A HUGE congratulations to AWC Creative Writing Stage 1 graduate, Sarah Bailey who has won the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Novel, The Dark Lake (2017 Allen & Unwin). The Dark Lake was a bestseller around the world and her suspenseful storytelling about a police procedural set in country
Courses taken at AWC:
Freelance Writing Stage 1
Travel Writing
How to Build a Successful Freelance Copywriting Business
Copywriting Essentials
Living with profound vision impairment (Graham is legally blind) and growing up prior to the advent of the adaptive technology that has so enriched his life today, Graham felt completely lost when it came to mainstream employment. He had finished a Certificate IV in Professional Writing & Editing qualification at Melbourne Polytechnic TAFE but felt it was geared predominantly to fiction writing. So he decided to enrol into AWC’s online Freelance Writing Stage 1 course, and has never looked back.
Courses taken at AWC:
Writing Picture Books
Congratulations to Australian Writers’ Centre Writing Picture Books graduate Mandy Foot for the publication of her second picture book, Lucy and Copper, with Hachette Australia.
AWC alumna Catherine Pelosi is kicking goals again with the publication of her second book this year. Something for Fleur is Catherine’s first picture book and it comes hot on the heels of her first junior fiction novel, Quark’s Academy.
So it’s been a big year for the author who completed the course How to Write for Children and Young Adults at the Australian Writers’ Centre.
Course taken at AWC:
Writing Picture Books
Maggie Hutchings’ determination to improve and keep writing until she was published has paid off, thanks to taking AWC’s Writing Picture Books course and the subsequent publication of her children’s book Unicorn! by Affirm Press.
Courses taken at AWC: Writing Picture Books Creative Writing Stage 1 Congratulations Lauren on the publication of baby + me!. A graduate of AWC’s Writing Picture Books and Creative Writing Stage 1 courses, Lauren is the author of this beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written story book for soon-to-be big brothers and
Courses taken at AWC:
Freelance Writing Stage 1
Travel Writing
Copywriting Essentials
How to Write Media Releases
Mandy McKeesick completed the AWC Freelance Writing Stage 1 course with the aim of showcasing the Australian bush. Today she has a successful business working with both magazine and corporate clients doing just that!
Congratulations to AWC alumna Sarah Bailey who appeared in the Sun Herald and The Sunday Age. Sarah has just published her second book Into the Night (Allen & Unwin), a brazen murder with hundreds of witnesses and a case where no one can be trusted.
Sarah’s acclaimed debut novel The Dark Lake (2017) was a bestseller around the world and her taut and suspenseful storytelling earned her comparisons with authors such as Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins. In 2018 The Dark Lake was winner of the Davitt Award (Debut) award for best crime books written by Australian women.
AWC courses completed:
Creative Writing Stage 1
When Ali (on the right above) gave up her job in advertising at the age of 24 to travel the world, little did she realise it would culminate in an innovative career built around books and a two-book deal with Simon and Schuster Australia and The Book Ninja (Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus, 2018) in bookstores around the world. Ali and Michelle’s second novel, While You Were Reading followed in 2019, and their latest book Fancy Meeting You Here launched with rave reviews.
AWC courses completed:
Advanced Fiction Writing Techniques
AWC alumna Penelope Janu has won the 2017 XO Romance Prize for her unpublished manuscript, On the Same Page. Described by guest judge Alexandra Nahlous as “A wonderful, captivating story about a writer desperate to keep her identity hidden, and the man determined to expose her”, Penelope receives a $5000
We’re super proud of our AWC alumni lately – their inspirational and insightful stories have been featured across Domain, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Check out some of their great reads below. Above: Linda Moon‘s article in Domain.com.au “Is moving house good for you? The pros and cons
The AWC alumni are kicking some serious goals lately. Our hearts swell with pride when we spot a familiar name in the byline of print and online publications. Have a look at some of the stellar articles below, penned by our amazing freelance writing alumni. They’re all a great example of
Melbourne author Sarah Bailey’s debut novel The Dark Lake has been described as “an addictive crime thriller, a mesmerising account of one woman’s descent into deceit and madness, and a stunning debut that is already causing a stir around the world.” We’re thrilled for Sarah as she’s a graduate of
The sky is the limit when you’re a freelance writer and our AWC grads are definitely soaring high! We are back with another set of their fabulous pieces spread throughout various publications. Check out the results of their hard work and dedication: Above: Laura McGeoch featured in HRMonthly with her
Our graduates are a hard-working and talented bunch. When we spot their familiar names in print, we want to share it with the world. Check out the most recent fruits of their labour! Above: Kristie Hayden shared her well-earned break in Switzerland with “A Swiss Summer” in CEO Magazine. Wish
Having a feature article published is no mean feat. Which is why we always make sure to give shoutouts to our AWC alumni who have done remarkably well. Here’s some of their amazing work splashing the pages of Good Weekend, Marie Claire, SMH and Virgin Australia Voyeur. We’re proud as
They say “The best is yet to come.” We say we already have the best right in front of us! Our AWC graduates continue to make us proud as they take the freelance writing world by storm. #braggingrights Drumroll please… presenting some of our outstanding grads and their recent accomplishments:
AWC courses completed:
Become a Children’s Author (Writing Books for Children and Young Adults)
Copywriting Essentials
Travel Writing
Whenever we receive news about our grads’ freelance writing success, we always want to shout loud and proud on their behalf! Here are some of their recent achievements: Above: Laura McGeoch had her first story featured in Essential Kids “How to
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