Posts Tagged ‘characters’

I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] What Do You Do when the Characters Don’t Behave?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

“Every character is the star of their own story.”

ISBW 22.9

Blue logo for I Should Be Writing with Season 22 and delighted Mur illustration

In this episode we talk about how different writers view characterization, from the ones who struggle to the ones who say the characters live in their heads. How do you manage all these wily beasts who want their stories told?

I will also be appearing next week at Ravencon, and then the following week at Demicon!

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

Blue logo to join the Fabulists via Patreon

This post went live for supporters on April 17, 2026. If you want early and ad-free episodes, support at Patreon!

Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is April 24, when we will talk about A Year of Furious Creation.

Links

Evergreen Links

Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at
no extra cost to you.
You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review!

CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn.
Get archives of the show via Patreon.

April 21, 2025 | ISBW 22.9 | murverse.com
“When Characters Go Rogue?” by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

In case it wasn’t clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

Podcasts, Projects, Transcript

[ISBW] Can YOU Write a Pile of Garbage?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:23:09 — 69.4MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

Title illustration, I should be writing. Episode 25: Can You Write a Pile of Garbage?
Episode 25: Can You Write a Pile of Garbage?

“Can YOU Write a Pile of Garbage?” is brought to you in large part by by my patrons, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon as low as $3 a month!

Some links below are affiliate links and I may earn some money at no cost to you when you use them. 

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

S19 Ep25
I got to interview game designer turned YA romance writer James L. Sutter in this episode, and it was a blast. So much good stuff here! I also talk about my latest anger at ADHD and what I’m reading. 

From the transcript:

James L. Sutter 34:10: And so it was hugely enlightening for me to see, sort of these authors were very talented and established, going through the same outline process, you know, struggling with their pitches, struggling with characters and realizing that like, oh, every great work of art, like starts out as a pile of garbage. And like, I can make a pile of garbage.

(emphasis Mur’s)

Download the full transcript!

What I’m Reading: Darkhearts, of course, but also These Prisoning Hills and People You Meet on Vacation. Links below!

Mentioned: The Artist’s Way podcast (Apple link)

Evergreen Links

(some book links are affiliate)

(If you can’t see this book widget, go here)

And remember, we can’t do this without you. Thanks for your support.
List of Patreon Supporters

CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, site design by Clockpunk Studio
and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon.
June 12, 2023 | Season 19 Ep 25 | murverse.com
“Can YOU Write a Pile of Garbage?” by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions