Writing Woods with Victoria Griffin

By Victoria Griffin

Welcome, storytellers. Step into the Writing Woods, away from pressures and distractions. Join professional book editor Victoria Griffin for relaxed chats about writing. Let's improve our craft, foste... more

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FAQs about Writing Woods with Victoria Griffin:

How many episodes does Writing Woods with Victoria Griffin have?

The podcast currently has 44 episodes available.

Writing Woods with Victoria Griffin episodes:

August 26, 2026 Writers told me what they needed… so I built it
🏕️ Become a Founding Camper by Monday: writingwoods.com/camp
See you in the Writing Woods!
- Victoria
⏱️ TIME STAMPS
00:00 - What writers actually need
01:18 - Knowledge vs. environment problems
03:05 - Building a better writing environment
04:27 - Finding writing community
05:55 - Keeping your writing visible
07:49 - What helps you show up?
09:09 - Welcome, Founding Campers
⸻
#WritingCommunity #WritersLife #WritingWoods
...more
12min
August 19, 2026The warm story rule to reconnect with your writing
The longer you're away from your story, the harder it can feel to come back. Your story has gone cold, and forcing yourself through another writing session can actually make it harder to reconnect.

Today I'm sharing recent struggles I've had with my writing process. We'll talk about why losing contact with your story makes writing progressively harder. And then we'll work on building a sustainable writing practice by focusing on connection instead of word count.

🏕️ Become a Founding Camper: ⁠https://writingwoods.com/camp-waitlist

⏱️ TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Why writing has felt harder
01:21 - How I lost contact with my story
03:30 - Why keeping a story warm matters
04:20 - Why re-entering a story is so hard
04:47 - The downward spiral
06:15 - How the spiral works in reverse
06:44 - Address what pulled you away
07:07 - Change the writing goal
08:35 - Reconnect with your story
10:55 - Take the pressure off
12:22 - Keep your story warm

📖 RESOURCES MENTIONED
Deep outlining - https://youtu.be/GD9N1RXMZH0

🎧 WRITING WOODS PODCAST
YouTube → https://writingwoods.com/youtube
Spotify → https://writingwoods.com/spotify
Apple → https://writingwoods.com/apple

📚 BOOK EDITING
Thoughtful, passionate editing → https://victoriagriffin.com

📌 FOLLOW ME
Instagram → https://instagram.com/vgriffinauthor
Facebook → https://facebook.com/vgriffinauthor
...more
14min
August 12, 2026How writers can manufacture curiosity
Curiosity can make writing feel easier, more energizing, and more enjoyable. But we can’t just force ourselves to feel curious. In this episode, we explore how curiosity works, what shuts it down, and how one intentional choice can create the conditions for curiosity to thrive.

We’ll look at the relationship between curiosity and uncertainty. And we'll talk about practical ways to stop pushing yourself toward the work and start creating opportunities for the work to pull you in.

🌳 Join our free Writing Woods community: ⁠https://writingwoods.com

⏱️ TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Curiosity vs. discipline for writers
01:22 - Why curiosity matters
02:49 - What blocks curiosity
05:40 - Exploration vs. exploitation
06:39 - How exploration creates curiosity
08:31 - How to generate curiosity
12:33 - Curiosity vs. efficiency
14:31 - Creating a sustainable writing practice

📖 RESOURCES MENTIONED
How Curiosity Enhances Memory by Matthias J Gruber and Charan Ranganath - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6891259/

🎧 WRITING WOODS PODCAST
YouTube → https://writingwoods.com/youtube
Spotify → https://writingwoods.com/spotify
Apple → https://writingwoods.com/apple

📚 BOOK EDITING
Thoughtful, passionate editing → https://victoriagriffin.com

📌 FOLLOW ME
Instagram → https://instagram.com/vgriffinauthor
Facebook → https://facebook.com/vgriffinauthor
...more
17min
August 05, 2026Plot isn't what you think it is (it has one job)
A plot is more than just a series of events. If readers "just can't connect," you're probably missing one specific link between your plot and characters.

Today, we'll explore a character-first storytelling framework inspired by Will Storr's concept of the sacred flaw. You'll learn how to build a plot that applies pressure to your protagonist's deepest belief system, creating stories that readers connect with on a much deeper level.

🌳 Join our free Writing Woods community: ⁠https://writingwoods.com

⏱️ TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Let's build a plot
01:02 - Welcome to the Writing Woods
01:30 - Recap: The sacred flaw
02:26 - Character-first storytelling
02:56 - The real job of plot
03:51 - 1. Expose the belief
06:16 - 2. Challenge the belief
07:45 - Contradicting a sacred flaw
09:39 - 3. Escalate the pressure
11:04 - The three jobs of plot
12:57 - Choices and turning points
14:22 - The emotional climax
17:12 - Why this makes stories feel deep
18:37 - Final thoughts

📖 RESOURCES MENTIONED
The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr
Sacred Flaw Part 1 - https://youtu.be/HsbOESOTG54

🎧 WRITING WOODS PODCAST
YouTube → https://writingwoods.com/youtube
Spotify → https://writingwoods.com/spotify
Apple → https://writingwoods.com/apple

📚 BOOK EDITING
Thoughtful, passionate editing → https://victoriagriffin.com

📌 FOLLOW ME
Instagram → https://instagram.com/vgriffinauthor
Facebook → https://facebook.com/vgriffinauthor
...more
20min
July 22, 2026One belief makes a story great (and it's not yours)
Most writing advice tells us to create an interesting character… and then make life difficult for them.

We're basically launching grenades at our characters, when we should be nocking arrows.

🌳 Join our free Writing Woods community: ⁠https://writingwoods.com

If readers keep saying they "just couldn't connect" or "didn't feel satisfied," the problem may not be your dialogue, backstory, or character development. It may be that your plot isn't aiming at the one thing that creates real emotional investment.

This is the first episode in a series on building character-driven stories. Next week, we'll look at how to design a plot that puts pressure on one exact point in your protagonist and creates lasting emotional impact.

⏱️ TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Why readers don't connect
00:43 - The grenade problem
02:10 - Every story needs a bullseye
02:39 - The sacred flaw
03:56 - Identity keeps us stuck
05:16 - The flaw they're hiding
08:04 - The emotional core of every story
09:31 - Finding sacred flaws everywhere
10:25 - Part 2: Designing the plot

📖 RESOURCES MENTIONED
The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr

🎧 WRITING WOODS PODCAST
YouTube → https://writingwoods.com/youtube
Spotify → https://writingwoods.com/spotify
Apple → https://writingwoods.com/apple

📚 BOOK EDITING
Thoughtful, passionate editing → https://victoriagriffin.com

📌 FOLLOW ME
Instagram → https://instagram.com/vgriffinauthor
Facebook → https://facebook.com/vgriffinauthor
...more
12min
July 16, 2026 Become a consistent writer (don't buckle down)
Most writers think they need more discipline. But that's often not what's keeping them from writing consistently.

Inspiration isn't something you can chase, force, or hunt down. We all know not to wait for inspiration to strike. But the most consistent writers are actually doing something completely different.

They're cultivating the conditions where inspiration is most likely to appear. Those conditions have nothing to do with the state of your desk, porch, or pillow fort. They're inside you.

Let's talk about the conditions that support inspiration and great writing… and the one habit that can help you become a more consistent writer.

🌳 Join our free Writing Woods community: ⁠https://writingwoods.com

⏱️ TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Consistent writers
01:27 - Welcome to the Writing Woods
01:54 - Storm chasers and inspiration
04:45 - Curiosity
06:39 - Safety
08:58 - Playfulness
09:55 - Wonder
11:46 - Presence
14:05 - The habit that changes everything
14:34 - Stop buckling down
17:55 - The real goal for writers

🎧 WRITING WOODS PODCAST
YouTube: https://writingwoods.com/youtube
Spotify: https://writingwoods.com/spotify
Apple: https://writingwoods.com/apple

📚 BOOK EDITING
Thoughtful, passionate editing: https://victoriagriffin.com

📌 FOLLOW ME
Instagram → https://instagram.com/vgriffinauthor
Facebook → https://facebook.com/vgriffinauthor
...more
20min
July 08, 2026Write alone (but don't be a writer alone)
Writing is often a solitary activity, but does being a writer have to be? Let's explore the myth of the isolated writer and why community isn't a distraction from the writing process but an essential part of it.

Then we'll talk about how you can build a writing life based on what makes you feel creative and whole instead of based on someone else's idea of what a writer is supposed to be.

🌳 Join our free Writing Woods community: ⁠https://writingwoods.com

🏕️ The Camp waitlist is open: https://writingwoods.com/camp-waitlist

⏱️ TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Welcome to the Writing Woods
00:31 - The myth of the solitary writer
02:25 - When solitude becomes isolation
03:20 - Defining the writing process
04:19 - Why writers need community
05:16 - Designing a writing life
06:44 - Building your writing community
08:05 - Long-term creative relationships
09:04 - You're not meant to do this alone

📖 RESOURCES MENTIONED
Deep Work by Cal Newport (excerpt): https://medium.com/hackernoon/excerpted-from-deep-work-by-cal-newport-f58adfb24fd0

🎧 WRITING WOODS PODCAST
YouTube → https://writingwoods.com/youtube
Spotify → https://writingwoods.com/spotify
Apple → https://writingwoods.com/apple

📚 BOOK EDITING
Thoughtful, passionate editing → https://victoriagriffin.com

📌 FOLLOW ME
Instagram → https://instagram.com/vgriffinauthor
Facebook → https://facebook.com/vgriffinauthor
...more
11min
July 01, 2026Don't "just start" writing
"Just start." It's common writing advice, but what if starting is actually the hardest part?

