Posts Tagged ‘Creative Process’

I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] 977 Episodes: What Have I Learned?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:22 — 23.1MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

“If [I] start thinking about the details, [I] will either go down the wrong path
and not record or [I’ll] talk [my]self out of it.”

Blue logo for I Should Be Writing with Season 22 and delighted Mur illustrationISBW 22.3

I finally finished the archives, and learned quite a bit about myself, not all good things. We also touch on Hugo season, book club scams, and AI publicists.
Blue logo to join the Fabulists via Patreon

 

 

 

(This post went live for supporters on February 20, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

Notes

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.
February 23, 2025 | ISBW 22.3 | murverse.com
“977 Episodes: What Have I Learned?” 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.
I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Tango with the Tentacles, DESPAIR

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:59 — 19.7MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

“Despair is the overprotective parent going, ‘oh, it’s okay that you lost that game. We’ll protect you by never letting you play again.'” -Mur Lafferty

S21 Ep11
In this episode, we talk about Bully #4, Despair. Despair wants to hug you and join you when it’s raining. It’s nice to feel sorry for yourself for a moment, but you can’t listen to it.

Mur is candid about feeling overwhelmed and the challenges of maintaining a connection to the outside world amidst creative struggles and personal challenges.

We explore some ways to combat despair, including the helpful practice of listing accomplishments and breaking down projects into manageable steps. And get a little fussy.

(This post went live for supporters on June 11, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or get my newsletter at Ghost!

Download Transcript

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

Links

Evergreen Links

—
“Tango with the Tentacles, DESPAIR” is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon!

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 18, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 11 | murverse.com
“Tango with the Tentacles, DESPAIR” 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.

Ditch Diggers, Podcasts, Projects

[DD] It’s a Multiple Whale Year for Ursula

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:54 — 34.2MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

“Genre is a marketing tool, just like a book cover.” – Mur Lafferty

Ditch Diggers Season 11 logo featuring ursula illustrated In this episode of Ditch Diggers, Mur and Ursula rant about genre expectations, marketing, and what happens when you decide that genre isn’t for you because you’re special. 

Ursula lists her whales, and Imposter Syndrome doesn’t really make a showing when Mur travels. 

Highlights:
– (05:12) Ursula’s anxiety over multiple deadlines and projects
– (12:45) Mur’s recent business trip and the absence of imposter syndrome
– (25:30) The ongoing debate about happy endings in romance
– (38:15) The role of marketing in shaping reader expectations
– (47:50) The challenges of genre classification and reader assumptions
– (55:30) How personal growth as a writer often goes unnoticed

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

(This post went live for supporters on June 9, 2025. Join the Fabulists or support my newsletter at Ghost if you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes!)

Transcript

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores!

Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon).
June 12, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 6 | murverse.com
“It’s a Multiple Whale Year for Ursula” by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Jealousy and Bully #2: The BLADE

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:26 — 23.6MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

“We contain multitudes; you can be happy and jealous at the same time.”
-Mur Lafferty

season 21 with the Blade(This post went live for supporters on May 21, 2025. Join the Fabulists or support my newsletter at Ghost if you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes!)

We’re back! In this episode, we talk about the bullies that can sap our confidence and creativity again, today’s bully is the Blade, a stern knife that can cut deep.

(I also announce my new cozy fantasy, it’s real now! I am of course stressing over storytelling complexities (again).)

Let’s talk about the Blade, and everything it stands for: mainly, jealousy, a feeling that can be sharp and painful. But fear not, we also discuss how to deal with these feelings and how to shut this bully up.

Transcript

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

illustration of the Blade, a sharp birdlike personLinks

Evergreen Links


—
“Jealousy and Bully #2: The BLADE” is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, 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 20, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 8 | murverse.com
“Jealousy and Bully #2: The BLADE” 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.

Ditch Diggers, Podcasts, Projects

[DD] Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:00 — 43.9MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

“If you can tolerate the boring and lonely, then hopefully you’ll be rewarded on the other side.” – Ursula Vernon

Ditch Diggers Season 11 logo featuring ursula illustrated In this episode of Ditch Diggers, Mur and Ursula navigate the chaotic world of freelancing, taxes, and the ups and downs of being a writer. They discuss the recent Hugo nominations (two for Ursula, one for Mur!), share insights into their creative processes, and delve into the challenges of working with agents.

