I Should Be Writing

"You tell them enough information to show that you know 10% of what you're talking about, and your reader will assume you know the other 90%." In this episode, Mur discusses the seemingly innocuous action of research, and how it can become a trap that distracts from actual writing. Advent calendar info and AI complaints are free additions! Links Kim Stanley Robinson Cory Doctorow The Sociopath Nex...

"It's a definitely a giftable type thing for the Tolkien lover in your life." In this somewhat festive episode we talk about all the books we weren't able to feature over the year, to let you know about books you may not have heard of. We go by blurbs and first sentences - video also shows book covers! We talk SF, horror, mystery, and more. Mur might also rant about publicists who use AI. Check ou...

"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. (This post went live for supporters on  November 24, 2...

"Anytime someone starts a sentence with, 'why don't you just,' immediately stop listening to them." ~Valerie Valdes (Lia Amador) While it hasn't been a long time for podcast listeners, it's been a while for us and considering her expertise, I've invited Valerie Valdes back for a candid discussion about the recent demise of NaNoWriMo and what it means for writers. We delve into the challenges of ma...

I'm going over some daily episodes from the past this month! Get the whole 2025 NaNoReRun over at Patreon  free for all followers!      Do not listen to Evil Mur. Creative Commons BY-NC-SA, all other rights reserved by Mur Lafferty

"If you're writing your stories down, you're more than a writer than a lot of people ever will have the courage to try to be." It's a solo episode! I get into the complexities of writing and self-doubt, the struggles of completing a manuscript, the challenges of balancing creativity with personal life, and the ever-present specter of The Imposter Cop. We try to accept the importance of focusing on...

"You should be writing, because that's the only thing that ultimately you can have even a hope of controlling." ~Valerie Valdes Welcome back to the talented Valerie Valdes, also known as Lia Amador! We are here to launch her newest book, a fantasy rom-com titled Witch You Wood . We talk magical reality shows, romance, and tropes. We also get real about the struggles that persist even after being p...

[Worldcon] was my first convention where I went to panels, gave a reading, and had a big party. It made my sweet little book feel like the huge thing it is in my heart and mind. -Tim Chawaga S21 Ep18 In this episode, we welcome Tim Chawaga, author of Salvagia , as we dive into the depths of his near-future science fiction mystery set in a flooded Florida. Tim shares the inspiration behind his book...

Even writing badly will get you to writing well eventually. - Chinaza Bado S21 Ep17 In this episode, we sit down with Chinaza Bado, author of Birth of a Dynasty , to discuss the challenges and strategies of getting a trilogy published. Chinaza shares advice for how to query the a book and how to pitch a trilogy to publishers. We also discussed agents and marketing yourself in a competitive landsca...

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 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...

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

I think I was a very... particular kind of undergraduate workshop student. -Dan Kois In this episode, I welcome my old classmate from UNC,  Dan Kois, Slate editor and author of Hampton Heights. W e 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 featur...

'Reformed Pantser' is one of the most difficult things to be. -Seth Haddon 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 support...

"Nothing's easy, man; being an adult sucks." -Mur Lafferty In this episode, we dive deep into Bully #5: The Nap. We discuss the sneaky ways the Nap can derail our writing plans. Rest is vital, but The Nap isn't rest. It's escape. We also discusses the importance of sleep hygiene and how to combat the allure of a cozy nap when creativity calls.  We touch on the other bullies we've encountered along...

"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 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...

"If you feel you have something to say, just put the time into saying it." -K.M. Huber In this episode, we welcome K.M. Huber, the author of  Call of the Owl Woman , about her journey from writer to published author. K.M. talks about how her years in Peru, including extensive exploration and research into local mythology, affected her writing and her new book. Call of the Owl Woman is heavily infl...

"Get [your book] all the way to the end. You learn so much that way that you will not learn in any other way."- S.A. Barnes (This post went live for supporters on  May 23, 2025 . If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon! ) In this episode, we talk about the creative process with guest author S.A. Barnes. We discuss her latest release, Cold Eternity, a space h...

"We contain multitudes; you can be happy and jealous at the same time." -Mur Lafferty (This post went live for supporters on  May 21, 2025 . If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon  or Substack !) 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 dee...

"The bully loves pantsers because it can insult your outline." -Mur Lafferty (This post went live for supporters on  April 23, 2025 . If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon  or Substack !) (Also, I had a microphone glitch near the end, which is why it ends abruptly. Apologies.) In this episode, we launch our series on the bullies that live in your head, ren...

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 creat...

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 c...

S21 Ep4: Taking a Machete to Creative Blocks with Premee Mohamed "My characters would be wandering around the field with me going like, hey, I just found a rare orchid." -Premee Mohamed (This post went live for supporters on March 21, 2025 . If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon  or Substack !) (recorded February) In this episode we welcome prolific, brill...

S21 Ep3: Rachel Howzell Hall on Balancing Thrillers and Fantasy "I will try this new thing and I will learn how to do it." -Rachel Howzell Hall (This post went live for supporters on March 18, 2025 . If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon  or Substack !) (recorded February) In this episode of I Should Be Writing, we dive into the chaotic world of creativity...

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 s...

S21 Ep1: In Which Evil Mur Delivers a Message of Hope  "It's time to just... quit." -Evil Mur (Do not listen to Evil Mur) Welcome to a new season of I Should Be Writing, where the notorious Evil Mur takes the reins to deliver a unique message of hope for the new year. TL;DR, it's time to quit. In this episode, we explore the idea of quitting writing and the liberation that can come with making a d...