What’s it like to learn with AWC?

I found the instructor's critiques to be very helpful. Petronella knows her writing well and the feedback helped improve my writing. It was also good to read the other students' work as well as their feedback.

I enjoyed the creative writing process. I found that I enjoy writing and now I am thinking about doing another course with AWC. I've also re-discovered the joy of reading fiction! In fact I am replacing my podcast listening with fiction while driving in the car.

I thought Carla was an excellent tutor and communicator, with a lovely, warm personality which came through in her assignment feedback videos. She was always encouraging, and her comments and suggestions were insightful and helpful.

I enjoyed being part of a writing group, which I've never done before. It was great to read the stories others were writing - so many different ways of approaching the assignments. Would love to read some of the finished work.

It's worth doing one of AWC's courses - go for it!

I loved learning with Cathie and learning from her feedback with other students also. It provided a clearer insight into industry standard. I love how commercial all the AWC courses are - the insight provided is invaluable and a large part of what keeps bringing me back time and again.

I loved understanding where I was (or was not) getting properly into a child's mind or imagination - this has helped me see further within my daughters imaginary play and provided more story ideas for the future.

I always tell people every course is amazing. The insight, the depth AWC tutors go into, the industry relevant experience - all adds up to enjoyable and fascinating learning - even if it's just for fun / interest sake.

I was really impressed with the structure, assignments and feedback. I also liked the collaborative nature of the activities and the feedback the participants gave each other.

Carla was really helpful and her comments on each writer's assignments were also useful in a general sense, for all of us.

Good courses, practical, supportive tutors.

Love Carla's feedback and the assignments were not too taxing or laborious. Carla's method of feedback was really helpful. I took notes as she talked and learned way more than I thought I would. A++!

I enjoyed learning fresh ideas and developing my writing for a younger audience, which I'd never done before.

I'd say it's worth it, not too difficult and absolutely makes a difference!

Thank you! So much. Really rewarding.

Cathie is great! She is knowledgeable and quite helpful on all fronts. I appreciated her feedback. She also responded quickly to questions and comments.

The course gave me structure and tools to actually write.

Thanks for all you are doing for all of us aspiring writers in the world.

The tutor was great. Feedback was spot on. A lot of people have beta read my work to date and she's the only one to pinpoint what I couldn't see myself.

The course was educational, easy to follow and self-paced. I'm in a far better place with my writing than I was just 5 short weeks ago. Thank you, Petronella.

The tutor was very kind, approachable and friendly, wonderful at breaking down the content and gave valuable feedback.

I enjoyed getting to try out some writing exercises and push myself to write scenarios I have never thought of before. I actually enjoyed everything about the course.

The course gave me great tools and skills to help improve my writing. I would highly recommend it. I have already to family and some close friends also interested in writing. I would describe it as in-depth learning content and an open environment that is very welcoming and wholesome.

This is a wonderful course for a refresher on writing skills or starter for anyone interested in beginning their writing career. Thank you for the opportunity to get back into something I love.

Carla Fitzgerald was an excellent tutor. She gave excellent feedback. Very constructive.

I enjoyed everything! The audio, the notes, the assignments were well-thought out. Interacting with Carla and the attendees.

Thanks so much! I'll let you know when my book/s are published. :)

I have done other AWC courses and knew I would receive just what I needed to get a head start in freelancing and moving my career in this direction.

The video feedback was a first and it was just as helpful as the written feedback from other courses.

I was always going to do freelance work but I am much more confident in the next steps and making a start that avoids rookie mistakes and poor habits.

The pitching audio 5.1 was a great guide to the next step for me after the course, as I have several articles on the boil.

Just do it, do it, do it. You never look back, even if, like I did, you squeeze your submission at 11pm on Sunday it is worth it.

Cathie is a great tutor. Her background and present experiences provide students with well-informed reflections and feedback. I found Cathie supportive, encouraging and incredibly well-informed.

I enjoyed seeing the diversity of stories that people wrote. Then reading the stories and letting each know how as a reader I experienced/responded to their work.

If you want to develop the craft of picture book writing, this course is a great initial stepping stone to start you on your way.

AWC has made me realise more than any other book / course / online learning that I can write. This is a big freaking deal.

I like Valerie's audio files. Feels like there's a writer buddy there giving me great advice and leading me through the exercises. I have 11 pages of notes!

I now know it's achievable to write a book. That's all I want to do now.

I was surprised that I could use character interactions to build plot, and with only 3 of my main-ish characters (so far), I've been able to flesh out a lot more of the story, in terms of the plot points, and just helping me get that word count up to where it needs to be.

The AWC gets you from point A (Can I write? Can I write a book?) to point B (YUP!) by guiding you through the process / steps in a logical way and unlocking all the ways and tools to get you there.

Vivienne is really great; open with her opinions and discussed the topics well.

The course stretched me the most in my understanding, mostly of myself and what do I have/want to have an opinion on. I think it's helped to shape what I do and don't want to write about.

A very thorough and wonderfully practical introduction to creative writing.

The tutor was warm and encouraging. All feedback was constructive and helpful. Petronella seemed to genuinely enjoy reading what we'd come up with.

I was worried about the assignments, being so out of practice, but they were a real self-confidence booster for me: the prompts were such that instead of having to worry about what I'm going to write about, all I had to do was write and focus on applying all the learnings of the module.

It has given me the confidence and tools to explore creative writing further. I still don't quite know what I'm going to write and whether I ever want to be published, but this is such a great start.

Creative writing is a craft and there is a whole toolkit you can apply to every stage of writing. This really appeals to my rather methodical mind, which I have always feared to be the antithesis of a creative mind. I realised that once given a prompt and the tools to use on it, the story just came to me from somewhere... amazing!

The AWC teaches and shares professional advice in a practical and nurturing way. More than that, it embraces you into a writing community.

Thank you to Petronella and everyone behind the scenes who put this course together!

Once I completed all research into the range of online writing courses, I did not take long to decide that AWC was the perfect platform for me to enrol. It addressed the learning goals I have been looking for for a long time.

I found the written feedback valuable, and it helped me to improve in many ways. I thought my online tutor, Cathie Tasker, was direct and did not hold back on stating the truth about the quality of my work. This allowed me to make realistic goals for my future as a writer.

The handouts and the course videos were enjoyable and helpful in executing the weekly assignments. I also enjoyed reading other students' work as a benchmark. Finally, I also appreciated when other students gave me feedback. It showed openness and provided an exciting perspective.

It provided the highest motivation to write stories that were merely sitting in my head and notebooks for over ten years. The course provided a framework that allowed me to see that anything is possible.

Thank you for forming a very professional organisation to inspire and support writers.

The amount of practical, industry-based knowledge I have learnt over the past five weeks has been phenomenal. Vivienne gave sound advice when delivering her feedback for the assignments.

I enjoyed the logical structure in both the modules and the assignments.

The course has given me much more confidence in my writing abilities and a belief I can work as a full-time freelance writer.

I would like to thank both Valerie and Vivienne for their encouragement along with my fellow classmates.

The Freelance Writing Stage 1 course gives you the practical knowledge and skills to go out and earn an income.

It's been a bucket list item to write a children's book but this course has ignited a fire in me to become a full time children's picture book author. I'm brimming with ideas and information after this course and can't wait to submit my first manuscript.

Cathie was fantastic. She was prompt with her feedback and honest. Her recommendations were useful and supportive. Very grateful for all her insights and industry knowledge.

I enjoyed all of it. The audio was easy to listen to and understand. The handouts are a fantastic resource and extra exercises were a great tool for expanding/practising my skills. The assignments were a great little challenge and I looked forward to my feedback every week. I REALLY enjoyed being a part of a class where we could read each other's work and support each other throughout.

I felt a little lost and out of balance. Being a stay-at-home mum it is easy to become a little absent from the real world and I was a little daunted to return to it. But this course has made me feel empowered and creative again. It's given me the tools to embark on a new career that I always fantasised about. I have been restored and I'm so excited for what's next.

Thank you for this opportunity; it's done more for me than anyone will ever know. Oh! and keep an eye out for my name - one day, I might have a book good enough to use as a resource ;)

I enjoyed getting professional feedback on my writing. Great honest, constructive and helpful feedback. Gave me confidence that it was possible for me to write and be published.

A great course for anyone who's ever considered writing for publication - gives you everything you need and puts it on you to make it happen.

I thoroughly enjoyed researching my topics and applying it to my assignments. It helped me to really identify the topics that I am most passionate about. Criminal justice is my thing!

I learnt so much and can't wait to start another course.

Due to my career in education, I have always had an interest in children's literature and children's literacy development. Writing a picture book and being successful in working with a publisher is a bucket list item of mine and I'd like to pursue it seriously.

I enjoyed the fact that I could fit this around my busy schedule - 3-4 hours is doable even while I'm working fulltime.

Cathie's feedback throughout the course was invaluable. She was very approachable and always responded to queries posted in the course chat. I felt like due to what I received from Cathie, my writing improved each week I completed a module.

Before I completed this course, I didn't realise how many elements go in to writing a picture book. I felt like I kept improving with my writing, which gave me confidence to keep going!

It's worth completing a course with AWC if you are serious about writing. They give all the information/resources needed to keep refining and honing your craft.