Deborah Frenkel reignited her long-held dream of becoming an author when she became immersed in the world of picture books after the birth of her daughter. Throw in frequent long walks and she soon started to simmer with stories of her own.

Knowing she needed some direction to get her stories on to the page, Deborah jumped into Writing Picture Books at the Australian Writers' Centre. Since then, she has gone on to publish four picture books, with more under contract. Her latest release is 100 School Days, out now with Affirm. She has also published The Truck Cat, The Sydney Harbour Fairy and Naturopolis.

Inspired to write

When creativity struck, Deborah was working as an advertising copywriter, so she already knew that writing was a practical skill she could learn. But she had never tackled a book or a work of fiction before. That’s why she turned to the Australian Writers' Centre.

“I was coming to the end of my maternity leave with my first child. My daughter was one of those babies who would only nap in a baby carrier while moving, so I spent months and months walking the streets of my neighbourhood with her snoring gently on my chest. It turns out there's something very meditative about walking without anywhere to get to – it stirs up so many ideas,” Deborah told us.

“I couldn't stop thinking about stories, many of them inspired by the piles of picture books we were reading every day. I realised this was my opportunity to actually do something about the need-to-write that I'd squashed inside myself for decades.

“I knew I needed some kind of instruction. In my day job – the one I was on maternity leave from – I was (and still am) an advertising copywriter, so I already had a very pragmatic approach to writing, borne of years of working on whichever brief I was allocated. I knew it's a craft you can hone, but I didn't know the first thing about writing a book. And I was looking for a course I could do from home, flexibly. So I started with Writing Picture Books.”

She was particularly drawn to the no-nonsense nature of AWC courses, which deliver detailed and actionable content.

“They're extremely practical. I've done a few other writing short courses, and often hit a point where I'm frustrated by the vagueness of the lessons – sometimes the whole thing feels like the introduction. I don't need broad strokes inspiration from a course, I need nuts and bolts! All the AWC courses I've done have delivered that,” she says.

A whole new world

Deborah says that that first course unlocked the floodgates of creativity for her.

“About 18 months after completing the course, using what I'd learned, I applied for and was awarded an Australian Society of Authors mentorship for a non-fiction picture book manuscript. It was a manuscript inspired, appropriately, by wandering the streets with my daughter, who was by then a toddler and fascinated by all the weeds, moss, ants, and lizards she could inspect at toddler-height.”

This manuscript eventually became her debut book Naturopolis.

“A year or so later, I submitted the same manuscript to a publisher's open submissions window, and then a few months later received a mysterious email from the publisher asking if we could talk on the phone. As soon as I answered, she said, ‘Congratulations, I'd like to publish your manuscript!' and I nearly fell over – only I didn't, because by that stage I had a second baby who, if I recall correctly, had just pooed all over my hands. Glamorous!,” Deborah recalls.

Naturopolis is beautifully illustrated by debut illustrator Ingrid Bartkowiak, and went on to be awarded by the Children's Book Council of Australia and elsewhere.

The start of a career as an author

“As soon as I got a little momentum with the mentorship and this first contract, it snowballed. I kept writing and submitting and joined critique groups full of staggeringly talented writers, and soon I had a second picture book under contract, The Sydney Harbour Fairy, which was published in 2023 by Affirm Press. I have two more picture books out this year, The Truck Cat and 100 School Days. And I have others under contract for release in the coming years,” she says.

The Truck Cat tells the story of Tinka, a cat who lives on a B-double truck with his human, Yacoub. But while Tinka and Yacoub live literally everywhere, home feels very far away, for both of them. Then when Tinka and Yacoub get separated on the highway, everything changes, and in finding their way back to each other, they discover something new about what home might mean. 

“It's a story about cats and humans, immigration and identity, and homes lost and found… and there's even a hint of a love story, too! It's illustrated by Danny Snell and published by Bright Light.”

100 School Days is a celebration of growth and learning, in a rhyming narrative that also incorporates elements of a counting book. 

“It's the first picture book in Australia about the ‘100 days of school' milestone that many primary schools celebrate in the first year of school,” Deborah says. “It's fun and heartfelt and I think it encapsulates the joy and drama of the first year of primary school! It's illustrated by Laura Stitzel and published by Affirm Press.”

Deborah continues her work as an advertising copywriter while fitting her creative writing into evenings and weekends. And while she is bubbling with ideas for older readers and writing short stories, picture books are her main focus for now. Her adventures with her three-year-old provide ongoing inspiration.

“That's the benefit of living with your target audience – it's constant market research!”

Deborah’s writing process

Fitting writing in around her work and family means she has to be flexible.

“My writing process is very fluid and often happens on-the-go – it normally involves me stabbing single-sentence thoughts into my Notes app, or emailing myself a couple of words before I forget them! Ideas find me and I find that if I can't stop thinking about something, it's probably a good idea that's worth pursuing.

“Once I get to the laptop, I generally write a picture book manuscript in a single sitting, and then edit it furiously over a longer period of time.”

One surprising aspect of creating picture books that Deborah loves is working with an illustrator and an editor.

“I love the collaboration of it, and how other minds make your words far, far better than they ever could have been in your little Word document! I also love the visual thinking required, which is its own language, and it’s one I'm slowly learning, book by book.”

As Deborah continues to pursue success with her picture books, she is thankful for those first steps she took with her newborn – and the AWC.

“Do a course! There's nothing to lose,” she says. “You hear a lot about how fiendishly difficult it is to get a publishing contract, so I'd tucked away any hope I had of that happening. But it happens! Persistence pays off, and so does owning your goals and dreams.”

Courses completed at AWC:

• Writing Picture Books
• SEO Copywriting
• Writing Children's Novels
• Presenting to Kids

“I don’t think I would be a published author without the AWC courses; they were the seed from which everything else grew. The fantastic lessons aside, recommendations for great books on writing, connections with other writers and news of publishing opportunities all came through the AWC,” Anna told us.

The start of a new chapter

Anna started toying with the idea of returning to her first passion during a stay at an Enid Blyton-like cottage in the English countryside. A friend recommended she try the Australian Writers' Centre, so Anna enrolled in Creative Writing Stage 1, followed by Novel Writing Essentials.

“I’d been concerned about how my brain (which often feels like mashed banana) would hold up to further education after such a long time away from study, but I needn’t have been. The lessons in the AWC courses were incredibly clear and easy to follow. My tutor (Bernadette Foley) was sensational. She not only provided practical feedback but made me believe I had something worth writing, and her initial words of encouragement have stayed in my head to this day.”

Anna found the community aspect of the courses to be particularly beneficial. “The opportunity to be surrounded by other writers from all different walks of life and give and receive feedback on each other’s work was priceless. It gave us the skills and insight to critique and edit our own work as well as providing a good sense of how our writing was tracking rather than going it alone and just hoping for the best.”

Write about what you know

For her first manuscript, Anna drew on her experiences working in aged care. “Before having children, I was studying to become a doctor, yet ended up as a social support coordinator after following my heart into my grandfather’s nursing home after he was diagnosed with dementia.”

Anna feels privileged to have cared for residents with varying stages of dementia and to have provided support to their families, knowledge which she later passed on to the protagonist of her first novel. 

“Sadly, an injury and multiple surgeries left me unable to return to aged care, so I began to write about it, channelling my experience and love for older people onto the page.”

Her debut novel, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, is about a bizarre case of mistaken identity that gives a desperately lonely elderly man one last chance at being part of a family. He just has to hope that his poker face is in better nick than his prostate and that his lookalike is never found! It’s a life-affirming story about redemption, forgiveness, grief and finding family, coated thickly in Aussie humour.

“The idea for the novel began with the creation of my protagonist Fred, who not only shares my late grandfather’s name but also his delightful, selfless, and endearing nature. Pa was my best friend, whose gratitude, humour and kindness lit up any room he was in. People over eighty are often under or misrepresented in the arts, so I wanted to create not just an elderly character but an elderly hero who inspires hope and shows that worth, unlike eyesight, does not diminish with age. 

“Pa provided the perfect inspiration. He had countless strengths, but his poker face wasn’t one of them! He was so honest that he found it terribly difficult to even play a card game that required bluffing. Plot stems from conflict, so I contemplated what would happen if you placed such a man in a situation where he was desperate enough to deceive (if he believed he wasn’t hurting anyone). Doppelgängers and cases of mistaken identity have always fascinated me, and I began developing the idea of one man being able to redeem another man’s life, even after death. The story grew quickly from there.

“My experience in aged care provided the setting for the book and influenced its themes of grief, ageing, isolation and the power of identity, purpose, love, and connection. I was also greatly inspired by my grandparents’ beautiful marriage which breathed life into the novel. I often wonder what prompted multiple people to publish this story and I can only believe that their love somehow got into my keyboard and onto the page. The characters, plot and setting of the novel are all fictional. But the love? That’s entirely real.”

Building on her knowledge

Anna took the skills she learned in additional courses, including Fiction Essentials: Scenes, Fiction Essentials: Grammar and Punctuation and Fiction Essentials: Structure to polish her manuscript to the best of her ability before looking for a publisher. 

“I entered a couple of writing competitions to little avail and began preparing a query letter to submit to agents and publishers. However, my big break came when I decided to give Virtual Literary Speed Dating a go, as suggested by my AWC tutor. This is a unique and fabulous opportunity offered by the Australian Society of Authors in which you have three minutes to pitch your novel to a publisher or agent on Zoom. 

“I pitched to the lovely Bev Cousins at Penguin Random House, and she requested my full manuscript the following week. I began preparing myself for a ‘no’ with my Stephen King rejection nail and hammer at the ready – it’s a thing, google it!. But I never needed the nail because this was THE YES! And not for one book, but two. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have had this door open so quickly and don’t take it for granted that everything aligned that day.”

Anna celebrated the good news with spaghetti, seafood, dancing, tiramisu and champagne. “Not necessarily in that order!” Anna says. “It was a similar feeling to when the boy I really liked called me for the first time, which made me so happy that I screamed and jumped into the pool. I didn’t jump into the pool when I heard I was being published, but I did tell that same boy (who is now my husband) and we screamed and cried and jumped up and down along with our daughters and geriatric Italian Greyhound.”

Anna then secured herself an agent, and now has publishing deals with Harper Collins USA and Nemira Publishing Romania. 

“I’m also thrilled that the manuscript is now with a media rights agent in Los Angeles who is pitching to writers and producers for screen adaptation, which for me was always the ultimate aspiration from the minute I typed the first word. Not too long ago, I would have told myself I was dreaming. Now that my dreams and reality have begun to merge like the perfect gin and tonic, I’m starting to believe that anything is possible.”

A career as an author

Anna is working on the second book in her two-book deal, currently titled Ratbag. “It’s about a retired Michelin-star chef called Griff who now lives in a nursing home, widowed and depressed. He has created a death menu—a list of ways in which he could take his own life. He just has to choose which one…by Friday. There is no way his last meal is going to be the flavourless mush they serve at the home, so the night before he plans his demise, he breaks into the nursing home kitchen to cook himself his last meal, sparking a long-forgotten joy. 

“It’s a story about the power of food, purpose, family, and love. I drew inspiration for this from the delightful Maggie Beer who is doing great work with her foundation to improve food in nursing homes.”

And while the achievements keep rolling in, for Anna the most important thing is sharing her dream with her family.

“Showing my kids that dreams were possible was one of my proudest moments as a mum. Because of my physical health limitations, they had never seen me climb a mountain, until now. My youngest daughter has already planned her book week costume based on my debut – even though it’s not a kid’s book – and I get teary even thinking about that! They are both wonderful writers and I love sharing this passion with them.

“Because this book grew from such a personal family connection, I also felt delighted and proud that my grandparents’ love, which inspired everyone who met them, could be shared beyond their lifetime and geography. That’s the magic of books.”

A winning recipe

Anna has found the winning recipe, combining her love for her family, storytelling and aged care into stories that will resonate with readers. Her aim is to write uplifting and meaningful books that make the reader laugh and cry in equal measure and leave them seeing a little of the glitter in the world.

“I feel so incredibly grateful and in awe that this little story that began in my head has really meant something to people in the publishing industry and because of that it will have the opportunity to reach, and hopefully capture the hearts of, people on a global scale. It’s just mind-blowing. I hope that it’s not just an enjoyable read but that it might also be a tonic to people whose lives have been touched by ageing and loss.

“If you are even remotely curious about writing, enrolling in an Australian Writers' Centre course is the single best thing you can do, whether you are after a career change or just want to enjoy it as a hobby. It not only teaches you the craft of all kinds of writing – from novels to picture books to copywriting and grammar – but also offers very practical advice on getting published and invaluable insight into how the industry works.

“The courses also put you in touch with other aspiring authors, which helps to keep your writing momentum. Writing a book is a bit like trying to get fit – but with less sweat and more chocolate. In both pursuits, having accountability buddies gives you the highest chance of success. My origin story is not uncommon – so many authors I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to also began their journey to publication at the Australian Writers' Centre.”

Courses completed at AWC:

• Inside Publishing
• Your Author Website
• Fiction Essentials: Scenes
• Plotting and Planning
• Fiction Essentials: Grammar and Punctuation
• Fiction Essentials: Structure
• Novel Writing Essentials
• Creative Writing Stage 1

After a 17-year career in the army, M. Dane was facing a medical discharge. The dramatic change in lifestyle was a difficult period for Dane, and after some soul searching he decided to embark on a transformative journey to realise a long-held dream – becoming a successful author. This led him to the Australian Writers' Centre.

Dane immediately felt the impact of the courses, which allowed him to focus on specific areas of improvement. In fact, he went on to do more than a dozen courses.

“I appreciated the variety of course formats, from self-paced modules to weekly sessions with an instructor and classmates, which was a fun experience. Engaging with my peers and taking part in critique exchanges was incredibly beneficial,” Dane says.

Dane has now gone on to find success as a self-published author, with his novel Born Upon a Curse gaining considerable attention on TikTok, attracting over 1150 applicants for the role of advanced reader.

“The courses at AWC are absolute game changers. They've elevated my skills in so many ways, and I wouldn't be where I am without them.”

Unlocking the power of feedback

One of the most impactful aspects of the courses was the invaluable feedback received from both instructors and classmates. 

“I'm a huge fan of the instructor feedback,” Dane told us. “Submitting my project and receiving their experienced input worked a treat in helping me understand strong and weak areas of my writing. I appreciated the time and effort they invested in each of my submissions. [The presenter] Tim Harris was a standout; I loved his breakdown of my Laugh Out Loud submission.”

Feedback from classmates also revealed blind spots in his writing. “Apparently, I can't get enough of similes. Now, being aware of this tendency, I've learned to rein in my similes like a shepherd herding sheep.”

He also found that the courses provided the structure and guidelines that he needed to write better and faster. 

“The number of lightbulb moments I experienced during my courses at AWC is unbelievable,” he says. “I now write a faster first draft that is significantly cleaner than any of my previous works. I spend less time pulling my hair out, frustrated and confused with writer's block, as I now have a solid understanding of story structure, character development, and effective plotting techniques. This allows me to write more books, which is my passion.”

He was also able to connect with other writers. “Since completing the courses, I've expanded my network, connecting with fellow authors, graduates like Reece Carter, and instructors such as Tim Harris. These connections have been invaluable.”

Born Upon a Curse: A dream realised

Dane's latest novel is Born Upon a Curse, a new adult paranormal romance.

“The story follows Alina Rose, a 19-year-old struggling to control her alter ego, Machina, when a night out reveals there's more to her split personality than she could have imagined: she's a demon, and her powers have just awakened. This leads her to Astaroth Academy, a prestigious institution in an alpine France-like setting, where she hopes to learn to control her powers and silence Machina once and for all.”

He was inspired by his love for the fantasy books that he read voraciously as a child.

“I wrote this story because I was obsessed with Hogwarts as a kid. I'd dream of attending so I could explore the secret passageways and eat all the food. In a way, Astaroth is Hogwarts for college-aged demons. Swap out broomsticks for beers, and you're close to experiencing the world I've created.”

Although a paranormal romance seems quite different from a soldier’s life, Dane was able to draw on his military experience in his writing.

“The army was such a huge part of my life for so long, it would be impossible for it not to rub off on my writing,” he acknowledges. “In Born Upon a Curse, some action scenes are directly inspired by my military experience, with the terminology and strategies reflecting my background.

“Additionally, I'm working on a middle-grade series where each book is a standalone in a unique location around the world. My goal is to introduce young readers to different customs, myths, and ways of life, encouraging them to explore the world with an open mind. My extensive travel with the army gave me an appreciation for the wider world, and I hope to pass that sense of wonder and curiosity on to my readers.”

A process that works

Dane kicks off all his stories by reading Save the Cat, a popular plotting book, and he did the same when starting Born Upon a Curse.

“Once I felt confident in my structure, I outlined each chapter by hand, filling an entire notebook – what I call my ‘draft 0.5'. I then wrote drafts 1 to 3 on my laptop in Scrivener and sent them to a list of beta readers for feedback. After reviewing their thoughts, I dove into another three drafts before sending the manuscript to my copy editor. That's when the real fun began. I turned to TikTok to find readers for my ARCs (Advance Reader Copies), offering my book in exchange for honest and fair reviews. This strategy helped me gather over 1150 advance readers, ensuring I had reviews ready on Amazon and Goodreads at launch. Now, it's all about promoting, promoting, promoting.”

Dane was initially hesitant to try out TikTok, but was encouraged by his girlfriend to use it to connect with other authors and bookish people. 

“I don't enjoy being the centre of attention, and recording myself for everyone to see was outside my comfort zone. But as I made more videos (including one terrible one with me dancing, which I later deleted), I became more comfortable, and now I can't imagine life without it. The bookish community of TikTok is phenomenal – they're incredibly supportive and friendly, and I've made some fantastic friends there. Plus, TikTok is a hotspot for books going viral, and I'm hopeful that one day, one of my stories will join the ranks of TikTok-famous books.”

He aims to post at least five times a week, but ramped up his activity during his book launch.

“I make it a point to respond to every comment because if people take the time to engage with my posts, I want them to know I appreciate it. I try to be as authentic as possible because I believe people can sense when something isn't genuine. My content varies from me talking to the camera about various topics, showcasing my books, to sharing snippets of my life, like my writing retreat in England last year. This mix helps keep my feed engaging.

“Through TikTok, I've found my beta readers, ARC readers, and customers. It's been significant in building my audience. I've also created a mailing list to keep people informed about upcoming books, which is invaluable. Plus, I've gained a lot of insights from the community, taking their feedback on what works and what doesn't, and making sure to incorporate those points in future books.”

A resounding recommendation

As well as his new-adult novel, Dane has published a picture book called Beyond the Clouds, which he illustrated himself.

“I’ve also worked on another picture book titled Dino Masters, which I authored and illustrated. These projects wouldn’t have seen the light of day without the skills and confidence I gained from the Australian Writers' Centre.

“The instructors are fantastic, and the courses are broken down into easy-to-follow chunks. Take a look through their course library and pick ones you think will benefit you the most. The value for money is unmatched. Trust me, if these courses weren't top-notch, I wouldn't have completed 16 of them.

“Writing has become a central part of my life, and I'm very pleased to say I dreamed and hoped it would happen. I worked hard and gave up a lot to make time for my writing. So, yes, I dreamed and I hoped, and I'm still pinching myself that it actually happened. The Australian Writers' Centre has been an indispensable part of that journey, and I can't recommend it enough to aspiring writers.”

Courses completed at AWC:

• Writing Picture Books
• Laugh Out Loud
• Fiction Essentials: Scenes
• Cut, Shape, Polish
• Romance Writing
• Short Story Essentials
• Fiction Essentials: Characters
• Writing Chapter Books
• Inside Publishing
• Pitch Your Novel: How to attract agents and publishers
• Writing Picture Books Masterclass
• Novel Writing Essentials
• Fiction Essentials: Dialogue
• Your Author Website
• Your Audiobook Advantage
• Book Covers That Sell

Andrea Barton’s novel, The Godfather of Dance, dives into murder, dance and family secrets. Journalist Jade is determined to write a career-defining article. Her dance instructor Anton wants to know who killed his fiancée. Anton’s life is set between the glamorous world of ballroom dance and the dark past of the Valencio crime family.

Andrea spent five years in The Woodlands, Texas, a planned community that she says is reminiscent of the set of Pleasantville. “I wanted to show the darkness that lurked beneath the luxurious homes and manicured lawns. With a US setting, I couldn't resist side jaunts to New York and Las Vegas, while the second half of the book takes place in New Orleans.”

In addition to writing the book, Andrea knew she had to understand the technical aspects of what would make the story believable. “I took the course Anatomy of a Crime: How to Write About Murder because after The Godfather of Dance had been accepted for publication, I had a mystery series on my hands, so I needed a better understanding of murder.”

It was worth the time and investment. Andrea says: “The material, beautifully presented by Candice Fox and Valerie Khoo, validates what I've done in book one, and I am applying my learnings to book two and beyond.”

The course covers eight modules covering all aspects of premeditation, the murder, crime scenes, the hunt, prime suspects, the arrest, court and jail. “My mysteries usually finish after the murder is solved, so while I found the whole course fascinating, for me, the first five modules are the most relevant. For true crime, or genres such as police procedurals or legal fiction, the rest would be brilliant.”

The course is unique because it not only goes into technical detail about the crime but also how it should be written to engage the reader in a compelling way. Andrea outlines her key takeaways:

When plotting a murder, the first thing to consider is why this person is killed.

“Candice suggests this comes down to understanding the relationship between the killer and the victim, and she simplifies the range of potential motives to crimes of passion, serial killers or business. Crimes of passion aren't limited to those concerning sexual partners, they include any case where feelings run out of control, whether between parent and child, siblings, work colleagues, or any other relationship that provokes emotional tension.

“Serial killers tend to be driven by the gratification of taking a life, or the desire to target a specific demographic, such as someone who looks like a person who once rejected him or her. Business killings occur when the victim poses a barrier to the murderer achieving status, money or territory.”

What is your character’s modus operandi?

“Once you know why your character is committing murder, you have to decide how they're going to do it,” says Andrea, outlining another lesson from the course. “We've all watched TV shows or movies where someone is suffocated with a pillow or held underwater to drown, but Candice points out how hard this is in practice

“Besides providing valuable facts and citing examples from true crime and fiction, Candice also offers suggestions for how to write like a pro, ideas for research and exercises. One of her best writing tips is a reminder of the power of words. For example, the frequent use of ‘I’ in dialogue or first-person narrative shows a person who is self-absorbed. A character's language can also reflect their level of education and intelligence. In The Godfather of Dance, I had to be careful about how words expressed a character's nationality. Australian Jade has a ‘mum', while American Anton has a ‘mom'. Jade curses ‘bloody hell', which Anton would never use. Anton uses the insult ‘dumb-ass' not ‘dumb-arse' and so on.

“Diving deeper, words can express a character's religious beliefs and their outlook on life, which dictates how a murderer can justify their killing and how others view it. Do they have a distorted sense of morality, or are they completely unemotional? My characters, Anton and his sister, Nadeska, come from a crime family, which gave me plenty of scope to explore those ideas. Nadeska has no qualms about money laundering for criminals, yet she expects family loyalty from Anton and can't understand why he suspects their father of killing his fiancée. Readers don't need to agree with her actions or beliefs, but hopefully, a rich understanding of her childhood and life philosophy will allow them to better connect with her.”

The nuanced villain

Rather than painting suspects as supervillains, Candice suggests more nuance, allowing for good amongst the bad. “One of the many brilliant pieces of research she recommends is Dr Robert Hare's Psychopathy Checklist. This diagnostic tool lists twenty traits used to rate the likelihood of a person being a psychopath,” says Andrea. “The top three are: glib and superficial charm, grandiose (exaggeratedly high) estimation of self, and need for stimulation. What a fabulous shopping list of potential quirks to give our suspects, or even our sleuth, who might mirror the villain in some ways.

“Several of the characters in my second Jade Riley mystery exhibit some of these qualities. There is so much information in this course that I'm sure I'll replay specific modules as I do my final edits for book two, and publisher-willing, later books in the series. Many thanks to Australian Writers' Centre and Candice Fox for presenting this valuable resource.”

“I decided if I was going to follow my heart and give professional writing a shot, I should just go for it. Admittedly the next step seems a bit extreme. I sold my unit, quit my job and moved back into the family home. I knew if I was going to do it — try to write full-time — I had to commit, or it would fall away when I got too busy as it had in the past,” Amy told us.

After making such a decisive move, Amy knew she had to learn the craft of writing if she were to succeed. She liked the variety of courses on offer at the Australian Writers' Centre and she jumped in, learning the essentials of Fiction and Grammar, Plotting and Planning and how to Pitch Your Novel.

Fast forward a few years and Amy is now a published author, with her debut novel Sit, Stay, Love released in 2023 and the follow up Love From Scratch released in June 2024, both published by Simon & Schuster.

