What’s it like to learn with AWC?

I wanted to learn how to write what ideas I have and put them into a novel. I wanted to learn how to structure. And to learn as much as I could to be successful.

Nat was lovely. She provided great feedback without making me feel bad or have any doubt that I could do this. I loved hearing what Nat and the students thought of my writing.

I loved the Write Directions with Pamela. They were amazing.

It has given me the courage to continue with writing my novel.

Do it!!! Don't hesitate.

I liked everything about the course. The Write Direction Zoom meetings were very informative and I enjoyed writing and reading the class assignments (and hearing feedback from all).

I thought Nat's feedback was good and that she was helpful and encouraging. I liked that she asked everyone about what they had read, were reading, and would read next and suggested trying the flash fiction activity. She answered any questions in the chat quite promptly.

There are things you'll learn from the course that you won't find in other courses or books on writing. Getting regular feedback from others is so motivating, and a lot of the course content and chat is very inspiring (e.g., the great writing examples, discovering new authors, sharing your love of books and writing with others). It makes writing less of a lonely endeavour.

I wish I had done this course years ago!

The exercises were really great for getting my writing going. It actually felt like I could do this thing!

It's given me confidence, but also a really effective tool kit of all the things I need to consider to get started.

What a great way to learn the basics of creative writing! It will give you a sense of how it's done, and allow you to test your own writing ability if you're not sure whether you can do this.

I was glad I participated in the "Write Your Novel" course, because there was so much theory I didn't know and was able to apply this when redrafting.

The tutor was fantastic! Bernadette is so experienced in her field. She provided invaluable critical advice, while still being encouraging.

I enjoyed the interactions with Bernadette and other classmates. It was a talented and supportive bunch.

Do it! Worth every cent.

I have completed many courses at AWC. I find them up to date, communicated very well and with many practical examples. This course has allowed me to refresh my skillset in communications.

I now understand how to break down high-level communications into understandable segments.

Thank you for providing relevant and cost-effective education to help people build on their skills. It's a great platform for self-learning.

The tutor was fabulous. She was honest and the feedback extremely valuable. I wish we had more time to pick her mind about the publishing world!

Overall, I really loved building up a relationship with the other students and sharing their stories. Personally, I was so excited I got so much of my novel completed. The most valuable thing was the feedback.

I have always loved writing, and always wanted to write a novel. Now I really want to call myself a writer. I think about writing all the time. I really want to publish, as I see it as the ultimate goal. I am now excited about a second novel I am planning to write. I am also considering courses in screen writing... just for fun!

Undertaking the AWC courses was the best decision I ever made. It gave me the confidence to write a novel. A dream I have had since I was a child. The support to reach my goal was there at every stage, and I am so grateful to be part of the graduate group of the Centre. I couldn't imagine any better structured course in writing.

I am sad the course is over. Our tutor was incredible, and I hope I have more contact with her in the future. I am excited that almost everyone from our group are staying in contact. I hope one day I get to have every one of their books on my shelf!

I had done my research and the Australian Writers' Centre was a stand out. This course exceeded my expectations. It covered everything. Being able to work at your pace took a lot of pressure off to complete the course.

I found all aspects of the course a major learning experience. It has inspired me to continue my writing journey.

I would highly recommend this course to anyone willing to jump in and give writing a go.

I would recommend this course highly. Well put together. Both Bernadette and Mark were excellent. They both had very accessible and personable styles of delivery,

I enjoyed the actual writing to the various briefs. It has made me considerably more confident in my abilities.

Don't be afraid. Start and enjoy it.

Bernadette is a treasure. She gives clear feedback that can be immediately helpful, and gives long term advice about how to guide a writer on their journey. However, the best thing about Bernadette is that she is willing to change her mind. She advised against my number of point-of-view characters, but then said it was a good choice after reading the work. I agree 30 is too many.

I feel I can take a few steps back and move forward in a better direction with more confidence.

All of the online material is very helpful, and the guided feedback really sets you on the right path. They will not simply praise you, but honestly help you get it right.

Cathie is a great tutor and cares very much for her students. She gives 110% if not more so and makes sure we understand. Her feedback and extra help is first class.

I gradually learnt to relax and enjoy each module and not feel as if I had two heads, being so much older than the other students. It was good to see faces and get to know each student on Zoom and to learn a little more about their lives. I enjoyed reading their submissions and enjoyed receiving their feedback on my own novel. It has been a great learning curve and I am so glad I did this course.

I think doing this course has given me confidence to explore deeper levels in my next novel and maybe not shirk doing another draft to this YA novel if it is needed. The novel would have stayed in the drawer forever without persevering with this EYN course. Oddly, I feel as if I have grown up!

I recommend many people to AWC and know of at least five who enrolled because I said it is the way to go and to learn the craft.

Thank you to Cathie, to Filia and Nic and to the students for being part of my journey for the past six months. It is sad to be reaching the end of the course, but I think some of us will stay good friends. I appreciate all the courses I have done with AWC. Each one adds another step in the right direction for a writer to learn aspects of the craft.

It was very enjoyable, even paced and incisive. I enjoyed finding out new things. The course blew away self-doubt that I'm not good enough to write.

Do it as there will be something in it for you.

I have always wanted to write children's books but felt stuck, so thought a course might help. This short course seemed good quality and covered the things I wanted to learn.

Jude is very knowledgeable on all aspects of what we covered - illustrating, writing and publishing. She was very down to earth and engaging. I really enjoyed seeing Jude's works in progress and comparing them to the final product. It made it feel more doable and not just a distant, unachievable dream.

