. It's worth it!

I loved this course. It gave me some great ideas in an easy-to-follow format. Tim Harris is a fabulous teacher, entertaining, insightful and experienced in delivering punchlines! Definitely recommend Laugh Out Loud!

I have changed up my writing and started writing a funny chapter book series. I'm loving it.

I wanted to learn more about crafting humorous stories for kids. My aim is to write picture books, so I wasn't sure if the content would be geared more toward junior fiction and middle grade, but I needn't have worried. The same concepts apply, and I have learnt a lot.

I enjoyed the videos, examples, and exercises - which is pretty much everything, really!

It has taught me a great deal about different types of humour, and got me thinking about how to use humorous techniques in my writing.

Jump on board! There is an amazing array of courses, with something to suit everyone.

I enrolled in your course Laugh Out Loud as I wanted to lighten my stories and put humour into serious situations. As we all know, laughter is the best medicine. I have written a few stories for young readers which address indigenous and political based outcomes and believed that some light hearted humour could be the key to taking my story to another level.

This course exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed it immensely.

I found Tim Harris's ability to teach this course is spot on, as it suits the course's outcomes. Tim presents as if in a classroom environment and his books portray that environment. So the course actually allowed me to knock down a few walls of my own seriousness and offered me an option to rise above and address my long-lost sense of humour.

The course brought back memories of my own student days. I could only have wished that I had a teacher such as Tim, to teach us, as I'm sure that my own education would have been a lot more successful.

The modules were to the point, short and funny. The clips were also short and kept my attention, as watching a video online and staying motivated can be challenging.

I enjoyed understanding the different types of humour that can be written in a book, and just because you don't think you are funny, if you have a great hook idea, have a go.

Great, practical and useful tips for writers.

Tim's presentation style was excellent and engaging. I enjoyed learning a variety of techniques as to how to make kids lit funnier! It encouraged me to keep on trying in writing for kids by injecting more humour.

You don't need to be funny to write a funny book. You need to IDENTIFY what kids will find funny.

Give it a go! If you are interested in writing for children, whatever tone or length, humour plays a very important role.

I love funny stories and wanted to learn how to write like that.

The content was engaging and interesting. It was just really good content; easy to understand.

I now feel confident that I can try writing funny stories with all the tips in this course from a highly successful children's author.

I am not a funny writer and enjoy extending my skills into new areas. Everything helps to develop the craft of writing.

Tim's video modules were really engaging.

I enjoyed the writing exercise. It stumped me for a long time but once I was able to put something together, it was very satisfying meeting the brief.

I am attempting to bring humour into a story I'm currently writing. I'm able to do this now as I have a better understanding of humour techniques.

The course is sooo detailed; I had no idea that there were so many techniques to make kids' books funny.

There was so much to enjoy, but being a nerd, I have to say completing the assignment and receiving Tim's detailed and positive feedback was the most enjoyable. He was so thorough and kind.

It is cementing something I have been considering for a while, namely writing something in a longer form than picture books. While middle grade has always been my preferred reading style, the longer word count has made this rather daunting and prohibitive. I was given a great idea for a story by a child years ago, which I thought was rather ridiculous at the time, but still instinctively always knew there was a gem in there somewhere. With the knowledge gleaned from this course and the detailed planning and editing methods I've learned through this course, I may just attempt to write it. Even saying that I might use planning techniques is in itself a HUGE change. I'm rather excited to see what, if anything, will come of it.

The innovative and forward thinking team at the Australian Writers' Centre are always looking out for and developing new course ideas to meet the needs of writers in the 21st century, whether that be in actual formal writing courses, or in blogging, or promoting yourself and your books/work. There really is something for everyone and I have no doubt that there will always be something (often new) for everyone who is keen to engage in communicating with others through the magic of putting words on a page.

Tim's video presentations were amazing. I also enjoyed Tim reading my work and giving feedback on video.

This course is amazing if you are looking at ways to add humour to your writing. Even if you aren't, the course is loaded with information relevant to all styles of writing. It's well presented and the feedback was meaningful.

