Lawdy, am almost sick of scenes!

I am almost sick of scenes. I have been peeling them back, stripping them down, working at what actually makes them tick. I’m seeing scenes everywhere! I’m sleeping with scenes. Dreaming of scenes.

Getting ready for the Making a Scene Zoom class on Tuesday 17th February has been mildly exhausting. But also extremely clarifying.

Here is what I keep noticing. The places where it’s tempting to summarise are almost always the places where scenes matter the most. The first meeting. The last conversation. The moment someone realises something they cannot unknow. Am seeing this sort of glazing or glossing over a lot in my writer’s work. 

It’s those sentences, ‘Over the next few months…’ or ‘That was the moment everything changed…’ or ‘After that, nothing was the same.’ or ‘We didn’t talk about it again.’ It’s that hurrying past something that was good. No. That was really essential for the story.

This being able to see what needs to be a scene does become instinctual. But it’s also something you learn.

If you would like to train that instinct properly, you are still in time to join the Making a Scene Zoom class on Tuesday night. God knows I’ve worked hard enough on this class (she says shaking her fist at the sky).

February 17 with The Art of Scene. No summarising the good bits. 

Sydney: 7:00 PM (AEDT)
Brisbane: 6:00 PM (AEST)
Adelaide: 6:30 PM (ACDT)
London: 8:00 AM (GMT)
Central Europe: 9:00 AM (CET)

Rome, that’s you at 9:00 AM! Civilized, espresso-ready time.

On March 17, Memory into Memoir.

On April 14, The Major Dramatic Question (trying to get your readers to stop wandering off to make tea.)

May 12, Character and Conflict

The Sydney Story Workshop is 3 days, the kind of writing long weekend that leaves you itching to get back to the page. Running Friday 21 to Sunday 23 August 2026 at Woollahra Library, Double Bay, The Art of Writing: Sydney Story Workshop. Three days. Seven masterclasses. Five extraordinary teachers. A literary agent Q&A with the chance to present your précis. Lunch included because thinking is hungry work.

If you are new to The Art of Writing, here is the short version. We are a global writing community obsessed with helping you write good work.

Then there’s Rome too. Super special. Two places left!

Places are limited. Book your place now or write to us about a payment plan to secure your spot.

Timeless Craft

Rome
8 to 12 November 2026

Seven participants only. Four days of focused teaching in the heart of Rome. Writing walks. Guided tour. Welcome drinks. Opening and closing dinners. Conversations that matter. The option to submit a precis for introduction to an international literary agent. A live Q and A with a literary agent. Coffee. Sandwiches. Notebooks. All of it.

If you are considering it, write to me for the full Sydney or Rome program before they disappear. Clifford.lisa@hotmail.com

More next week! Lucky Making a Scene Zoomers. A fabulous PDF with scene tips and tricks is with them 24 hours before we meet. Love that!