Chapters:

(03:29) Congratulations to Hugo Finalists!
(04:06) Several people from the podcast have been nominated for various awards
(05:41) Ursula has been working on several projects
(21:25) NaNoWriMo reportedly folded due to poor financial decisions
(22:03) NaNoWriMo brought hope to authors for decades
(28:07) Other writer community options?
(30:39) There are many guides on how to get an agent and how to spot a scam
(36:02) Agents are all different people.
(48:54) How much creative control does the author have over their book
(51:25) Where your agent is plugged into the ecosystem of the genre is very important
(54:48) How do you know when it’s the right agent
(01:00:45) Brief side quest with Andrew the plant guy
(01:01:53) Ursula’s new book hit number five on the New York Times bestseller list

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

(This post went live for supporters on April 21, 2025. Join the Fabulists or support my newsletter at Ghost if you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes!)

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores!

Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon).
Apr 14, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 3 | murverse.com
“Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality” by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] From Medieval Fashion to Modern Writing with Natania Barron

Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

New 2025 logo, tiny Mur on pink/orange background with purple circle saying I should Be Writing.

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

S21 Ep6: From Medieval Fashion to Modern Writing with Natania Barron

“Stories are how I make sense of the world.”
-Natania Barron

(This post went live for supporters on March 27, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)

In this episode, I talk a little about the JoCo Cruise and how it reminded me of the importance of community and creativity. I forgot how good it felt to surrounding myself with fellow creatives.

Then I talk to Natania Barron, a prolific fantasy author and medieval scholar of the Queen of None series. We delve into Natania’s latest works, including her upcoming release in the Queens of Fate series. We also discuss the intersection of history and fantasy, the nuances of writing queer narratives, and the significance of food and fashion in storytelling.

Stories are how I make sense of the world, in text, with photo of natania barronTranscript

Links

Evergreen Links

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.
—

“From Medieval Fashion to Modern Writing with Natania Barron” is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, 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.
March 27, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 6 | murverse.com
“From Medieval Fashion to Modern Writing with Natania Barron” by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Exploring the Post-Apocalyptic World with Waubgeshig Rice

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:50 — 31.3MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

ISBW birthday logo with happy Mur illustration and cake.

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

S20 Ep23: In Which Mur and Waubgeshig Rice explore post-apocalyptic worlds.

It’s like, ultimately, words are expendable. You just pick different ones. – Waubgeshig Rice

Transcript

(This post went live for supporters on August 21, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)

Chapters:
(00:00) Intro
(01:45) Waubgeshig Rice dropped out of journalism school because the industry is a shadow of itself.
(02:36) Waub’s first two novels are post apocalyptic dystopian novels.
(06:59) How much post-apocalyptic fiction did he read before writing this book?
(09:42) Starting with smaller presses was really influential in his development as a writer.
(12:51) How did his background in journalism helped his confidence as a debut novelist?
(16:14) How did he work that pacing in Moon of Crested Snow?
(19:04) What freaks us out.
(23:16) I need to read more post apocalyptic fiction by indigenous writers.
(24:37) Waub went from journalism to fiction after quitting his job.
(27:04) More writing advice!
(30:28) How does Waub tackle revising?

In this episode. Mur chats with award-winning author and journalist Waubgeshig Rice about his latest book, Moon of the Turning Leaves. They delve into the challenges and rewards of transitioning from journalism to fiction, the intricacies of writing post-apocalyptic literature, and the importance of smaller presses for budding authors.

Waub also shares his inspirations, the impact of his indigenous heritage on his storytelling, and offers invaluable advice for aspiring writers. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the craft of writing and the resilience of communities in the face of global calamities.

And y’all, SO MANY good book recommendations!

Links

Evergreen Links

“Exploring the Post-Apocalyptic World with Waubgeshig Rice” is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, 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.
August 23, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 23 | murverse.com
“Exploring the Post-Apocalyptic World with Waubgeshig Rice” by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Debut Novels and the Writing Journey with MJ Wassmer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:55 — 26.5MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

S20 Ep22: In Which Mur Chats with MJ Wassmer and Discusses Debut Novels and the Writing Journey

“You can’t think yourself into better actions, but you can act yourself into better thoughts.”– MJ Wassmer

Transcript

(This post went live for supporters on July 30, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)

Join Mur as she welcomes MJ Wassmer, author of Zero Stars Do Not Recommend, to discuss the ups and downs of debuting in the publishing world, writing speculative comedy, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with finishing a book.

MJ shares his personal journey, from working in corporate America to becoming a published author, and offers insights into his writing process, dealing with rejections, and the importance of having a supportive spouse.

Links:

Evergreen Links

“Debut Novels and the Writing Journey with MJ Wassmer” 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.
August 5, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 22 | murverse.com
“Debut Novels and the Writing Journey with MJ Wassmer” by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Deck of Worlds: Unleashing Creativity in Fiction

Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

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!)

Hey, are you lost? Check out the video!

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:

Evergreen Links

“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
I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Tarot Tales and Historical Hurdles with Susan Wands

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:47 — 36.0MB)

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

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.

High Priestess and Empress illustrated cover, pinkLinks:

Evergreen Links

“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

Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions