I Should Be Writing

S20 Ep13: In Which Mur Attends Wole Talabi's Creative Alchemy Transcript "The primary driver of my sense of success is, 'do I feel happy with what I've done?'" - Wole Talabi Mur chats with Wole Talabi, an engineer turned author (but still engineer). They discuss the Schrodinger's Cat of publishing, the thrill of rewriting old stories for new audiences, and the joy of challenging the norms of fiction. Links: Wole Talabi Nebula Awards Hugo Awards Locus Awards Sidewise Awards for Alternate History Lightspeed Magazine (with Wole's interview) Caine Prize Namwali Serpell and her short story "Account" 99 Fleeting Fantasies Mothersound: The Sauútiverse Anthology Glasgow 2024 Worldcon (World Science Fiction Convention) Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing book. 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 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! "From Patent Memos to Nebula Nods with Wole Talabi" 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! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link) "From Patent Memos to Nebula Nods with Wole Talabi" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA April 17, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 13 | murverse.com

S20 Ep 12: In Which Mur Plans to Turn Hurt Feelings into Finished Drafts Transcript "I read over the notes and I got mad and I got my feelings hurt." - Mur (being fussy) I've received my edit letter about Infinite Archive, so I'm handling all the emotions that carries with it. ADHD complicated my perception of time, so figuring out how long it will take me is a challenge. Valerie Valdes joins the chat with some excellent advice, like adding extra time to your deadlines to account for the unexpected. Then we touch on the basic concept of "someone comes to town, someone leaves down" (also a Cory Doctorow book title.) We also touch on the concept of love triangles in fiction, sparking a conversation about the trope's effectiveness and its alternatives. Links: Valerie Valdes@thekidsareasleepLocus-longlistedWhere Peace is LostCory DoctorowSomeone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves TownWriting the OtherNeil Gaiman on "Entitlement Issues"Paul and Storm"George RR Martin Is Not Your Bitch"Jeff VanderMeer's WonderbookJames Patrick Kelly A Song of Ice and Fire Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicPatreonBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioSavor I Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books! (go here for all the books mentioned in 2024) "Riding the Revision Rollercoaster" 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! John AnealioNumbers Ninja Libsyn (affiliate link).Patreon. Mur Lafferty CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

S20 Ep11: In which we travel "The Other Valley" with Scott Alexander Howard Transcript "I wrote it in a blissful who cares? Mentality, like, 'oh, well, genre will sort itself out.'" - Scott Alexander Howard In this episode, we're joined by Scott Alexander Howard, author of The Other Valley, a novel where literary meets speculative. Scott delves into his journey from philosophy to fiction, sharing how his background influenced the emotional depth of his debut. We discuss the challenges of genre and the slow dance of publishing. Links: Scott Alexander HowardThe Other ValleyElena FerranteTed ChiangVirginia WoolfYoko OgawaMarilynne RobinsonJenny ErpenbeckMartin McInnes Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicPatreonBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioSavor I Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books! (go here for all the books mentioned in 2024) "The Landscape of Grief with Scott Alexander Howard" 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! John AnealioNumbers Ninja Libsyn (affiliate link).Patreon. Mur Lafferty CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

I Should Be Writing Season 20, Episode 10 "I felt like a cuckoo among very pretty birds." - Mur Fresh off the JoCo cruise, we discusses the allure of nerd paradise and how navigating imposter syndrome is a frequent struggle. I share tabletop RPG antics, celebrity karaoke adventures, and the amazing feeling of having legitimately cool creators accept you. Self doubt did show up, and I'll talk about how I dealt with that. Also, what should I do for my 20th year podcasting celebration? Other links: JoCo CruiseJonathan CoultonSkullcrusher MountainChiron Beta PrimePortalPortal 2NPR Ask Me AnotherThat Bronze GirlDrunk HistoryJames S.A. Corey (Ty Franck)The ExpanseTochi OnyebuchiMari NaomiOur Flag Means DeathOscar NunezVico OrtizScott Alexander HowardThe Other Valley Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicPatreonBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioSavor I Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books! (go here for all the books mentioned in Season 20) Your support keeps our ship afloat. Thank you for being part of the crew. If you can't give monetarily, then consider leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts! April 18, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 10 | murverse.com | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

I Should Be Writing Season 20, Episode 9 Transcript "If you don't start out perfect, you're never going to be good." - Evil Mur Evil Mur is back giving terrible advice and it's a wild ride through the looking glass of a writer's darker musings. We cover questioning the point of writing when perfection eludes us to the ruthless strategy of writing on the job. She gives some seriously excellent advice about emotions in horror, and offers an unorthodox method for trimming the fat from your prose. We touch on the Hugo Awards and reveal the cover of Mur's upcoming book, Infinite Archive. Be warned: Evil Mur doesn't play by the rules, and neither does her advice. Other links: JoCo CruiseBaldur’s Gate 3The SecretJonathan Livingston SeagullThe Celestine ProphecyInfinite Archive How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake MethodHugo AwardsSave the Cat Writes a NovelPenguin Random HouseTwitch Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicPatreonBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioSavor I Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books! (go here for all the books in Season 20) Support the show, if you dare, and remember: Evil Mur is watching. Write like it's your last act of defiance. John AnealioNumbers NinjaClockpunk Studio Libsyn (affiliate link).Patreon. Mur Lafferty CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

I Should Be Writing Season 20, Episode 7 Transcript I found myself looking for my own magic bullet and getting frustrated a the media who take the idea of a daily routine--something people with ADHD people need--and play it off as only done by stodgy, unfun dorks. I discuss Josh Zimmerman's videos, how creation is like jumping off a diving board for me, my solo RPG plans, and promote Premee Mohamed's books and bullying. From the fear of preparation to the power of routines for neurodiverse individuals, we open up about the importance of finding what works for you—even if it means facing your own hypocrisy. Plus, hear about the anticipation of the JoCo cruise, the chaos of running Brindlewood Bay RPGs, and why sometimes, you just have to leap off the high dive. Other links: Apple Fitness Plus Ray Bradbury, Zen and the Art of WritingStranger Than FictionPublishers WeeklyFile 770JoCo CruiseUrsula VernonBrindlewood Bay Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicPatreonBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioI Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books! this year! And remember, we can't do this without you. Thanks for your support. March 12, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 8 | murverse.com | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

I Should Be Writing Season 20, Episode 7 In this episode, I discuss trusting yourself because sometimes no one else will. We also talk File 770, Genre Grapevine, I mispronounce "chutzpah," make a Wizard of Oz reference, and how should I celebrate 20 seasons of ISBW? Remember, advice is supplementary. Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicPatreonBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioI Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books! See what books we've discussed this season here. Some of the above links are affiliate, meaning I may receive a small amount of money for the purchase at no cost to you. And remember, we can't do this without you. Thanks for your support. March 9, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 7 | murverse.com | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

ISBW S20 Ep6 Author Gwenda Bond comes on the show to talk The Frame Up, heists, and point of view! We also discuss being ballsy at Boskone, pen names, T. Kingfisher's "What Feasts At Night," writing retreats, and heist structure. If you order The Frame Up from Bookshop.org, use the code FRAMEUP for 10% off! Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicPatreonBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioI Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books! Some of the above links are affiliate, meaning I may receive a small amount of money for the purchase at no cost to you. March 7, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 6 | murverse.com | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

ISBW S20 Ep5 Debut author Avione Lee comes to tell us about the Odyssey Workshop and the various programs! Odyssey Your Personal Workshop (deadline is soon!) Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioI Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books!

ISBW S20 Ep4 Hugos are still messy, so check out Chris M. Barkley*, Paul Weimer, Alasdair Stuart, and Jason Sanford and the excellent fanwriting they do. We talk character depth, using Baldur's Gate 3 as an example. Lastly we get in to the hybrid outline thing I'm trying to do to help me write. Show Links Paul Weimer Chris M. Barkley Jason SanfordAlasdair StuartNancy Kress' Beginnings, Middles, and Ends Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioI Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books! February 12, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 4 | murverse.com | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

ISBW S20 Ep3 Debut author Eilish Quin joins us to talk about her retelling of Euripedes' classic story, Medea, with glorious descriptive prose and a feminist point of view. We talk about hurdles and wins and what to keep in mind when doing a retelling. Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioI Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books! (some book links are affiliate, go here if you can't see the widget) And remember, we can't do this without you. Thanks for your support. February 8, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 3 | murverse.com | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

ISBW S20 Ep2 I am not a lawyer or an accountant, and taxes mentioned in the podcast are specific to my understanding of US tax law. No one like to talk about money. Either you admit how bad you are or you're awkward because you make a lot. Or you're a jerk, but we aren't talking to those people. I'm here to talk about my income, what an advance really means, and how to best use your writing income. We also discuss YNAB, my favorite budgeting tool, and authors Valerie Valdes and Premee Mohamed show up in chat to give their input. Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioI Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books! And remember, we can't do this without you. Thanks for your support. February 6, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 2 | murverse.com | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

ISBW S20 Ep1 Why am I still doing this show after 20 years? Believe me, I was the first person to ask this. We talk about my career, my mental health, and, well, why? Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioI Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!Flyleaf Books! Thanks for your support.John AnealioNumbers NinjaClockpunk StudioLibsyn (affiliate link).Patreon. Mur LaffertyCC BY-NC-SA 4.0

I got to talk to award-winning Nigerian author Chikodili Emelumadu about her new book Dazzling, and we wander all sorts of directions, including into ambition, what makes her write, and advice for new writers! Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing book. It exists. Did you know that?Mur's newsletter, The Hot Mic Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate. No more bird site. Alas. Theme by John Anealio 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! (some book links are affiliate, go here if you can't see the widget) December 25, 2023 | Season 19 Ep 34 | murverse.com | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

ISBW S19 Ep33 I wanted to discuss humor again, so my buddy Valerie came back on to talk about it because she's smarter than me. Even though she introduced us to "Diggy Diggy Hole." We also talk "The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun," the Bridesmaids toast scene that makes me wanna die, The Hitchhiker's Gudie to the Galaxy, and Tom Cardy's "Perception Check" (NSFW language). Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing book. It exists. Did you know that?Mur's newsletter, The Hot Mic Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate. No more bird site. Alas. Theme by John Anealio 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! (some book links are affiliate, go here if you can't see the widget) And remember, we can't do this without you. Thanks for your support. December 14, 2023 | Season 19 Ep 33 | murverse.com | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

ISBW S19 Ep32 Steve Martin famously did his comedy acts to empty bars when he started. It's a good mindset to keep. Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing book. It exists. Did you know that?Mur's newsletter, The Hot Mic Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate. No more bird site. Alas. Theme by John Anealio 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! (some book links are affiliate, go here if you can't see the widget) And remember, we can't do this without you. Thanks for your support. December 10, 2023 | Season 19 Ep 32 | murverse.com | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

ISBW S19 Ep31 Self care, yo. It's dark, we're at the end of a big project, and time to be kind to yourself. Minimal show notes. If you want something clarified, ask in comments and I will get you a link. More shows coming soon! Evergreen Links I Should Be Writing bookThe Hot MicBlueskyMastodonTikTokInstagramYouTubeFocusmateJohn AnealioI Should Be Writing tea blendsStation Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! hereFlyleaf Books!

Turns out that the stress of dealing with November has made me sit on this production. :( But Travis Baldree and I hung out online and talked about our books that launched this month, Chaos Terminal and Bookshops and Bonedust. Transcript Travis Baldree 03:53 ...I've discovered stickers are the easiest way for me to not feel awkward at assigning or a thing, because I can just say, Do you want a sticker? Okay, well, I lay them out in front of me. There's like more than one kind of sticker. And so I say, Would you like a sticker? And then while they're preoccupied trying to pick a sticker, you run don't have to say anything. Oh, and they have to think so I can sign something. Because the thing that happens to me is if I sign things, and somebody asks me a question, I will start writing my answer. To get the rest of the interview, check out my Patreon or Substack! Evergreen Links I don't talk enough about the I Should Be Writing book. It exists. Did you know that? Mur's newsletter, The Hot Mic Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate. No more bird site. Alas. Theme by John Anealio 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! Support small bookshops and shop here! (affiliate link) November 4, 2023 | Season 19 Ep 30 | murverse.com | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

HAH I AM CAUGHT UP 33333 down, 16666 to go OK, plotters and pantsers, if you're having trouble, then I can tell you exactly what to do. Let Evil Mur guide you. Trust Evil Mur. Get John Anealio’s music here. NaNoWriMoor 4thewordsyet? Don't forget Chaos Terminal is finally on shelves! Do not listen to Evil Mur. Creative Commons BY-NC-SA, all other rights reserved by Mur Lafferty

31666 down, 18333 to go Did you read the NaNoWriMo terms and conditions? Better do that, cause things are getting serious. Ask questions, and then don't worry about the answers. Do not listen to Evil Mur. Creative Commons BY-NC-SA, all other rights reserved by Mur Lafferty