I Should Be Writing

S20 Ep21: In Which Mur and Mary Pascual Talk Writing and Mental Health "I refuse to feel like or believe that [ADHD] is a detriment. Honestly, there are so many things about ADHD that I personally love."- Mary Pascual  Transcript (This post went live for supporters on July 8, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!) In this episode, Mur Lafferty is joined by Mary Pascual, author of Walk the Web Lightly. They dive into the challenges of writing with ADHD, the importance of mental health for writers, and the unique creative processes that come with neurodivergence. Mur shares her recent experience of turning in her eighth book, Infinite Archive, and the duo explores the intricacies of balancing deadlines with self-care. Mary discusses her latest book, its themes of time, art, and science, and the journey of her young protagonist, Nya. They also touch on the blurred lines between YA and middle grade fiction, and how personal experiences and mythological inspirations shape their storytelling. Tune in for an insightful conversation about the highs and lows of the writing life, and the shared struggles and triumphs of creative minds. Links: Walk the Web Lightly by Mary Pascual ADHD for Smart Ass Women Podcast (and the book) Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 1984 by George Orwell SpaceValkyries Stream Escape Pod (Hugo finalist semi-prozine) 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   "Embracing ADHD and Crafting Timelines with Mary Pascual" 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 29, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 21 | murverse.com "Embracing ADHD and Crafting Timelines with Mary Pascual"  by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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

The podcast discusses editing a murder mystery novel, navigating AI in writing, cautionary tales about AI limitations, using AI assistants for email tasks, environmental impact of AI tools, upcoming geek conventions, and supporting local bookstores.

Mur discusses conquering conventions with humor and honesty, navigating networking, COVID safety concerns, and virtual cons. She shares tips on professionalism, industry connections, and enjoying cons. The episode covers various writing conventions, social media challenges, and experiences at events like the Hugo Awards.

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 (aka @thekidsareasleep) and her Locus-longlisted book Where Peace is Lost. Cory Doctorow Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town Writing the Other (course) Neil Gaiman on "Entitlement Issues" Paul and Storm (Also ISBW fans will recognize the voice behind this other GRRM focused song, "George RR Martin Is Not Your Bitch") Jeff VanderMeer's Wonderbook James Patrick Kelly A Song of Ice and Fire 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! (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! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja,and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. April 15, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 12 | murverse.com "The Revision Rollercoaster - From Hurt Feelings to Finished Drafts" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0