Posts Tagged ‘Writing Productivity’

I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Tango with the Tentacles, DESPAIR

“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!

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“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.

I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Evil Mur Takeover! Plus the Secret Seagull Shack

Evil Mur Takeover! S20 Ep9 - podcast cover image“Evil Mur Takeover! Plus the Secret Seagull Shack ” 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!

Remember, some links may be affiliate, but they support the show at no extra cost to you.

Subscribe/Follow here! (All apps)

 


I Should Be Writing Season 20, Episode 9

Infinite Archive coverTranscript

“If you don’t start out perfect, you’re never going to be good.” – Evil Mur

It’s an Evil Mur takeover! Evil Mur is back giving terrible advice and it’s a wild ride through the looking glass of a writer’s darker musings. We cover questioning the point of writing when perfection eludes us to the ruthless strategy of writing on the job. She gives some seriously excellent advice about emotions in horror, and offers an unorthodox method for trimming the fat from your prose. We touch on the Hugo Awards and reveal the cover of Mur’s upcoming book, Infinite Archive.

<—LOOK AT THAT COVER! OMG! PREORDER NOW!

Be warned: Evil Mur doesn’t play by the rules, and neither does her advice.

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Support the show, if you dare, and remember: Evil Mur is watching. Write like it’s your last act of defiance.

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 5, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 9 | murverse.com
“The Epiphany of Routine” by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0