What’s it like to learn with AWC?

The presentation by Lesley was great. I enjoyed all her examples, the technical knowledge she shared, the general tips about how to find a publisher and pitch, and the passion with which she presented the material.

I was already passionate about writing for children, but this course gave me more confidence to give it a go. I actually find writing for the early reader harder than writing for older children, so this course was terrific in giving me lots of insight into writing for 6-9 year olds.

I have undertaken a number of courses at the Australian Writers' Centre now. Having done a raft of other writing courses previously in Australia and overseas, the AWC courses really stand out for their specific, technical and practical advice. They are courses that really give you concrete skills. I've completed every course feeling like I have the knowledge and tools to write and to see a writing project through, rather than just engaging with the creative idea of writing (which can be fun but gets you nowhere!).

A huge thank you to Lesley for a wonderful course!

Fantastic course. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the craft of writing picture books.

Cathie was great. All feedback was relevant to improving your writing skills and story.

I enjoyed listening to the weekly audio lesson and exercises to practice the information. Encouraged me to write more and put what I've learnt into practice.

Highly recommend to help improve your writing and make the journey more enjoyable.

Cathie was great and provided wonderful feedback and was honest and to the point. No holding back, which is what you need - honest feedback.

I enjoyed the assignments and getting feedback directly on them. It was also great to be able to ask questions both of Cathie, but also of the other students in the class.

Before, I was simply writing a story that came to my head. This was great for ideation, but I know now that these stories would never have had a chance of being published. They didn't have the right structure and lacked the required emotional beat. I have learned so much in this course that I can now apply to my stories to give them a fighting chance of being considered.

I'd say it is well worth the investment in time and money. There is so much gold in there that you'll come away overwhelmed with information... but in a good way!

AWC courses are so helpful and well-structured that I thought this course was what I needed in order to better plan and start putting my ideas down on a page. I was right!!!

The videos were great, and the slide presentation was succinct and to the point. It has renewed my confidence to start writing something that has been in my head for the past 3 years.

The whole course was excellent, but if I had to choose one moment it was towards the end when Kate presented a step-by-step on how to plan and plot. I understand that it may be a different process for me, and I will have to adjust to my needs, but it is the structure that helps me.

If you have an idea and want to start writing, AWC courses will certainly give the tools you need.

I wanted to explore my creative writing ability and was heartened that this course caters to anyone wishing to do this. You don't have to have an idea for a novel - you can just explore your creativity.

I was delighted to discover that the people on my course were so friendly. They were all interested in so many genres of writing - a real revelation to me. I have never read any sci-fi before but it's wonderful to see how creative some of my fellow course-mates are. It was great that everyone was so supportive and constructive in their feedback. I really enjoyed the 'chat' group.

Jennifer was very encouraging and constructive in her generous feedback. She is brilliant at interpreting everyone's writing (I was a bit lost in some of the sci-fi stuff)! I really enjoyed listening to her videos critiquing everyone's work and learnt so much from her advice.

I loved that I could listen to the audio lessons while I was out for a walk. I could absorb them and then go home and do the bonus exercises.

I really enjoyed the chat group on my course - everyone was so kind and encouraging. I'm very sad the course has finished but I do hope some of us will keep in touch so we can see how we all progress. It's been an incredible journey!

I never thought I would be contemplating writing novels. I just didn't think I had enough ability or talent. I now have characters spending time in my thoughts while I'm in the shower or out cycling and I've started imagining what situations I will put them in next. I also notice far more of my surroundings and imagine how I'd describe them in a scene! Novels will never be the same again - I find I am analysing them now. I even ditched one last week and realised it just didn't have enough pace!

Go for it. There are courses for every type of writing - all well-structured and designed by professionals. You will be amazed at how much you'll learn and also how much you'll enjoy it. As a bonus, you get to 'meet' lots of interesting people along the way. It could change your life!

I have never been so absorbed by a course before - my family feel abandoned! I feel like I have finally found 'my people' by embarking on this creative writing journey. I have loved it and am really sad the course has finished. I will definitely be enlisting in future courses in 2024!