“To be honest, I still can’t believe it happened and keeps happening!”

A new beginning

When she quit her television career, Amy’s original plan had been to write freelance articles to support herself while she wrote fiction. She enrolled in Content Writing, which was the first time she had studied for years. 

“The more I learned, the more I realised I needed to learn, so taking courses just naturally became part of my development,” Amy says.

She next dove into the AWC’s fiction courses.

“The courses I chose to do were accessible and varied. There were some that were run online in a group situation over Zoom, and I loved those. I loved having the opportunity to discuss what we were learning, listen to others’ ideas and be inspired by them. Then there were the ‘at your own pace’ courses, which were fantastic because I could just jump into the study whenever I had the time. The courses on offer are varied, with fantastic materials and coaches,” Amy says.

Having previously worked in a creative environment, Amy knew she had to put herself out there and not be deterred by rejection. She had a few stories published in the Romance Writers of Australia anthologies, which kept her buoyed. And then came the call from Simon & Schuster.

“I was just starting the process of indie publishing my first manuscript, a paranormal rom-com/cosy mystery called Haunted Hearts,” Amy recalls. “I had pitched Sit, Stay, Love to Cassandra Di Bello of Simon & Schuster at the 2022 Romance Writers of Australia conference. About a week or so after the conference I received an email from Cass requesting a full manuscript.”

During the call, Cassandra offered Amy a contract. She immediately put her indie publishing plans on hold and threw herself into the process of editing and working with the publisher to make her manuscript the best it could be. And a few months later, she secured another contract for her second book, Love From Scratch.

More than puppy love

Amy’s first novel, Sit, Stay Love, is a friends-to-lovers rom-com that revolves around Sera, who owns a pet shelter, her bestie and local vet Toby, and Ethan James, a famous actor with a terrible fear of dogs.

“I think the story came from my love and experience with my own rescue dogs, Harry and Buffy, who both star in Sit, Stay, Love. I’m passionate about animal rescue and it was important to me that it wasn’t just the human characters in my story who found their happy-ever-after, but that the shelter animals did as well. I also wanted to write something local to the area I grew up in as well as an Australian story. I think it’s important to have stories in Australian voices, especially in the romance genre which is heavily populated with American voices,” Amy says.

Her follow-up novel, Love From Scratch, also features rescue animals.

“The cat may be based on my cat. Okay, he totally is,” Amy says. “He wasn’t the nicest of cats, but he was still pretty great, and he really made for a great three-dimensional animal character. Love from Scratch is an opposites-attract rom-com about a heart-throb actor, the grumpy woman who minds his beloved dog, and the cat that steals his heart.”

Amy treats her writing as a fulltime job, and she now has a slew of publications and awards to her name. 

“I go into my office in the morning and ideally will try to get about six-hours of work in – though that is sometimes peppered with social media commitments and other various aspects of the modern author life. I call myself a ‘plantser’ a hybrid pantser/plotter author. I start my story by the seat of my pants – a pantser – until at some stage, usually around 30k words, I step away and break the story and give myself at least a little bit of a plan to follow. I have a whole lot of story ideas floating around, some with titles and first pages written, some broken via a synopsis, some purely a two-line elevator pitch. I have no clue where any of the ideas come from. I think that’s why I pants the start of them, because they just download into me as I type.”

She’s currently editing her latest novel and writing the next one, and is then hoping to start on the second book in a different series. She’d also like to get Disneyland at some point. But her advice for other writers is simple:

“Do a vast array of courses. Learn everything. Don’t think being an author is just about writing a book, because it is so much more, and there is so much more to the craft of writing than you probably think there is. The more you learn, the better your writing will become, and the more you learn about all aspects of writing and the business of writing, the better you’ll be prepared for when you finally get that publishing deal call.”

Courses completed at AWC:

• History, Mystery and Magic
• Plotting and Planning
• Fiction Essentials: Grammar and Punctuation
• Pitch Your Novel: How to Attract Agents and Publishers
• Freelance Writing Stage 1
• Reinvent Yourself
• Content Writing

Sarah Speedie was a full-time stay-at-home mum and, when her children reached an age where she could carve out time for herself she chose to embark on a new journey – one that would reignite her passion for learning and storytelling. Sarah enrolled in the

“I was looking for a course that would suit someone who knew absolutely nothing about writing a picture book or the publishing industry,” she says. Sarah was also drawn to the flexibility of the online course. “Life gets busy, and I wanted to study at my own pace and at times that suited me.”

And life has become even busier for Sarah – she has now published three picture books with three more on the way! Her latest picture book is Boss Cat, out now with HarperCollins.

“The Writing Picture Books course and the Writing Picture Books Masterclass gave me the knowledge to be able to confidently write and submit manuscripts to publishers. Without that knowledge, I would not be where I am today.”

Gaining knowledge and skills

Sarah found the AWC course invaluable to kickstart her new career as a picture book author.

“For somebody who knew absolutely nothing about writing picture books or the publishing industry, I felt that all of the fundamentals covered in the Writing Picture Books course were extremely useful,” Sarah says. “It is very hard to pinpoint one part of that course as being the most useful because I found it all very important knowledge to have when starting out. I loved every minute of it.”

As well as giving her the knowledge and confidence to put her work out there, the AWC courses led to Sarah making some great friends along the way. 

“The courses led me to meet other aspiring authors, which in turn has led to some wonderful friendships,” Sarah told us. “Writing can be such a lonely pursuit, but I have made some amazing writing friends with whom I now share the journey. We celebrate the wins, commiserate over the losses, discuss and critique manuscripts, and support each other.”

Achieving the dream

As soon as she started her first course, Sarah dreamt of becoming a published author. 

“I was determined to work as hard as I could to make the dream become a reality. However, to be honest, initially, I didn't fully believe or imagine that it would actually happen.” 

She had her fair share of rejections, but reached a turning point when she was longlisted in the CBCA NSW Aspiring Writers Mentorship Program. 

“Although I didn’t win, having my work make the longlist meant that it had been noticed by people who knew the industry very well, and I finally allowed myself to believe and imagine that, one day, I would become a published author.” 

With her new self-confidence, Sarah kept honing her skills and pursuing her publishing dream. Her persistence paid off when she signed her first picture book contract with Larrikin House. 

“I will never forget the day I received the phone call from publisher, James Layton, telling me that he loved my manuscript and that he wanted to publish it. I was in complete shock!” 

