Posts Tagged ‘Narrative Structure’

I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Crafting Tales Through Holiday Themes

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

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S21 Ep5: Crafting Tales Through Holiday Themes

“Engaging with the holidays definitely feels like a way to develop world and character.”
-Mur Lafferty

(This post went live for supporters on March 24, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)


In this episode, I dive into the significance of holidays in storytelling and how they can shape character development and plot progression. With no guest this week, I talk about my own projects, creative work and admin work both.

I cover Christmas romances that evoke themes of rebirth to the complexities of Valentine’s Day, and discuss how different holidays can influence narratives.

Quote in front of xmas tree, "think of something happening that you don't actually believe could happen."Transcript

Links

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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.

“Crafting Tales Through Holiday Themes” 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 5 | murverse.com
“Crafting Tales Through Holiday Themes” by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Riding the Revision Rollercoaster

Riding the Revision Rollercoaster - season 20 episode 11

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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, which call the revision rollercoaster.  ADHD complicated my perception of time, so figuring out how long it will take me is a challenge.

via GIPHY

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.

Other links for Ep 12:

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“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, site design by Clockpunk Studio
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