I Should Be Writing

ISBW 22.13 Believe it or not, we got a feedback question to answer! We talk about how to get moving when you’ve stalled out on your writing routine, and a few of my secret anxieties. It boils down to: Why are you doing this? Notes: Escape Pod is a finalist for the Hugo and Ignyte awards! Amazing! I attended Viable Paradise once upon a time. Fix the News! Gail Carriger on Ditch Diggers JoCo’s Thing...

ISBW 22.12 Happy Pride! Recently we welcomed Isabel J. Kim to the show to talk about her debut novel, Sublimation ! We not only talk about her mind-bending Severence -like novel, but her use of point of view, second person, and about her award-winning story “ WHY DON'T WE JUST KILL THE KID IN THE OMELAS HOLE ”. This post went live for supporters on June 19, 2026 . If you want early and ad-free epi...

ISBW 22.11 (There will be a giveaway of Ruinous Creatures! I'm taking entries until May 21! Email me with GIVEAWAY in the subject line! You do not need to be a paying supporter to enter.) Recently we welcomed Jessi Cole Jackson to the show to talk about her debut novel, Ruinous Creatures ! We cover Jackson's unique bone-specific magic system and her inspirations, not to mention how to wrap your he...

"If you injure somebody, that injury tells a story, and you have to decide whether that story fits the rest of your story." 22.10 In this episode, I go into "realism" with regards to injuries and health. Are injuries for pain? For an instant of shock? To give the character a new hardship? We talk about some of Stephen King's works and how to balance realism with narrative flow. This post went live...

"Every character is the star of their own story." ISBW 22.9 In this episode we talk about how different writers view characterization, from the ones who struggle to the ones who say the characters live in their heads. How do you manage all these wily beasts who want their stories told? I will also be appearing next week at Ravencon, and then the following week at Demicon! This post went live for s...

"I think the thing people have the most problem with is, 'This was very good, but it didn't excite me.'" ISBW 22.8 Mur is back solo, talking about Rejectomancy and how to interpret the rejections you get, and more importantly, how to move forward after getting said rejection. And the bad news: you're aiming to make writing a job, which means you have to deal with the bad parts along with the good....

"Acceptance is built on a pile of rejections." ~ Justin C. Key ISBW 22.7 Dr. Justin C. Key joins us to discuss his debut novel, The Hospital at the End of the World, exploring intersection of medicine and AI. Justin shares his experiences as a psychiatrist and balancing a medical career with being an author. We go over writing process, community, and the lessons learned from both success and setba...

"Weird is hot right now." ISBW 22.6 CW- pet death. It's been a rough week, so I'm talking regret and spite. Can they help and fuel us? Or is it just wasted bile? Then we talk about new book releases, like Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite and Hell's Heart by Alexis Hall. And we touch on our next show, an interview with Justin C. Key, author of The Hospital at the End of the World. Remember you can joi...

"Take your time, there's no rush. The audience will be here whenever your story is ready." ISBW 22.5 In this episode we welcome author Olivia Waite to discuss her latest books, including Murder by Memory and Nobody's Baby. We touch on one of my favorite topics, writing science fiction mysteries, but we also delve into compelling beginnings and how to avoid the cringe in romance.  Chapters: (00:00)...

"It might be too much, but it looks really fun." ISBW 22.4 I've had a strong opinion about writing contests for years, but things have apparently evolved. I was reading about writing contests and found two that were quite interesting. A bit of housekeeping: I am no longer doing an exclusive version of Patreon episodes. They will still be early, still ad-free, but I've found that making two version...

"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." ISBW 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. This post went live for supporters on  February 20, 2026 . If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes...

"Not every opportunity is equal, and you don't have to chase everything." ~Tim Minneci ISBW 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 va...

"All I can do is what I can do right now." ISBW 22.1 First episode of the year, and we talk about the things we may not want to take along with us into the new year. New books, new shows (Patreon-only Evil Mur podcast called STET!), and all that other stuff. (This post went live for supporters on  January 12, 2026 . If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon !)...

"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...