I Should Be Writing Mur Lafferty

S20 Ep20: In Which Mur and James L. Sutter Discuss Editing, Outlining, and Ghostly Romances
"I think that is the beating heart of any novel, is characters changing."- James L. Sutter
Transcript
Join Mur and guest James L. Sutter as they delve into the intricacies of the writing process, from the importance of meticulous outlining to the challenges of editing. They discuss James’s new book, The Ghost of Us, a queer YA supernatural romance that combines ghost hunting with a heartfelt coming-of-age story. They also share valuable tips on maintaining consistency and dealing with feedback, all while keeping the creative spark alive.
Links:
Pathfinder RPG Starfinder RPG The Ghost of Us Dark HeartsEmpire of the Vampire Leech Bitch: On the Female of the Species Compton Crook Award Scribe Award Evergreen Links
Catch the show LIVE on Twitch Thursdays, 3pm, Eastern time! Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing book. My newsletter, The Hot Mic, and my Patreon. Supporting either of those will get you perks like access to the discord, exclusive content, and early, ad-free episodes. Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate. Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! All books featured in Season 20  
"Spreadsheets, Ghosts, and the Art of Outlining with James L. Sutter" is brought to you in large part by by my supporters, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon or Substack!
Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please!
CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja,
and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. July 22, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 20 | murverse.com
"Spreadsheets, Ghosts, and the Art of Outlining with James L. Sutter"  by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

S20 Ep19: In Which Mur Explores the Deck of Worlds and Story Engine
"You know, if you use the word 'modified,' you can get away with anything."- Mur
Transcript
(This post went live for supporters on July 1, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)
Join Mur Lafferty as she dives into a live-streamed session of world-building using the Deck of Worlds and The Story Engine. Despite a challenging week, Mur's creativity shines as she crafts unique settings and characters, from a swamp with carnivorous plants to a compromised cyborg in a cyberpunk universe. This episode is a treasure trove for writers looking to spark their imagination and explore new storytelling tools.
Links:
The Story Engine Deck of Worlds Madeleine L'Engle Martha Wells The Lost Room Locke & Key Unknown Armies Evergreen Links
Catch the show LIVE on Twitch Thursdays, 3pm, Eastern time! Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing book. My newsletter, The Hot Mic, and my Patreon. Supporting either of those will get you perks like access to the discord, exclusive content, and early, ad-free episodes. Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate. Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! All books featured in Season 20  
"Deck of Worlds: Unleashing Creativity in Fiction" is brought to you in large part by by my supporters, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon or Substack!
Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please!
CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja,
and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. July 15, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 19 | murverse.com
"Deck of Worlds: Unleashing Creativity in Fiction"  by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

S20 Ep18: In Which Mur Explores Tarot and Historical Fiction with Susan Wands
"Action is always better than no action. You can always fix what you've done. You can't fix not getting started."- Susan Wands
Transcript
(This post went live for supporters on June 27, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)
In this episode, Mur chats with Susan Wands, the author of High Priestess and Empress. They delve into the fascinating world of Pamela Coleman Smith, the creator of the iconic Rider-Waite tarot deck, and discuss how historical fiction blends with magical realism in Susan's Arcana Oracle series. Susan shares her journey of rewriting her first book, dealing with genre expectations, and how tarot influences her creative process.
Links:
Susan Wands High Priestess and Empress Pamela Colman Smith Golden Dawn Watkins Books Atlantis Books Acculture Berlin Festival Art and Fiction Kindred Spirits Magazine Irving Society Journal Spark Press Worldcon Glasgow The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck Alistair Crowley Thoth Tarot Deck Joseph Campbell Save the Cat Sisters in Crime Evergreen Links
Catch the show LIVE on Twitch Thursdays, 3pm, Eastern time! Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing book. My newsletter, The Hot Mic, and my Patreon. Supporting either of those will get you perks like access to the discord, exclusive content, and early, ad-free episodes. Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate. Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! All books featured in Season 20  
"Tarot Tales and Historical Hurdles with Susan Wands" is brought to you in large part by by my supporters, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon or Substack!
Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please!
CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja,
and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. July 8, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 18 | murverse.com
"Tarot Tales and Historical Hurdles with Susan Wands"  by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

