Posts Tagged ‘interview’

I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] The Art of Juggling Writers (as an assistant)

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“Not every opportunity is equal, and you don’t have to chase everything.”
~Tim Minneci

Blue logo for I Should Be Writing with Season 22 and delighted Mur illustrationISBW 22.2

What do you need to have when you’re wrangling several pro writers? What can a writer expect from an assistant? Meet Tim Minneci, writer, podcaster, musician, and my assistant. (And Ursula’s, and Kameron’s.)

We discuss the challenges of being a writer, the importance of having an assistant, and the various tasks that come with supporting authors in their creative endeavors. Tim covers social media, the publishing industry, and the balance between creativity and administrative work.
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This post went live for supporters on February 16, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!

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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 18, 2026 | ISBW 22.2 | murverse.com
“The Art of Juggling Writers (as an assistant)” 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] The Journey from Ideas to Anarchy with Cadwell Turnbull

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“You want to preserve your experience of the work.
You want to preserve the doing of the art.”
~Cadwell Turnbull

Amazing author Cadwell Turnbull joins us to dives deep into the creative process and discuss his latest book, A Ruin Great and Free. We talk about his writing journey, trilogy challenges, and approaching social issues in his books.

Blue logo to join the Fabulists via Patreon(This post went live for supporters on November 24, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

 

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“The Journey from Ideas to Anarchy with Cadwell Turnbull” 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.
November 24, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 22 | murverse.com
“The Journey from Ideas to Anarchy with Cadwell Turnbull” 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] Chinaza Bado and Moving From Romance to Epic Fantasy

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Even writing badly will get you to writing well eventually. – Chinaza Bado

New 2025 logo, tiny Mur on pink/orange background with purple circle saying I should Be Writing.S21 Ep17
In this episode we welcome Nigerian Canadian author Chinaza Bado, to discuss her debut fantasy novel, Birth of a Dynasty, an exploration of political intrigue, magic, and vengeance.

We talk about genre classification, discussing how Chinaza’s characters age throughout the series while tackling adult themes. She talks about her writing process and her transition from romance to epic fantasy, her writing routine, and her unique approach to plotting.

Blue logo to join the Fabulists via Patreon(This post went live for supporters on October 14, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or get my newsletter via Ghost!)

 

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“Chinaza Bado and Moving From Romance to Epic Fantasy” 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.
September 8, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 17 | murverse.com
“Chinaza Bado and Moving From Romance to Epic Fantasy” 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] Live from WorldCon with James Patrick Kelly!

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You have to celebrate your friends who are more successful than you. ~Jim Kelly

S21 Ep16
In this special 20th anniversary episode of I Should Be Writing, recorded live at Worldcon 2025, I reunite with my mentor and long-time friend, James Patrick Kelly. We talk about the last two decades of writing, the evolution of our careers, and the ever-changing landscape of storytelling.

We still face bullies like self-doubt and shiny new ideas, but we also explore strengths like community support and celebrating each other’s successes. We discuss all the bullies unveiled, the concept of “bullies” that plague writers, including the Imposter Cop, the Blade, and the Nap.

And as always we discuss how to handle creative hurdles.

(This post went live for supporters on September 2, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or get my newsletter at Ghost!)

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“20 Years of ISBW, Live from WorldCon with James Patrick Kelly!” 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.

September 5, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 16 | murverse.com
“20 Years of ISBW, Live from WorldCon with James Patrick Kelly!” 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] The Sweet Spot of Horror and Desire with Sarah Gailey

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Content warning: since Spread Me is erotic horror, this episode has an explicit tag.

I wrote it to have fun because I have written a lot of books
that were not fun to write. -Sarah Gailey

New 2025 logo, tiny Mur on pink/orange background with purple circle saying I should Be Writing.S21 EP15
In this episode, we welcome Hugo winning author Sarah Gailey, author of Spread Me, as we explore the wild world of erotic horror. Sarah shares their journey of writing a novel that takes inspiration from John Carpenter’s classic film, The Thing, blending horror and erotica and humor.

We dive into the creative process behind Spread Me, discussing the unique premise of a research crew encountering a specimen with prurient interests, and how the protagonist’s unusual attraction to viruses plays into the narrative.

(viruses!)

Sarah candidly reflects on the challenges of writing explicit content and the journey of finding the perfect title that captures the essence of their work. And we get Sarah’s meticulous approach to outlining and how specificity in description enhances storytelling. 

Then we fight book bans! It’s a magical time.

(This post went live for supporters on August 29, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or get my newsletter at Ghost!)

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—
“The Sweet Spot of Horror and Desire with Sarah Gailey” 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.