I enjoyed learning about the different types of humor and how to use them in my writing. I'm now aware of the different types of comedy that I can use in my writing, and I can begin to be consciously funny.

I enjoyed the opportunity to learn at my own pace throughout the year-long duration of the course. Seeing the presenter in videos provides a nice balance with the handouts and exercises.

I enjoyed this course. The way Tim presented it was entertaining and humorous. It was so easy to watch his personality shining through the videos. The professional way he taught was really good.

Take that step and enrol in a Writers' Centre course. I have done quite a few to give me more knowledge with my writing. See where this journey takes you. Although you may find, like I did, that it takes you in a different direction. After doing Writing Chapter Books for 6-9 year olds and Laugh Out Loud, I have now found my writer's voice. To write funny stories for children. Thank you AWC.

I enjoyed this course. The way Tim presented it was entertaining and humorous. It was so easy to watch his personality shining through the videos. He gave us the knowledge in a light-hearted, humorous fashion. Thank you.

Take that step and enrol in an Australian Writers' Centre course. I have done quite a few to give me more knowledge with my writing. See where this journey takes you. Although you may find, like I did, that it takes you in a different direction. After doing Writing Chapter Books for 6-9 year olds and Laugh Out Loud, I have now found my writers voice. To write funny stories for children. Thank you AWC.

Tim is a really easy person to listen to. Great presentations.

It has made me think about humour in a completely different way. It was freeing to realize I could add humour later and not stress about making something hilarious in the rough draft.

I have recommended AWC to friends and colleagues. It is simple to access and well set out. The courses I have done have been of an excellent standard.

Great course. Some things I'm already doing but each section contained something new for me to think about and bring to my own writing. I really want to revisit my character language, for example, to see how I can make sure each has a unique voice through my book. I'm also desperate to weave in some ping-pong conversations now that I know about them.

I think my 'aha' moment has been the realisation that it's not just making your characters say funny things that brings humour to your work. I suddenly see the full toolbox of techniques available to a writer such as situation, wordplay, repetition, surreal comedy etc. I have never stopped to think about the different elements of comedy before. Some I've already introduced to my work without knowing it, and others I can now consciously plan in.

You don't know what you don't know. Even if you learn one new thing, it might make all the difference to your work.

Tim was great with so many tips and stories to tell! Thank you! I enjoyed the videos and bits of advice along the way.

I know more about the process which is comforting for me. I like to have a pathway to work towards.

Highly recommend before you start your writing journey as an excellent overview.

I was keen to inject some more humour into my writing for children, and it seemed like something fun to do during COVID lockdown.

The exercises given were long enough to get my grey matter working, but not too onerous to fit into my busy life. Tim's presentation style was engaging and he presented the information clearly and concisely.

I now feel capable of ramping up the humour in my writing for children. I'm excited about blowing the cobwebs off a previously written story for children and giving it the humour makeover I see it now needs.

If you are really serious about learning to write, or improving your writing, the right course could be a great investment.

I am writing a chapter book for children and would like to include a lot of humour. And it looked like it'd be fun to do! :)

I enjoyed the examples read by Tim, bringing theory to life. Exercises were fun and practical. Loved getting Tim's recorded assessment of my writing exercise - that was an unexpected added bonus!

Received so many tips and ways of injecting humour into a story that I wouldn't have thought of or naturally used. Invaluable.

Tim was very entertaining and funny - which I guess you would expect in a course about writing humour! Everything was laid out very clearly. The reading suggestions were highly beneficial. Loved that Tim used examples from his own work and other popular books to illustrate concepts.

I've realised how important it is to include humour in children's books, regardless of the target age group. I have re-written an idea to include more gags, especially ones delivered via illustrations.

I can easily recognise different forms of humour now. For example, that's word play or that's surreal humour. And I discovered through doing the assignment at the end that I could write a humorous scene!

It's entertaining, easy to listen to and you get out of it as much as you put in.