What’s it like to learn with AWC?

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.

I loved this course. It was challenging and full of really great content. I know I'll be revisiting the content many times in the future.

The assignments were challenging and I enjoyed applying what I had learned in each module to a new story every week.

I now have a confidence in my ability to craft a story. I have a greater knowledge of the process of writing for publication. Publication is not just a lofty 'imagine' but a feasible outcome.

If you have any inclination to write a story, do this course. It will give you the knowledge and confidence to make it happen.

Thank you. I have really enjoyed being creative every week and I have learned a lot from the process.

First of all, some pats on the back for the staff in the office. Initially I had some problems downloading the material and when I rang, the staff were super - followed up - made sure I was okay - and reassured me that I wasn't a computer "Klutz" - which I think I am - and made me feel I could approach them for help anytime. And how lovely to speak to a person instead of getting a recorded message!

Being able to listen to the lessons at a time that suited meant it was easy to work in the course with my other commitments. The printouts were terrific - detailed but easy to follow - and meant I could concentrate on the talk and just make a few comments on the actual handout when I wanted to.

I thought Cathie was terrific - her comments were always helpful and balanced between being encouraging and pointing out areas that needed work. Also, seeing the work and her comments on the other students' writing was useful - a big "thank you" to Cathie.

This was a great course. It was way better than I expected. It was very professional, very well set out and covered way more than I expected. I found it a really empowering way to learn about writing picture books.

Cathie was fantastic. I found her feedback super helpful (both on my own work and on other peoples' work). She gave really clear guidance that I learnt a lot from.

I am a corporate lawyer so spend a lot of time reading and writing complicated things. It was great to spend some time learning something more simple (but by no means less challenging!), being creative, learning a new way of writing and thinking from a child's point of view. It was very different to my normal day-to-day and got me thinking in a whole different way, which I really enjoyed.

These guys are very professional, seem to have a lot of experience and put together a course that was very comprehensive and a great way to learn.

Thank you for a fantastic course!

I really like how I now feel like I have a solid framework to evaluate my picture book ideas and drafts. The course was very clear about what the takeaway messages were.

I feel much more confident about how to move forward with improving my writing.

The course is very well organised and professionally produced with an expert tutor.

Being a mum, I was worried I wouldn't be able to find the time to fully participate in this course. Evidently, this wasn't the case. The time magically appeared because I enjoyed it so much.

I enjoyed challenging myself each week to write and submit a piece of writing for assessment.

I have gained more knowledge of the Australian publishing industry; particularly the importance of market research, writing in spreads and developing a manuscript.

The Australian Writers' Centre offers courses that are worthwhile investing your time and money in. The knowledge I gained from a five-week course has been invaluable.

This course appealed to me as I've always held a wee pipe dream to write a children's book :) I hoped to understand the processes and intricacies involved (and I did!).

Our tutor Cathie was great. Her feedback was constructive, thought-provoking (for me), and written with care.

I feel MUCH more knowledgeable. I still have a long way to go... and, perhaps I'll enrol in another course :)

I had an idea for a children's picture book, but did not quite know how to get started. I looked for a course and found the AWC.

The tutor was very knowledgeable and helpful. I enjoyed doing the coursework, feeling motivated and receiving feedback.

Money well spent. Enjoyable and rewarding. Two of my manuscripts are in the process of being published!

The Writing Picture Books course was so comprehensive. I learnt so much. I was very impressed by my online tutor and appreciated the honest and constructive feedback. I enjoyed the practical and useful information and the exercises that gave me an opportunity to put this information into practice.

I have always dreamed about writing and illustrating a children's picture book. Until this course this dream seemed a little out of reach. Now I have the tools and confidence to make my dreams a reality.

If you are serious about getting a children's book published, this is definitely the course for you!

My sincere thanks for putting this course together.

What attracted me to this course was to try something new as I've already had ideas for middle grade books - I was thinking, why not try picture books? So I decided to give it a go.

This course was awesome. I can now say I can do this and make any picture book I want to, as I've learnt the skills and techniques you need to improve picture books.

This is an excellent course and a great start to get you on track for writing picture books.

The world of picture books is very new to me from a craft study point of view and I feel like this course has given me an excellent overview.

The tutor was very knowledgeable and doing her best to be encouraging, while pointing out with precision where the improvement areas were in everyone's work.

Before starting this course, I had a number of story ideas that I felt would work best as picture books but wasn't sure how to develop them. I now feel like I have the confidence to take the next step.

This course was a really great introduction and I totally think you should do it. It's taken away my hesitation to get started on picture books.

I have always had ideas for and around writing a children's book, but no idea where to start. I finally decided to commit to a course to give me some directions. Of all the courses I searched online, this was the best fit for me. It was online and in my own time, a great price, and great content.

I was worried I would be out of my depth (being older and having not studied for years), and that I would give up. But I found the course and assignments were broken down into good sized chunks of info, and led into the new session well.

I felt encouraged by the tutor and fellow classmates. The chat was great. The lessons were easy to understand and have good information, tasks, and reference material. And the feedback was relevant and encouraging, and greatly appreciated.

I enjoyed the assignments in which we had to submit work of our own for feedback. It tested me! But I was able to draw on the lessons for guidance and direction, and always waited eagerly for Cathie's feedback. And the feedback was valuable.

I now feel like I have direction and can use a methodical approach to finishing a book. It gave me different ideas on how to approach writing. I have always scribbled notes about story ideas but never used them, but the course reaffirmed to me that this is a good practice.