I think I used to procrastinate writing because it seemed so unrealistic that I could actually create a book. But I feel motivated now and I feel like it's possible.

I already knew it in theory, but I really 'got' the idea that you have to draft and then refine, and keep going through that process, rather than starting and editing it before you have even finished a draft. I would end up being so put off by the thought of a publisher seeing my crappy draft that I would never finish anything!

People do this course for all kinds of reasons, but for me it helped me get unstuck. If you feel like you want to write a picture book but for whatever reason you just don't do it, then it's definitely worth doing this course.

My career advisor had suggested I look for a career that was 'creative and literary' so I started researching courses and careers online. When I discovered the Australian Writers' Centre I was absolutely delighted. I wish I'd discovered this course years ago! The structure and content looked brilliant - extremely professional and well thought out. I also was inspired by watching the videos on your website by people who had never written professionally before but could do so after completing this course.

I was worried what I would do if I wasn't any good at it but decided to be brave and give it a go!

Vivienne's feedback was invaluable. She was constructive in her detailed feedback but was always encouraging and positive.

I loved the podcast aspect to the course. I downloaded the relevant documents on a Monday, read them and then was able to go out for a walk, listening to the modules. This helped me to really absorb the information. My favourite assignment was interviewing one of my classmates - it really helped to get to know another person on the course. I also enjoyed the feedback in video clip format. It was great to learn from other people's assignments too.

It has given me the confidence to believe that I can embark on a writing career. It has unlocked a door into the creative part of my brain - I find I'm always thinking of ideas and wondering how I could write about them. I discovered that I love writing descriptive hooks and I'm contemplating doing the creative writing course as well.

Absolutely go for it. The courses are so well thought out and carefully structured. You won't believe how much you can learn in 5 weeks - it's intense!

I enjoyed the intimacy of the course. Writing is often a space void of other people's voices and just listening to Valerie's voice felt very personal; like a character in a self-help script with Valerie as the POV narrator (writing doctor) helped with the diagnosis, cure and healing. I came away from the course with a sense of calm for what is a huge operation to dissect a manuscript.

No matter where you are with your writing, the AWC will meet you with the knowledge to take you to the next level.

I enjoyed Pamela's teaching style. I find her very easy to listen to and laugh out loud sometimes at the humour in her delivery. I would watch Pamela do a seminar on how grass grows.

I have definitely submitted cliched openings before and am guilty of info dumping. These are just two crucial pieces of information I have learned.

The Focus On seminars are a fantastic idea. They give people on a limited budget the opportunity to access crucial knowledge.

AWC courses and seminars provide crucial information about writing and submitting from facilitators that have firsthand experience.

The course has taken me from knowing nothing about freelance writing and how to go about it to knowing so much more and feeling ready to pitch to editors. I am writing pitches this week to send off and start my journey - very excited!

Vivienne provided detailed feedback on each assignment in a very timely manner.

I wasn't sure exactly what freelance writing involved and if I'd like it. It wasn't what I thought it was, but it turned out to be something much better!

The tutor was very honest and thorough, and I knew I could trust that she would actually go through what I'd written line by line and let me know if it could be better.

I've found something new that I think I can do and might be more suited to than what I was previously trying to do.

This course is so practical and highlighted elements that I could implement immediately to improve my writing.

Nat was fabulous! I have never had so much feedback from a tutor in the past. I loved the video feedback and watched all of the videos as you learn so much listening to Nat critique each piece. You can see she loves her work. Her feedback is insightful and helpful. I now have Nat's voice in my head when I am writing and have almost declared war on adverbs :) I can see the improvement in my work and am surprised that this happened over what is a relatively short period of time.

I enjoyed the practical modules that I could implement immediately. Having work reviewed, not only by Nat but also by others in the class was helpful and it is great to hear how others perceive your work. The exercises are all relevant and the handouts are so useful.

I think I finally get it! I mean - I have a much clearer vision on what I need to do to complete my first draft and then what next steps to take. I have more confidence to keep writing and to be brutal with my editing process (which I actually enjoy). Finally, and probably most importantly, I know that I will now complete the work.

There is no right or wrong way to approach your novel. You find the method that works best for you and keep writing. Don't keep going back over what you've written again and again as the novel will never be finished. Make some notes and leave these changes alone until the first draft is finished.

Fabulous program that gives insight into the process of writing. Personal feedback and guidance from authors who really do know their stuff. All done in a collaborative and supportive environment that gives you the confidence to keep writing.

Just thank you!

I wanted to explore the world of freelance writing without committing to a uni course.

I thoroughly enjoyed having Vivienne as a tutor; she was fair, encouraging and knowledgeable. Her feedback was constructive and helpful. I enjoyed the self-paced learning and receiving feedback.

A major 'Aha' moment has been realising just how many freelance writers contribute to publications! I feel confident to pitch to editors and read articles through a different lens now!

Thank you! As a novice writer I was sure I would feel out of my depth (especially given the fact some people in the course are very established writers!) but Vivienne made me feel welcomed and her feedback was constructive and useful. The course itself was easy to understand and gave me great insight into the world of freelance writing.

Kate is an expert so it's a privilege to be able to learn from her. But to be honest, what I loved most was Kate's love of storytelling and art, and how she permeated every aspect of this course with that love. It was beautiful and inspiring.

I've already learned so much from Kate but I really appreciate having all of this plotting and planning information laid out so neatly and in order.

The course showed me how important it is to dream and imagine. Writing isn't just words on a page; it's bringing an idea to life.

This is literally a how-to plot and plan a novel!