Tiffin Inn Writing Workshop (with Imposter Syndrome & Unlimited Refills)
Episodes
Pacing Your Story's Exposition
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Art explore some best practices in weaving exposition into your narrative, including four essential questions to ask yourself when presenting ...
REFILL: 10 Steps to Outline Your Plot
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Art tells a little story that helps him remember the sequence of steps in the "Dive the Trench" plot structure, then recaps how each section helps bui...
Plotting Your Story
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Art deconstruct standard plot templates to uncover why they work. The result is a 10-point plot structure that chunks the larger story into ma...
REFILL: Strategies For Adding Conflict
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Conflict is the fuel that keeps the engine of your story running. Art explores how to use three different types of conflict: Character vs. Themselves,...
Writing Characters in Conflict
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Art discuss how to develop meaningful conflict for your characters. They present a framework of three main sources of conflict, three ways cha...
REFILL: Giving Characters Control of the Story
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been surprised by something one of your characters did? Ever been frustrated by an unexpected turn your character made off your cleverly...
Developing Your Main Characters
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Art expand on the 5 elements of main characters, discussing film and TV examples to explore how to achieve the desired results. To connect ...
GUEST: JL Lycette
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome author JL Lycette as our guest to the corner booth to discuss her experience as a first-time novelist with a small indie publisher. JL Ly...
GUEST: J. Adams Oaks
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome author J. Adams Oaks as our guest to the corner booth to discuss the craft of writing. J. Adams Oaks is a writer, editor, and translator fr...
Season 2 Premiere: Beginning Your Novel
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Art explore the excitement and dread of committing to drafting their novels. Gain an inside look into how they are preparing to do the work, f...
Season 1 Finale: "Looking Back & Forward"
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Art look back at how their writing process has changed as a result of Season 1 and what new focus you can expect in Season 2. Art's articles...
REFILL: Writing Strong Main Characters
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim recaps the five key elements of writing strong main characters and takes a jaunt into discussing how one-liners can help sum up your main characte...
"What Makes a Great Main Character?"
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Art outline their Top 5 Needs for a strong main character, listing notable examples from page to stage, from big screen to small screen. To co...
REFILL: Using Publisher Rejections as a Positive
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every writer faces rejection. It is built into the process. Art tells the story of how he displayed his rejection letters and why it ultimately missed...
GUEST: David Alexander Baker
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome author David Alexander Baker as our guest to the corner booth to discuss the craft of writing. David Alexander Baker is a writer, photograp...
REFILL: Changing Downtime into Writing Time
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Art applies the concept of "neuroplasticity" to your writing practice, making the case that even brief bursts of practice can improve your performance...
"How Can I Balance Writing & Full-Time Employment?"
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever struggled to find the time (or energy) to write after a full shift on the job? How can we balance work and life to help us write new fiction? Joi...
REFILL: Revising, Editing, and Proofing Your Fiction
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the prior episode, Tim and Art discussed how writing successful fiction has its own kind of recipe, one that uses time and distance to your advanta...
"My Draft is Done…Now What?"
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever felt that urge to click Submit on a piece the second you finish the draft? Wait! There's so much more to do! Join Tim and Art in the corner booth...
REFILL: Writing Your Novel's Jacket Blurb
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A great jacket blurb appears effortless, simple, and inevitable. Art presents how a well-written jacket blurb is as valuable as a Hollywood trailer in...
"How Can I Write Great Titles (and Blurbs)?"
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What about a title makes you pull a book off the shelf? How can the title convince you to flip the book over and read the blurb on the back? What goes...
REFILL: Choosing Your Best Editors
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim offers some tips and best practices about finding early editors of your work, how to approach that editor's feedback, and who not to include in yo...
"Do I Really Need an Editor?"
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Can you go it alone and publish without an editor? Does an editor make a difference in your work? What is it an editor does anyway? Join Tim and Art i...
REFILL: Don't Fear the Reader - The Rise of Fiction Writing AI
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Weavers & textile workers, answering services, factory workers, the old "typing pool" – countless professions have seen technology reshape their dis...
"What Tools & Technology Can Help Me Write?"
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what secret tools others writers use to create their work? How do you keep it all straight? From storage solutions to organizational pro...
REFILL: Writing Your Way Out of Procrastination
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim recaps the sources of procrastination and the tactics he uses to push past the fear and immediately get to work. To connect with Tim and Art di...
"Why Do I Procrastinate (& How Can I Stop)?"
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever stopped yourself from writing for no good reason? Ever invented reasons to not write? Got an idea you want to work on but can't muster the energy...
REFILL: Seeking Simplicity in Writing Plot and Character
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we talk about simplicity, we don't mean plain, boring, average stories. Simplicity is about providing all of what is needed and very little of wh...
"When Should I Take Advice?"
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever had someone read your work and give you awful advice? Have you gotten great advice you just couldn't take? How does anyone know when the advice g...
REFILL: Cracking Writer's Block in Four Steps
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Writer's block is the manifestation of fear that prevents you from creating art. Though invisible and intangible, it is a fierce and worthy opponent. ...
"How Can I Crack Writer's Block?"
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Art strategize on how to crack writer's block. Turns out, it can be done! Join the corner booth as we discuss specific, real-world tactics for...
REFILL: Assembling Your Writing Team
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"Refill" episodes are bonus episodes that call you to action on last week's biweekly long form, deep dive. This week's "Refill" focuses on two tasks y...
"Do I Really Need a Writing Degree?"
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Art discuss the conundrum of collegiate writing degrees. Do you need one? Is it valuable? Should you get one now? The corner booth looks back ...
"What Was the Tiffin Inn?"
28 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Art explain the name of the Tiffin Inn Writing Workshop podcast and describe the goals of the show, your personal discussion panel on the cons...