S20 Ep17: In Which Mur Reflects on Creativity and Ambition
"It's really easy. It's so relaxing to not be creative."- Mur
Transcript
This week, Mur shares her journey through book edits, the struggles of low energy, and the comforting realization that creation is often less comforting than consumption. Mur explores the myriad of creative opportunities available today—from writing novels to making music videos—and the emotional weight that comes with each creative endeavor.
She also touches on her admiration for hybrid creators like Ursula Vernon and the spontaneous creativity of the band, The Garages. Mur reflects on her past as a sports journalist and how it shaped her writing, offering insights into finding the right angle for storytelling. Whether you're struggling with a boring main character or the challenges of prequels, Mur provides thoughtful advice and personal anecdotes to help you navigate your creative journey.
Links:
Ursula Vernon Kobo Evergreen Links
Catch the show LIVE on Twitch Thursdays, 3pm, Eastern time! Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing book. My newsletter, The Hot Mic, and my Patreon. Supporting either of those will get you perks like access to the discord, exclusive content, and early, ad-free episodes. Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate. Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! All books featured in Season 20  
"Navigating Novel Noodling and New Ideas" is brought to you in large part by by my supporters, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon or Substack!
Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please!
CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja,
and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. July 1, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 17 | murverse.com
"Navigating Novel Noodling and New Ideas" by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

S20 Ep16: In Which Mur Tackles Short Fiction Submissions
"You're not gonna be Wiswell or Chambers. You're gonna be you."- Mur
In this episode, Mur delves into the intricacies of submitting short fiction, sharing invaluable tips and personal experiences. From the importance of understanding market guidelines to the emotional resilience required to handle rejections, this episode is packed with advice for both new and seasoned writers.
Mur also recounts her recent whirlwind trip to Buffalo, battling migraines, and the unexpected productivity boost from writing a Baldur's Gate fanfic for a friend. Plus, she answers listener questions on short story submissions, beta readers, and the pitfalls of "rejectomancy."
Links:
Clarkesworld QueryTracker Duotrope Submission Grinder Escape Pod Baldur’s Gate 3 Neil Gaiman China Miéville Connie Willis John Scalzi Becky Chambers John Wiswell Ken Liu Hugo Awards GigaNotoSaurus Midsolar Murders Ditch Diggers Evergreen Links
Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing book. My newsletter, The Hot Mic, and my Patreon. Supporting either of those will get you perks like access to the discord, exclusive content, and early, ad-free episodes. Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate. Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! All books featured in Season 20 "Navigating Short Fiction Submissions" is brought to you in large part by by my supporters, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon or Substack!
Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please!
CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja,
and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. June 24, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 16 | murverse.com
"Navigating Short Fiction Submissions" by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

S20 Ep15: In Which Mur Muses on AI and the Writer's Journey
"I'm exaggerating a little bit, but if you look at the last 20 years, that's pretty much how I work."- Mur
Transcript
In this podcast we dive into the depths of editing my novel, Infinite Archive, and how I'm navigating the murky waters of murder mystery tweaks. We also explore the increasingly complex landscape of AI in writing and its implications for creatives.
Links:
Infinite Archive Valerie Valdez Premee Mohammed Savage Mill Geek Fest NASFiC in Buffalo Glasgow WorldCon World Fantasy Con Query Shark Writer Beware Preditors and Editors Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds (Gwenda Bond's book) Evergreen Links
Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing book. My newsletter, The Hot Mic, and my Patreon. Supporting either of those will get you perks like access to the discord, exclusive content, and early, ad-free episodes. Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate. Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! All books featured in Season 20 "Murder Mystery Meltdown and the AI Assistant" is brought to you in large part by by my supporters, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon or Substack!
Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please!
CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja,
and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. May 2, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 15 | murverse.com
"Murder Mystery Meltdown and the AI Assistant" by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0