We're exploring simple, research-backed ways to reduce friction at the beginning of your writing session. Make those first thirty seconds easier so you can get into the writing zone and build a more consistent writing practice.

🌳 Join our free Writing Woods community: ⁠https://writingwoods.com

📖 RESOURCES MENTIONED
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Atomic Habits by James Clear
"Pre-Performance Routines in Sport" by Stewart Cotterill - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233125559_Pre-performance_routines_in_sport_Current_understanding_and_future_directions
"Context-Dependent Memory in Two Natural Environments" by D. R. Godden and A. D. Baddeley - https://app.nova.edu/toolbox/instructionalproducts/edd8124/fall11/1975GoddenBaddeley.pdf

⏱️ CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Why "just start" isn't enough
00:58 - Welcome to the Writing Woods
01:28 - Willpower vs. reducing friction
02:56 - How environment shapes behavior
05:11 - Building a digital writing space
07:47 - Writing warm-up routines
09:06 - Habit stacking for writers
11:02 - Build systems, not willpower

🎧 WRITING WOODS PODCAST
YouTube → https://writingwoods.com/youtube
Spotify → https://writingwoods.com/spotify
Apple → https://writingwoods.com/apple

📚 BOOK EDITING
Thoughtful, passionate editing → https://victoriagriffin.com

📌 FOLLOW ME
Instagram → https://instagram.com/vgriffinauthor
Facebook → https://facebook.com/vgriffinauthor
...more
14min
June 24, 2026 "It's just my voice" (and other lies writers believe)
Some of the beliefs holding your writing back don't sound like excuses at all.

As a writer, I've said them. And in my decade as a professional editor, I've watched plenty of authors limit themselves with these simple phrases.

Let's explore three common writing myths that keep writers from improving. A simple mindset shift can help you become a stronger storyteller.

🌳 Join our free Writing Woods community: ⁠https://writingwoods.com

🏕️ The Camp waitlist is open: https://writingwoods.com/camp-waitlist

⏱️ TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Writing lies holding you back
00:27 - Welcome to the Writing Woods
00:55 - "It's just my voice"
01:47 - "The reader didn't get it"
03:11 - "It's just my process"
05:34 - Comfort vs. growth
06:00 - Stay humble and teachable

📖 VIDEOS MENTIONED
Deep Outlining - https://youtu.be/QLYma-lYUcE

🎧 WRITING WOODS PODCAST
YouTube → https://writingwoods.com/youtube
Spotify → https://writingwoods.com/spotify
Apple → https://writingwoods.com/apple

📚 BOOK EDITING
Thoughtful, passionate editing → https://victoriagriffin.com

📌 FOLLOW ME
Instagram → https://instagram.com/vgriffinauthor
Facebook → https://facebook.com/vgriffinauthor
...more
7min
June 17, 2026 Your book editor isn't right
Hiring a book editor can feel like going to a mechanic: "Tell me how to fix my story."

But evaluating a novel isn't like diagnosing a blown head gasket. Editors help writers understand reader experience, uncover possibilities, and discover what their story can become.

In my decade as a professional book editor, I've learned what the most productive author-editor relationships have in common. And using this approach can not only help you get the most out of your editing experience, but can also make you a stronger writer.

🌳 Join our free Writing Woods community: ⁠https://writingwoods.com

⏱️ TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Why editors aren't supposed to be right
00:42 - Welcome to the Writing Woods
01:07 - What is developmental editing?
01:37 - Finding the story's potential
03:56 - Understanding an editor's feedback
04:25 - The author-editor collaboration
05:43 - How line editing works
06:40 - Why editors make different choices
07:10 - What an editor's job really is
08:33 - Discovering the story you're meant to tell

🎧 WRITING WOODS PODCAST
YouTube → https://writingwoods.com/youtube
Spotify → https://writingwoods.com/spotify
Apple → https://writingwoods.com/apple

📚 BOOK EDITING
Thoughtful, passionate editing → https://victoriagriffin.com

📌 FOLLOW ME
Instagram → https://instagram.com/vgriffinauthor
Facebook → https://facebook.com/vgriffinauthor
...more
10min

FAQs about Writing Woods with Victoria Griffin:

How many episodes does Writing Woods with Victoria Griffin have?

The podcast currently has 44 episodes available.