What’s it like to learn with AWC?

I wanted to focus on my fiction writing skills and get feedback from a tutor, and other students. I was drawn to the course specifically because Victoria Purman was the tutor. I wanted to learn from her experience and now I have!

I have studied fiction writing for a long time now and worked with a number of different teachers, so I wasn't sure if it would add much to what I've already learned, but I'm pleased to say I learned many new things, and I solidified my fiction writing even more because I enrolled in this course.

Gosh, there's so much to love in this course. Victoria Purman is a gem, and I loved the way she gave feedback. She is kind and honest. She is inspiring and insightful on what works and what isn't quite working. Victoria delivers her feedback with compassion and that's so important to us vulnerable writers. I appreciated all of Victoria's efforts in tutoring us in this course. I hope to do more study with her in the future.

Enrolling in Creative Writing Stage 1 was one of the best decisions I made. It helped solidify all the previous things I'd learned about the foundation of writing fiction, narrative structure, characters with stakes and more. I'd say, 'Don't be afraid to try creative writing. If this is in your heart to do, then learn with Australian Writers' Centre because it's a safe place to learn and grow as a fiction writer.'

It's an excellent course with lots to offer the beginner and the writer with experience. We're always learning, no matter how much we've studied and every teacher has something to offer creative writers. I'm so glad I finally (after about five years of being indecisive about doing this course) did Creative Writing Stage 1.

I felt this course was jam-packed with information, and I will have to go back and process all of it. I thought it was well put together!

I loved all the pieces and how they were broken down into different categories.

I loved the exercises, placing myself in jail and writing about my observations. This is not easy to do.

I have taken several courses with the AWC and learned something new every time. It is well worth it to take the class and see what happens. Just give it a shot.

The course was far more valuable than I expected. Clear, concise, articulate yet easy to absorb. Cleared any weak points in my writing.

I enjoyed the tutor and her style of teaching.

A must do course for any copywriter.

I enjoyed the focus on both true crime and crime fiction. The writing exercises and some of the links were fascinating (and disturbing too!)

Go for it! You never know what you might find.

The research resources modules far exceeded my expectations. I thought I was pretty good at doing research, but this was awesome and I was able to resolve some of my research dilemmas as a result. I found new resources, and joined two new online organisations to find more information.

No matter what stage you're at in your writing, you'll find a course that can help you in some way - learning the craft, motivation and inspiration, and meeting others at a similar stage to you. Just get on with it and do it.

I felt that all the topics and ideas presented in the short story course were clearly communicated, and the links made between the modules were sound and logical.

I enjoyed the warmth of the narrator of this course. It engaged me and maintained my interest. I was also impressed by the resources that went along with each of the modules. The range of examples provided, which amplified the points made, were easy to follow and learn from for my own writing.

Short Story Essentials is a comprehensive and detailed course. It is not overwhelming because the way the course is constructed leaves ample room for feeling guided and supported every step of the way. In the end, I have gained a greater level of confidence and faith in my writing skills, in having completed the course.

Thank you for a well-crafted course that has done so much in providing me the skills and techniques to keep on striving to become a better short story writer, now and into the future.

This course really provided a step by step on how to get started. I thought it was excellent.

Everything I was learning was relevant and the assignments were taking us through the steps we needed to learn to go out and be freelance writers. I enjoyed seeing what other people were writing and seeing how they were approaching their assignments. I also enjoyed the interview!

Alex's comments were always positive and insightful.

I know if I want to get started I have enough tools to 'have a go'. It's no longer a mystery.

Professional advice from professionals, presented in easily consumable pieces that are current and relevant. You won't get better writing courses in Australia.

Thankyou Valerie and Alex!

Carli was informative and helpful at every stage of this program. Her calm and approachable nature made her easy to talk to and I felt comfortable asking questions.

I found this whole course enjoyable. I particularly liked the readings and examples that were provided in the reader. I also enjoyed listening to Carli's firsthand experience as a successful food writer and the little stories she would pepper into the lesson.

The pitch email writing lesson was very eye opening and really cleared up a lot of questions that I had about pitching ideas to magazines etc. I now have a much clearer understanding on what is expected of a good writer and what the industry looks like as a whole.

The course is short but impactful. The vibe of the course was relaxing and was not stressful or daunting like some online classes can be.

A big shoutout to Carli for sharing her own personal experiences as a food writer. Her stories and anecdotes were fun and informative. She made sure to not pressure us and took it nice and slow to ensure we were getting all the information we needed.

I enjoyed being prompted to think more clearly about the way I write my novel. I can now see the obvious way to improve my story. I'll be revising this course a few more times. After the first two modules, especially, I wanted to run straight to my story and fix it. But I think I have a few more mistakes to work through before I get it right.

I have enjoyed the longer courses I have done with AWC, especially since I did not begin as a writer. But their shorter courses (eg. POV) help me to slow down to take in information that I haven't always understood the first time around.

It sparks the joy of writing in me and makes me want to pick up my pen again. It has made me think about my characters in new ways which I am sure will have a positive impact on my storytelling.

Carla was so positive and friendly with her responses. All her suggestions were useful and provided food for thought. It was useful to watch the feedback for every writer because I learned lots from each bit of feedback.

The course content was very informative and useful, but putting it into practice and getting feedback on it was invaluable. Plus I loved reading the other stories too, so that was fun. I also appreciated the examples of how a middle grade book and writing for children differ from writing for adults or young adults.

This course was easy to follow. It had lots of useful handouts, forms, and exercises to improve my writing. There are lots of tips for writing for children that are very relevant and useful. Our tutor, Carla, was always kind and friendly with the feedback on assignments, which made it less stressful when submitting them. Sharing work can sometimes be scary, but Carla made it a safe space.

I was really pleased I did this course. Although some of the information provided were things I'd already learned from other AWC courses, I still found this course really useful due to the focus on the younger reader.

Coming from a professional writing background, I have learned that I need to adopt a totally different writing style for feature articles. I feel more skilled and enthusiastic to pick up my blog that I've abandoned and also empowered to write for areas of interest to publications.

As a busy working mum, it was an easy to complete course with really helpful insights on not only how to write, but how to pitch articles and get published.

I love reading romances so wanted to look at how to write them!

I wasn't sure romance was a genre I wanted to really write in, but the great thing about this course is that it has a lot of information that can be applicable to other genres.

I enjoyed all the bonus interviews and inspiration from successful romance writers.

I now know what is needed in a romance story and feel like I could dip my toe in and give it a go.

All of the AWC courses I have done have been interesting, informative and inspiring. It is obvious that they are there to help you be successful and that is a really nice feeling.

It made sense, and I loved the information about backstory. As Pamela was talking I could see my villain come to life.

I now have a very clear picture of my villain in my mind. Before this session I just couldn't get my head around him. So the session exceeded my expectations.

If you're stuck, or not writing, I would encourage you to do a course with the AWC... you will be writing again in no time.

Pamela's style is pleasant and encouraging, as well as informative. I always come away thinking 'yeah, I can do this,' as well as picking up some practical tips.

The general approach to developing the antagonist is something that I think will improve my story.

Two key take aways for me, that I hadn't considered previously, are (a) the difference between an antagonist and a character who is simply unpleasant or nasty and (b) the different ways of thinking about the personal and the impersonal antagonist.

The courses I've done with the AWC have all helped me improve my writing. The advice is practical, giving you scope to dive deeper into a particular aspect when needed.

I am attempting a novel with a clear antagonist, however I needed guidance on getting the balance right. I was a bit concerned the seminar would deal in cliches but it didn't and I got a great deal out of it. I enjoyed Pamela's energy and the Q&A.

Makes me think and create in a much more focused way.

Insightful and accessible seminars that don't cost the earth.

I love Pamela's presentations - her joy and passion for writing are always evident. I learnt new insights and picked up tips that will be useful.

I now understand the nuances of my villains.

Take an AWC course, and build on it. AWC is like a 'lolly shop' for writers.

Pamela explains each of her topics well, succinctly and with humour, and I always find I get ideas for my story when I listen to her. She is a born teacher and a font of knowledge.

I was looking to increase my knowledge and skills in short story writing and the outline of this course looked like it would provide a helpful structure and guide. I love that it is a self-paced course and the option to submit a story and receive feedback was what convinced me to enrol.

Having a structure to follow has made writing so much easier and more enjoyable. Knowing what elements make up a short story has made me feel more confident with my writing as well as giving me the confidence to enter competitions.

The course is full of practical information, set out very clearly and was a joy to complete with all of the examples and tips included. The self-paced and online mode was so convenient and allowed me to complete the course in my own time.

Looking forward to completing other courses available.

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!!