The start of a new career

Her debut picture book, Mozzies Vs Flies, illustrated by Rebel Challenger, was released in November 2021 and went on to be shortlisted in the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards 2022. 

Sarah's second book, Meowster Chef, followed in June 2022. It was quite a different experience from writing her first book, as the publisher asked that she change the animals that were the focus of the story.

“Meowster Chef started life as a story about a cooking competition between the slugs and the snails in the garden (it had a very different title then too, of course!). When James Layton read the manuscript, he reached out to let me know that he loved the idea of a cooking competition, however he wasn't so keen on slugs and snails. He said that he would be interested in signing the story if I re-wrote it with different animals. So, I went away and re-wrote the story with cats and then Meowster Chef was signed! The illustrator of Meowster Chef is the hugely clever Marina Verola. She has really brought the action-packed story about a fast-paced cooking competition to life. Her illustrations are so dynamic!”

Her next picture book, Wild About Book Week, is also published by Larrikin House.

Building a new life

Sarah's world has changed dramatically since she began her writing journey. “Not only do I now have published picture books, but I have also started visiting schools, kindergartens, and libraries to read my books and run writing workshops as a published author,” Sarah says. 

She has presented at writers' festivals and is involved in educational programs. She has also signed with Beyond Words Literary Agency and runs workshops for the Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA). 

“My entire world has changed since I began my writing journey with the AWC.”

Latest achievements

Sarah's journey continues to blossom with new projects and publications on the horizon, including a non-fiction picture book for CSIRO Publishing and a picture book with New Frontier Publishing.

An interesting fact: all of Sarah’s picture books, both released and in production, have been written in rhyme – a style she absolutely adores.

Sarah's experience with the Australian Writers' Centre has been transformative, and she passionately recommends their courses to aspiring authors. 

“I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in becoming a picture book author to complete both the Writing Picture Books course and the Writing Picture Books Masterclass. I learnt so much about the fundamentals of how to write a picture book and the publishing industry in general through these courses. They are fantastic.”

Courses completed at AWC:

• Build Your Author Platform
• Writing Picture Books Masterclass
• Writing Picture Books

“I enrolled in Creative Writing Stage 1 when I was wrangling a full-time career as a GP, as well as a taxi service and personal assistant to two teenagers. I was in my mid-forties and like every busy parent, simply trying to get through to Friday without crashing. I did very little for myself and had few hobbies beyond reading and ironing.

“However, my life changed in a split second when I did the actual splits in the middle of a Ten Pin Bowling alley. To add to the considerable physical pain, was the humiliation of leaving the parent-student social night at my son’s new school in an ambulance.

“There was, however, a silver lining to lying flat on my back for six weeks after the surgical reattachment of my hamstrings, in the form of some valuable thinking time. I saw a message written in the cobwebs hanging from the ceiling fan. Not only was the universe telling me I should do more dusting, but that now was the perfect time to get round to all the things I’d been putting off in life, and writing for pleasure was at the top of the list.”

Joanna says she devoured the Creative Writing Stage 1 modules during her recuperation and never regretted signing up for that first course.

“Having completed Creative Writing Stage 1, I immediately enrolled in Stage 2 – Advanced Fiction Writing Techniques. By now I’d gained enough skill and confidence to write and submit a couple of short stories. I also began work on a novel around this time, which subsequently led me to the Novel Writing Essentials course with Pamela Freeman.”

Joanna Nell
Graduate of Australian Writers' Centre, author of Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year, The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital, The Great Escape From Woodlands Nursing Home and many more bestselling novels.

What did Joanna learn from AWC?

From the outset, Joanna says she felt as though Creative Writing Stage 1 was written just for her!

“The course was the absolute nuts and bolts approach I was looking for. I loved the logical step-by-step approach to the craft of writing. It sounds strange but although I’d been a voracious reader all my life, I’d never stopped to consider how a book was actually written, or even that it was divided into a series of scenes with a defined structure. It’s obvious now, but at the time I thought I’d discovered radium.

“The most useful part of that first course was also the most terrifying, and that was submitting a piece of writing for critique. Learning to give and receive feedback is fundamental to improving as a writer, and the way this was handled was both safe and encouraging.

“I also enjoyed meeting other aspiring writers, both online and in the case of the Novel Writing Essentials course, face-to-face. In fact, I’ve kept in touch with several other writers from Pamela’s course and we have continued to support each other on our individual writing journeys.”

Prior to enrolling Joanna says she hadn’t given much thought to how a book was produced or published, but learning more about the industry helped her to understand what publishers were looking for, which helped her to secure a contract.

“Not only have the courses given me the tools to write and publish my first novel but the AWC has also opened my eyes to the publishing industry in a wider sense.

“What’s more, that very first writing assignment, creating a character and a setting inspired not only my first shortlisted short story but also the protagonist and setting for what eventually became my debut novel.”

Joanna followed her dream

Before discovering the Australian Writers' Centre, Joanna says she’s had a recurring dream for as long as she can remember.

“I’d dreamt that I found a door in my house that led to an empty room, one I had never ventured into before. Night after night I would discover this new room and wonder why it wasn’t being used. All along I’d assumed the dream represented some subconscious desire for a bigger house since the one I was already living in was filling rapidly with teenagers and dogs, but it was only after I’d enrolled in Creative Writing Stage 1 that the dreams abruptly stopped, that I understood their significance.

“All my life I’d been ignoring my creativity, suppressing it beneath what I thought were more legitimate pursuits such as family and work. But denying creativity a suitable outlet is something I believe we do at our peril.

“Unleashing mine has led me in a completely new and exciting direction, and I’m a much more balanced and fulfilled person as a result.

“At 52 however, I like to think I’m taking the advice that is at the heart of The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village, which is:

“It’s never too late to live the life you’ve always dreamed of”.

Joanna signed a two-book deal with Hachette Australia and her second novel The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker (October 2019) draws on some of her adventures as a cruise ship doctor. Her third novel, The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home, was published in October 2020, followed by The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital in 2021 and Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year in 2023.

Joanna's advice to aspiring writers

“For anyone who’ll listen, I’d say:

‘The AWC courses are no-nonsense, enjoyable and value for money. Not only will they show you how to be a writer, they’ll help you to think like a writer, and then give you the confidence to call yourself one.'

“I’m living proof, along with the countless other AWC graduates who are following their dream.”

Congratulations Joanna, we are thrilled for you.

For more success stories see here!

Courses taken at AWC:
Creative Writing Stage 1
Advanced Fiction Writing Techniques
Novel Writing Essentials
Build Your Author Platform
Pitch Your Novel: How to Attract Agents and Publishers

“I wanted to improve my writing, and I wanted to give my dream of being a traditionally published author a good, hard nudge,” Kell told us. “I have always loved learning and studying and I was prepared to learn as much as possible and do the work needed to make that happen. The Australian Writers' Centre offered great courses with fabulous teachers who offer insights into the publishing world, as well as the technical aspects of writing.”

After studying a suite of courses, starting with Novel Writing Essentials, and including History, Mystery and Magic and Plotting and Planning, Kell’s publishing dream came true when she landed a two-book deal with publishing powerhouse Tor US. Kell’s debut novel, After the Forest, was published in 2023, with international publication by Titan Books in the UK and HarperCollins in Australia/New Zealand.

The path to publication

Kell always knew that she would return to her creative pursuits, and so when she went looking for a course, the Australian Writers' Centre was the perfect fit for her.

“I looked around for a writing course that would help me brush up on my knowledge and also teach me new skills. The course I chose was Novel Writing Essentials which was online and perfect for me to fit in around study and my kids. It was exactly what I needed to get the writing moving again.”

Kell followed that course up with History, Mystery and Magic and Plotting and Planning, two of our courses created by Kate Forsyth. It was through the latter course that Kell met one of her best friends and longtime ‘work wife’, who she’s still in contact with.

“The creative writing courses I have done have always been full of really practical, useful information – technique, the publishing industry, how to structure a novel. The ability to study online was a huge help to me, too.

“I have no doubt that the fiction writing courses I attended helped me get published. They taught me about the industry and the craft of writing, but they also allowed me to connect with other writers – such as Kate Forsyth – who have been instrumental in my journey.”

When Kell was happy with her manuscript for After the Forest, she began pitching it to agents in Australia and the UK.

“Within weeks I had found my agent, Julie Crisp, who is based in the UK and actively seeking fantasy, fairy tale retellings and historical fiction. Being an ex-publisher, Julie is very hands-on and we worked together on the book before she began pitching it to publishers in the US and the UK. Tor US, which is the fantasy imprint of Macmillan, ended up offering a two-book deal. From there, Tor sold sub rights to Titan Books in the UK and HarperCollins here in Australia/NZ. All three publishers chose to release the book simultaneously in early October 2023. It was such an exciting (and terrifying, I’m not going to lie) time.”

A clever retelling

Kell’s debut novel is After the Forest, which is a retelling of the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale. Set in the Black Forest region of Germany in the mid seventeenth century, it tells the story of red-headed gingerbread baker Greta who, along with her brother Hans, survived a terrifying – and infamous – ordeal in the woods when they were children. Their troubles, however, are far from over. Greta is viewed with suspicion and mistrust by the other villagers, who can’t ignore her past or her red hair, while Hans’s gambling debts could cost them their home. As well as that, men have been found dead in the woods, mauled by an unknown beast.

When dark magic and wild beasts return to the woods – and the villagers’ mistrust and suspicions deepen – Greta finds that the past might not be as distant as she had thought, and that she might have to fight for her life all over again.

“The book is historical/fantasy and I was always aiming to anchor the fairy tales in a real place and time – the Black Forest in the mid seventeenth century,” Kell told us. “With that in mind, I did a lot of research before and during the writing, as well as during the editing stage to make sure I had the research right. I used the internet, books, photos and maps, primary sources from the Thirty Years’ War and German witch trials, and recipe books and paintings to get the food and clothing right. Research is a very important part of the creative process for me, and parts of After the Forest only exist because I stumbled upon them during the research.

“I was also lucky enough to travel to the Black Forest and snoop around the woods with a forest guide, wander through seventeenth century houses and buildings in an open-air museum and get up close to bears and wolves in a sanctuary. I soaked up as many details as I could and took a million photos. Like the research, I found things there that made their way into the book – for example, the scenes at the waterfall came about when I visited Triberg Falls, and stumbling upon a ruined schloss in the forest one morning led to the idea of the Sturmfels.”

Kell is currently working on the second novel in her two-book deal, which is due to come out in 2025. She also completed the Australian Writers' Centre’s copywriting courses, and has applied what she learned to her role in marketing and communications. “The copywriting courses were fabulous, too. I use the skills I learned there all the time,” says Kell.

“Writing is a huge part of my life, I’m very pleased to say. I dreamed and hoped it would happen. I worked hard and gave up a lot to make the time to get it done. So yes – I dreamed and I hoped. I’m still pinching myself that it actually happened!”

Courses completed at AWC:

• History, Mystery and Magic
• Novel Writing Essentials
• Plotting and Planning
• Build Your Author Platform
• Copywriting Essentials
• How to Build a Successful Freelance Copywriting Business
• SEO Copywriting
• Real Estate Copywriting

“I'm eternally grateful to [that student] Amelia for this!” Seth told us. “We chatted for a while about it. At 22, I didn't have too much loose change, and I was only tutoring at the time. But I knew I had to take myself seriously to make this a career, so I dove right in.”

Seth took all the skills and tips that he learned in that class and has gone on to forge a career as a writer in the gaming industry. He has also published three books with Blind Eye Books and his latest novel, Volatile Memory, is being published by Tor Books.

“I absolutely believe I wouldn't be where I am without having attended the Write Your Novel program,” Seth says.

Starting young

Seth wrote his first book at the tender age of five, so it really has been a long-standing dream of his to be published. He knew he had plenty of stories to tell, but it was during the Write Your Novel course that he learned how to tell them well.

“My craft improved dramatically. I was a waffler, I didn't know how to prioritise information, and I tended to have very purple prose. I also felt touchy about feedback and criticism if I'm being honest with myself, but providing criticism to coursemates and having friends in the exact same boat made it easier to divorce my ego from my work and actually improve. Which is such a great thing about writing: you can improve! It's a skill you can work on!”

Seth also valued the practical information about the publishing industry and contracts, and how he would need to persevere to succeed. These insights helped him make informed decisions as he pursued his writing career.

“[The AWC course tutor] Pamela encouraged me not to give up and I realised from all her stories and from what I could see in class that a lot of traditional authors, or authors who are able to be published in any capacity, mostly just have a level of determination and stamina that sometimes prevents others from following through. I learned the importance of pacing myself and to keep going.”