I embarked on short story writing without any real knowledge at all about structure, plot, point of view etc. I submitted my pieces to various competitions but had no luck. I realised I was missing something and wanted a course where I could get feedback as well as learn the essentials.

I think absolutely everything in the course was indeed 'essential' and complemented some of the other AWC courses I have done too (like character essentials).

I really liked all the examples that were used from real short stories. This helped to highlight and understand many of the points being made.

I have been able to shine a light on a short story I had already been working on (and submitting) for some time but was struggling with. The course has helped me to understand structure and theme better so that I can hang my stories more constructively. At least I hope so, and that it now shows in my submitted piece for feedback!

AWC courses are really well paced and detailed, no stone is left unturned and the information is shared in an easy-to-follow way. If you are thinking about signing up for a course, stop thinking and just do it! You won't regret it and will definitely learn something, but likely many, many things!

Honestly, this course has opened up a whole new world for me, as a beginning writer and a reader and just in terms of the way I look at life!

Very helpful feedback, targeted the writing very precisely, gave me confidence but also showed me clearly and in a positive way that I have a lot of skills to develop and hone to master this craft.

Major learning for me was that writing is a complex and difficult craft to master but at the same time hugely fulfilling when you see yourself developing some of the skills required. I feel that I can develop myself as a more open person and try to see the POV of others in order to explain what's going on in a variety of life situations.

Thank you for your wonderful offerings. I am a fan. I feel that I can trust AWC to deliver valuable courses motivated by the goal of developing and supporting writers. The course I did was brilliant. There is a course for every developing writer - go for it!

I enjoyed Cathie's straightforward approach to feedback. She is very experienced so it was amazing to get such in-depth feedback.

There were many parts of the course I enjoyed but in particular, the way that the feedback was provided by video with Cathie outlining areas of improvement to my work.

It has given me the confidence to see that I have the ability to write and the tools to improve my writing. Now that I have completed this course and even though I have a long way to go, I have the ability to get better at it.

I would say that this course is a comprehensive foundation for someone wanting to learn how to develop their writing. The course contains in-depth information and a combination of videos, written material and video feedback from the tutor which makes learning more enjoyable. The recommended work needs to be done to get the most out of the course.

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've always enjoyed writing and when I was young wanted to be an author. I have been considering taking this course for a long time and am currently on maternity leave with my second child and decided I wanted to do something for myself and finally take the plunge.

I thought Cathie delivered very clear and helpful feedback. She was honest and kind in her delivery. The course content was well written and easy to understand.

The fact that the modules can be listened to make it so easy to get through the content so I was able to listen and re-listen to the modules whilst I was breastfeeding.

Now when I read a picture book with my kids, I always read the dedication because it makes me consider how much hard work has gone into writing the book. I'm a lot more conscious reading the language and analysing just plot points.

The fact that you listen to the modules makes the content more achievable to get through. The course is really practical and contains the perfect amount of content. The tutors are very established in your field and the way they deliver feedback to you makes you feel like you're on your way to achieving your writing dreams!

I really enjoyed the course and found Cathie to be a wonderful tutor with so much expertise.

Pamela is an amazing tutor; this is the 3rd consecutive course I've attended run by her and I'm consistently impressed by her extensive knowledge of writing as a whole. I love receiving her detailed and insightful feedback on my assignments or ideas and she's helped me gain a deeper understanding of my characters and story, and offered some fantastic suggestions for how to improve my novel overall.

I think the assignments actually were the best part as they were a fantastic opportunity to delve deeper into specific elements of my story such as worldbuilding, magic systems and character, and then to discuss in more detail with Pamela and the other students in the following week was great.

I came away from this course with some tangible pieces of writing based on the assignments which explored for instance my magic system in far more detail and clarity than I'd previously been able to achieve, and this actually led to (with a niche suggestion from Pamela) something of an epiphany in connecting some of the dots of my story to make it feel more real and complete than it ever has.

