A big fat thank you!
Lisa CliffordI want to begin with gratitude to the State Library of New South Wales for their investment in me as a Fellow. I have just completed some training days and I am in wildly love with the whole experience. The librarians who guided us were some of the most caring, knowledgeable and genuinely warm people I have ever met. Their generosity, trust and commitment to supporting my research have me prostrate with gratitude and possibly poor posture.
To know that I have their help as I dig into the rise and fall of deportment and charm schools in the last century makes my job feel much easier. The fact that they are interested in this story as well, in the cultural shifts and the archives of a once thriving institution, means the world to me.
Into the Stacks
A large part of our Fellows training focused on working with Special Collections. These precious materials live deep beneath the library in the ‘stacks.’ There are six enormous floors of rare books, manuscripts, letters, objects, photos, maps and more. It is a treasure trove of the past, carefully preserved and quietly humming with stories.
We were taught how to handle these items with absolute respect. Here are some of the basics:
- pulling on nitrile gloves
- using only pencils at our desks, no books, bags, food or water allowed nearby.
- avoiding hand lotion. Fingers are dry and clean.
- banning Post it notes not to mention sticky tape.
I loved every moment. It is a kind of reverence and it reminded me why I write. These objects hold lives, voices, hopes and histories that deserve to be honoured.
WEIRD MOMS
One of the highlights was a talk by Damien Webb, Manager of Indigenous Engagement. He opened our eyes to how easily we can become preoccupied with one narrow version of memory. He shared the acronym WEIRD MOMS, meaning history told through the lens of Western Educated Industrialised Rich Democratic Men of Means. It was funny, sharp and completely disarming. It was a brilliant reminder to look again, look deeper and question who gets to tell the story.
We also explored how to distinguish fact from fiction in photos, paintings and illustrations, and how copyright protects the intellectual property founded on a person's creative skill and labour (yay!). There was honestly so much more. I left both humbled and energised.
Planning My Writing Year and Yours
All of this immersion in memory, story and structure has me thinking about the year ahead, my writing year. If you are reading this, it is time to plan yours as well. I mean this, guys, GET A WIGGLE ON!
January often fools us. We think we have plenty of time. Then suddenly it is June and we wonder why our books have not progressed. So map your intentions, set your writing rhythm.
To help you build a year that feels solid rather than improvised, I am running a series of online Craft Clinics from February to May. These clinics are two hours each month, designed to move your writing forward and get your plan in gear. Think about these topics, and don’t wait too long to book because we fill up fast:
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February 17 – The Art of Scene
Create scenes that crackle with life and emotion, the kind readers feel in their bones.
Time:
• Sydney: 7 to 9 PM
• Brisbane: 6 to 8 PM
• London: 8 to 10 AM
• Europe Central: 9 to 11 AM
Cost:
• Early Bird: 99 AUD which is approximately €55.44 or £48.51
• Standard: 120 AUD which is approximately €67.20 or £58.80
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Shape your real moments into a story with drive, depth and genuine insight.
Time:
• Sydney: 7 to 9 PM
• Brisbane: 6 to 8 PM
• London: 8 to 10 AM
• Europe Central: 9 to 11 AM
Cost:
• Early Bird: 99 AUD which is approximately €55.44 or £48.51
• Standard: 120 AUD which is approximately €67.20 or £58.80
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April 14 – The Major Dramatic Question
Every great story asks a central question. Discover yours and learn how it carries a book.
Time:
• Sydney: 7 to 9 PM
• Brisbane: 7 to 9 PM
• London: 10 AM to 12 PM
• Europe Central: 11 AM to 1 PM
Cost:
• Early Bird: 99 AUD which is approximately €55.44 or £48.51
• Standard: 120 AUD which is approximately €67.20 or £58.80
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May 12 – Character and Conflict
Clarify what your character wants and what stands in their way. Build tension that drives the story forward.
Time:
• Sydney: 7 to 9 PM
• Brisbane: 7 to 9 PM
• London: 10 AM to 12 PM
• Europe Central: 11 AM to 1 PM
Cost:
• Early Bird: 99 AUD which is approximately €55.44 or £48.51
• Standard: 120 AUD which is approximately €67.20 or £58.80
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If you would like a writing year that feels purposeful, grounded and creatively rich, this bundle is your new best friend.
All four 2026 Craft Clinics:
360 AUD instead of 399 AUD
which is approximately €201.60 or £176.40
As I settle into this Fellowship and map out my own writing year, I hope you will do the same. Your stories matter, your voice matters and a little structure can make all the difference. I would love to see you in one of the clinics and I cannot wait to hear what you create in 2026.
Lisa