September 1, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 15 | murverse.com
“The Sweet Spot of Horror and Desire with Sarah Gailey” 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] Chasing Monsters: A Journey Through Hampton Heights

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I think I was a very… particular kind of undergraduate workshop student. -Dan Kois

New 2025 logo, tiny Mur on pink/orange background with purple circle saying I should Be Writing.In this episode, I welcome my old classmate from UNC,  Dan Kois, Slate editor and author of Hampton Heights. We dive into our journey from college classmates to published authors. Both pro writers, we each took a very different path.

Dan shares the inspiration behind Hampton Heights, a thrilling adventure featuring four kids selling newspapers and encountering monsters unexpected relatives, and more.

Of course we discuss the struggles of self-doubt, the impact of mentorship, and the significance of continuing to write despite the obstacles.

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

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—
“Chasing Monsters: A Journey Through Hampton Heights” 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.
August 29, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 14 | murverse.com
“Chasing Monsters: A Journey Through Hampton Heights” 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] The Haunted Mask: Exploring Volatile Memory with Seth Haddon

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‘Reformed Pantser’ is one of the most difficult things to be. -Seth Haddon

2025 logo, tiny Mur on pink/orange background with purple circle saying I should Be Writing.In this episode, we welcome Seth Haddon, the talented Australian author behind Volatile Memory. We cover hybrid publishing, writing routines, and pursuing nuns.

Volatile Memory explores themes of transhumanism and identity within a corporate-dominated future. Also  haunted masks. And love.

(This post went live for supporters on August 25, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or get my newsletter at Ghost!)

Transcript

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—
“The Haunted Mask: Exploring Volatile Memory with Seth Haddon” 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 support via Ghost!!

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 25, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 13 | murverse.com
“The Haunted Mask: Exploring Volatile Memory with Seth Haddon” 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] Mental Health and Creativity

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

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S21 Ep2: Mental Health and Creativity

“Nothing is 100% original. It’s what you do with it that counts.” -Elaine M. Will

(This post went live for supporters on February 13, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)

Ever-looming existential dread, but we keep going. Then there’s the challenge of navigating creativity amidst mental health struggles. I also reflect on a fear of failure. I’m not proud. I’m human.

And then we welcome to the show Elaine M. Will, a writer and illustrator known for her graphic novels that tackle mental health themes. We discuss Elaine’s latest work, The Last Band on Earth, and the intricate relationship between storytelling and visual art.

Whether you’re a writer or an artist, we hope you’ll get something out of this episode, and you remember that a creative journey is filled with ups and downs, and it’s okay to take your time.

Transcript

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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.
—

“Mental Health and Creativity” 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.
February 13, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 2 | murverse.com
“Mental Health and Creativity” by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Returning to Agenting with Jennifer Udden [Explicit]

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S20 Ep33: In Which Mur and Jen Udden Discuss World Fantasy Con, Fan Fiction, and the Ever-Changing Publishing Landscape [Explicit]

“I think we’re about 10 minutes away from reinventing urban fantasy and paranormal romance.” – Jennifer Udden

(This post went live for supporters on November 12, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)

(NOTE: It occurs to me that I have three explicit episodes–32, 33, 34–in a row. But one was a casual interview, one was rage, and one was despair. So we will get back to nice clean episodes soon. I promise.)

At World Fantasy Con this year, I got to talk to my ex-agent Jennifer Udden, who shared her journey from agent to barista and back to agenting. We talked about the unique atmosphere of the con, the evolution of fan fiction in the literary world, and the growing acceptance of publishing professionals as writers. We also talk about Stardew Valley.

Jen opens up about her experience with self-publishing, the importance of creative outlets, and her plans to reopen submissions, focusing on adult fiction across various genres.

Transcript

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—

“Returning to Agenting with Jennifer Udden” 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.
November 25, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 33 | murverse.com
“Returning to Agenting with Jennifer Udden” by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] From Fanfiction to Fantasy: Gwynne Garfinkle’s Writing Adventures

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S.20 Ep.31: In Which Mur and Gwynne Garfinkle Discuss Short Stories, Anthologies, and the Joy of Fanfiction

“[Fanfic] got me back into liking the fun of writing fiction.” – Gwynne Garfinkle

(This post went live for supporters on November 12, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)

Join me as I welcome back author Gwynne Garfinkle to discuss her anthology of short stories and the art of writing across different lengths. We dive into Gwynne’s journey from novels to short stories, exploring the freedom and challenges of each format. Gwynne shares her love for fanfiction and how it rekindled her passion for writing fiction.

We also delve into Gwynne’s poetry, discussing her unique approach to capturing untold stories from classic films, and her process of deciding whether an idea becomes a poem or a short story.

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“From Fanfiction to Fantasy: Gwen Garfinkel’s Writing Adventures” 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.
November 15, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 31 | murverse.com
“From Fanfiction to Fantasy: Gwen Garfinkel’s Writing Adventures” by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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