Following the course, Seth snagged a mentorship with editor Nicole Kimberling at Blind Eye Books, which then led to the publication of his first two novels, Reforged and Reborn.

A different direction

With his latest book, Volatile Memory, Seth knew he had to follow a different tack.

“This was the first book I knew I would want to pitch to traditional publishers, and actually go on submission. I gave my agent Maeve MacLysaght a tiny heads up about my plan and got to work.”

The story for Volatile Memory had been brewing in Seth’s head since the Write Your Novel course.

“I wrote maybe 2000 words of it (vibes, very little plot) after Pamela suggested writing a palate cleanser. I'd written queer fantasy, and she suggested something else. Why not sci-fi?”

Seth went back to that idea and started to rewrite it.

“I took what I had and decided to plot this very carefully. As I am a waffler, I'd never successfully written a novella before. I plotted it very closely, worked out the scenes I'd like and the average length for each. Then I wrote this draft in a month. I went to the State Library of NSW every day and, when not at my contract job, would write this novella. After the first draft was complete, I printed out a hardcopy and edited it, trimming what I could, and making sure it worked.”

Seth’s agent started querying editors at publishing houses with the finished manuscript. Seth’s dream publisher had always been Tor, and when he found out a Tor editor liked his story, he was ecstatic.

“I felt a little insane. Publishing is notoriously slow, so I knew I would probably lose it if I kept my excitement high whilst we waited for an answer. When it finally came through, it was a few days before my second book Reborn launched. I ran to tell my parents and called my close writing friends. It honestly was such a relief. It's a strange little book, and I'm very happy it's found a home.”

About the book

Volatile Memory follows a scavenger named Wylla, who scrambles to survive in a galaxy dominated by commercial and military interests. Those who buck the gender binary or other forms of social control must survive on the speed of their engines and the skills of their masks. When Wylla finds a murdered woman with a mask so advanced it's a classified military secret, she is thrown into a cat-and-mouse game of survival as she tries to find out why the woman was killed – and how she is still very much alive in the mask.

Or as Seth tells us: “Masks, murder, and revenge!”

Seth now writes full time, working three days a week for a video game company, and using the rest of his time to write novels and work on his author platform. He has 50,000 followers on TikTok and 3000 on Instagram and encourages writers to not ignore that aspect of their craft.

“Writing to me also means building community and engaging with readers, so I'm active on social media and constantly brainstorming ways to promote myself.”

Seth believes that having faith in yourself and honing your craft is crucial to building a successful career, as he has.

“I highly recommended investing in yourself and your craft. You have to take yourself seriously. No self-deprecation, no downplaying your work or your art, no matter where you are in your career! Invest in yourself and trust yourself.”

Course completed at AWC:

• Write Your Novel

“What I needed from the AWC was specific and practical help in reinventing myself from an aspiring writer and stay-at-home mum to a published author,” Kyra told us.

And she has absolutely succeeded – Kyra’s debut novel The Story Thief is out now with Affirm Press.

“It's hard to overstate the strength of my reaction to receiving the initial email from Martin Hughes, Affirm's CEO, a day after submitting my sample chapters,” Kyra says. “I was on the floor screaming hysterically. My children ran into the room to see what was wrong with me and all I could do was point at the screen and ask, ‘Is it true? Is it really happening?' It was as if I had hacked into my own email system and written myself the email of my dreams.”

Flexible learning leads to success

Kyra had built a successful ten-year career in marketing and was also raising her children. When the family moved to Melbourne for her husband’s work, Kyra took the opportunity to return to university and study English. She also began taking creative writing courses to continue learning her craft, including Reinvent Yourself and 2 Hours to Scrivener Power at the Australian Writers' Centre.

“The fact that many of the courses were self-paced online modules allowed me to work through them at my own pace,” Kyra says. “The courses I chose were timely, targeted and practical, and assisted me in progressing from being an aspiring writer to a published author.”

Kyra particularly loved the practicality of 2 Hours to Scrivener Power.

“Learning to use Scrivener was an excellent way to organise the HUGE quantity of research, ideas, planning and actual writing which went into The Story Thief.”

The inspiration behind the story

Kyra’s debut novel The Story Thief was inspired by Henry Lawson’s short story The Drover’s Wife.

“As a woman, it bothered me that Lawson chose to leave the heroine and her daughters unnamed, whilst naming the two boys and even the family dog. Unlike other writers, my attention went not to the drover's wife herself but to one of her unnamed daughters, a baby girl nestled on her mother's hip, whom I later called Lillian, and I began to imagine her life and that of the women to follow in her family.”

In The Story Thief, Lillian reads Lawson’s short story as a teenager, and is convinced that it is based upon her own family. She becomes determined to prove it, but as the years pass the truth becomes more problematic, and Lillian must decide what is more important: holding onto the past or embracing the future.

“I hope that readers will enjoy The Story Thief and may even feel inspired by Lillian, who starts off being an unnamed and frankly overlooked character in someone else's story and ultimately triumphs – finding her voice and writing her own story,” Kyra says.

Kyra dedicated several years to writing her novel, working on it a few days a week, and immersing herself in research. When she had a completed manuscript, she began pitching to agents and received some encouraging feedback. Then she had an epiphany.

“After writing the novel in third person for all those years, I suddenly tried switching to a first person POV. I couldn't believe it myself, it was so much better! Finally I felt ready to submit my sample chapters to my preferred publisher – Affirm Press.”

Kyra was keen to work with Affirm, as they had published The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams and she felt that her book had some similarities.

“I emailed Martin Hughes, Affirm's CEO. The next day I received his reply and I knew that I would finally achieve my dream of being published.”

After years of hoping, dreaming and hard work, Kyra now feels ‘affirmed’ in her new status as a published author.

“I found the various Australian Writers Centre courses to be the most practical and effective courses on offer,” Kyra says. “Sometimes in this industry there is a tendency to focus on the need to keep learning, keep practising your craft and keep working on your draft … but without ever taking the next brave step of actually putting yourself and your manuscript out there and trying to get a publishing contract. AWC courses are for aspiring writers who are ready to be published authors and just need help in getting from A to B.”

Courses completed at AWC:

• Build Your Author Platform
• Pitch Your Novel
• How to Write a Bestseller
• Reinvent Yourself
• 2 hours to Scrivener Power