I would say it's the best thing I've ever done, not just in terms of my own writing, but I took these courses after leaving the ADF and struggling with some depression and other issues related to transition out of the service. Engaging with AWC, Pamela and the other students (particularly on this course, Fantasy, Sci-Fi & More) has done wonders for my mental health and has allowed me to reinvigorate my passion for writing, to the point I'm considering pursuing it as a career more seriously than ever.

Thanks to Pamela and Filia for their great communication throughout the course when there were changes to the schedule or technical issues. It's been fun and I look forward to my next steps in AWC to get my novel finished.

I'm a retired teacher with grandchildren. I'm currently immersed in children's picture books and enjoy them. I needed a challenge. The course outline was enticing.

Having done a number of academic degrees in my past, I was pleased to see the rigour in the course design and the professional industry focus.

I gained a much greater appreciation of contemporary publishing in this genre. I was impressed with the very comprehensive information and detail provided. The realities of contemporary publishing were comprehensively explored and I really appreciated that.

The courses are intelligently designed, with a comprehensive coverage, and genuine professional insights into the industry. They give value for money. For me, the online option is gold. My health doesn't allow attending multiple conferences and courses as I have done in my more youthful past.

I found Kate's down-to-earth approach warming. It made me think about many aspects of writing that I had not understood before.

I'd completed several AWC courses and they were all amazing, so I knew - when I had an idea for a picture book - that I had to sign up for this course!

I wondered if it was really necessary to take the course as, after all, how hard could it be to write a children's book? I was wrong! There are many principles and lessons to learn to plan, structure and write a picture book. There is also a lot to learn about pitching your manuscript to publishers and the production processes involved, including the importance of trusting the illustrator to enhance your story through "show don't tell".

I really appreciated Cathie's voice of experience, and practical observations and advice, as a picture book editor and publisher, as well as a judge of prestigious picture book competitions.

Completing the assignments was my favourite part of the course... firing up the creative juices and trying to put myself into the mindset of the children and their gatekeepers.

Since completing the course, I can read published picture books more analytically, noting what works particularly well, gaining insights and greater confidence in my own writing as a result.

Whatever writing genre you're considering, don't hesitate signing up to an Australian Writers' Centre course. Just do it. You'll be so glad you did!

Thank you Cathie, Valerie and the team at the AWC. Your courses and podcasts are so enriching for aspiring authors!

There was so much information that I was ignorant about prior to this course. I would recommend this thorough course to any writer/author needing a webpage.

This course exceeded my expectations. It was so packed with the info I needed. It helped me to get a very realistic understanding of the components involved. Demystified the subject in a measured, informative style. Well-paced.

Do it, it's SO worth it!

L. A. Larkin was great. Very personable and natural. While she was teaching us, it didn't feel like we were being dictated it.

I enjoyed the interaction with the tutor, the Zoom meetings and the breakout rooms to discuss with fellow writers. It was a very supportive environment.

It's a really interesting and useful tool to have course information at your disposal before you get too far into your book. It has put me in a better direction to specifically write a crime/thriller novel, not just a novel.

Absolutely incredible course! I've now got the tools to take on writing a novel and feel inspired to finish that first draft.

The tutor was amazing. Nat's feedback was awesome and she has the perfect personality for online classes. Her feedback was invaluable for me and my novel will be better thanks to her.

I think I can actually write a novel now! I'm feeling inspired and my imagination is running so high I feel like a kid again. Worth every penny. Learning skills WHILE getting inspired, absolutely invaluable.

This is the best course I've taken at AWC. Huge thanks to Nat and everyone who put the course together.

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.

Nat was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this course and found her to be a stellar professional and diligent to a tee. It was like I had my own personal editor helping me write better, but then watching everyone else's feedback taught me even more. She was wonderful. Talented and exactly right for the role.

I especially enjoyed workshopping with all my student peers. I finally figured out show don't tell.

I've signed up for the longer 6-month course and will finish my novel. I am committing to get published.

If you want to be a writer, start here.