The course content is great. The tutor was amazing helpful. The class chat was a welcoming and supportive environment. And the bonus sessions are a must do!

Thanks for an enjoyable course!

The tutor was very knowledgeable and helpful with her feedback.

I enjoyed learning new techniques in writing and specific to the children's picture book writing processes. Inspired me to continue to hone my writing craft and to hopefully be published in the future. Also taught me the basics of writing again including punctuation and grammar.

Great course that is doable even if you have a busy schedule. Perfect course to know all things about writing picture books to get you motivated.

The content was amazing, easy to follow, fun, very informative. Cathie was great, providing helpful honest & encouraging feedback. Cathie's expertise is a great asset.

I especially liked how after the first lesson I was looking at picture books differently and already understanding what I was learning.

The gained knowledge and insight is invaluable to me achieving my writing dream and becoming published. This course has led me in the right direction.

I wasn't sure how much information would be included or how much I would learn from the course. Having now completed the course I can confidently say it was well worth the time and money spent.

Cathie was very knowledgeable and her insights as someone who has worked in publishing were invaluable.

The most enjoyable part of the course was writing work for feedback each week.

I have a better understanding of how to write picture books specifically, as well as how to present my work professionally when submitting to authors.

The AWC is a great place to learn the ropes or to further hone and polish existing writing skills.

The course is slick and professional from start to finish. I had no problems with billing, or logging in, and the high sound quality of the audio meant the delivery was distraction-free.

I was worried we would spend most of the time learning the basics of storytelling, rather than the specifics of the picture book form. Those concerns quickly vanished as the course got moving. I feel much more confident understanding what works and why.

Suzanne has a lovely voice. Her soothing tone helped deliver firm and fair advice. I really admire the way she provides feedback. The consistency in her manner made it feel that there were no favourites or outliers, which helped when receiving criticism and praise alike.

Reading the work of fellow writers, seeing their approaches, and listening to their feedback provided far more value than focusing only on my own work. It felt like we were all on the journey together.

I have been writing stories across many age groups and genres for years. My biggest challenge was getting out of my own way. Other than creating stories for my kids, and those of close friends, I shelved draft after draft to collect digital dust despite much encouragement to approach a publisher. I allowed imposter syndrome to label my efforts as merely a hobby, when what I really wanted was to become a published author. This course showed me that I was no better or worse than anyone else, and the secret ingredients are basically continuous learning, critical feedback, and revision.

I have joined my local chapter of Toastmasters, and after a 5-year hiatus from social media, I have started working on developing an author platform.

Thanks, Suzanne, and everyone at AWC for creating these programs 😊

If you harbour any desire to write, AWC has the industry experience to help. Whether you have a vague idea, or a whole series in mind, their professional staff can guide you on your way. So, what are you waiting for? Just do it already!

Looking forward to continuing this journey with you 😊

With several book ideas in my head, I still was unsure of the process of how to write a professional manuscript for a picture book. I wanted the practical ideas and tips for publishing etc.

I learnt a great deal from this course. It was practical and also very helpful being able to write pieces and have quick feedback given.

Cathie was highly professional and knowledgeable, with a wealth of experience to draw from. She gave feedback that was thought-provoking and constructive.

I really loved connecting with other writers, as well as being able to work through the course at my own time. The lectures were only short which was realistic and beneficial.

It gave me strategies and thoughts on how to market myself and plan a book that is more likely to be chosen for publication. The different practicalities of the course were most beneficial, as well as the ideas on how to get yourself out there.

This is a practical course, rich with resources and tips on how to get started. The course is easy to follow, incredibly well laid out, and with knowledge from those who know!

I would definitely recommend this course to others. It is worth every cent paid to do it!

I've always loved picture books and have dreamt of writing and illustrating my own. I was attracted to AWC because the courses were created and tutored by people with strong and relevant experience.

I wasn't sure I'd find the time and I also lacked confidence in creative writing. My worries were unfounded though; I found time in the evenings and weekends and learned so much along the way.

There is so much information shared and I'm thrilled I can go back and replay the lessons and read the notes to keep improving.

Suzanne provided great constructive feedback that really helped me throughout the course. She explained things from a publisher's perspective and gave great examples of ways to improve. She was always encouraging and kind in her delivery.

Listening to the feedback each week was a high point. I learned so much from this. I also enjoyed sharing the journey with the other students and learning from them too.

Not only has it fed a passion I've had for a long time to write stories, but it has given me the determination to learn more, starting with the Masterclass and then a course in illustration. It has also helped me in my day-to-day work in graphic design. Whether I become a published author or not, I'll enjoy trying!

Suzanne's feedback was extremely valuable and being able to see other students' assignments and their feedback increased the learning opportunity.

Understanding the basic rules around writing children's books has given me the confidence to put time and effort into writing more.

AWC courses are taught by teachers with real and relevant industry experience.

I want to write and have such fun making up stories with my children and husband. So much joy! I needed practical knowledge and tools to do it.

Great course content. Has put me on track by explaining all the practical / industry and publishing aspects that I wasn't aware of.

The tutor was kind, open, honest. Suzanne kept her comments to the point and relevant, which I appreciated.

The practical activities were helpful, and I lapped up the industry information and practical aspects of publishing.

It has given me more confidence to get serious about making this a part of my life - and to start planning to reduce my (current) workload so I have more time each week to dedicate to writing. Also, the industry knowledge was what I was looking for, and I received it.

Thank you - I thoroughly enjoyed this course.