Episodes

  • [ISBW] Dance Like Nobody’s Watching

    [ISBW] Dance Like Nobody’s Watching
    Jun 26 2026
    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 DiggersJoCo’s Thing a Week Beatnik Turtle’s Song of the DayDavid Drake Elizabeth Bear on Ditch Diggers This post went live for supporters on June 22, 2026. If you want early and ad-free episodes, support at Patreon! Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is July 2! Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing.Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, FocusmateTheme by John AnealioSupport local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! 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. June 26, 2026 | ISBW 22.13 | murverse.com “Dance Like Nobody’s Watching” 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.
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    47 mins
  • [ISBW] SUBLIMATION with Isabel J. Kim

    [ISBW] SUBLIMATION with Isabel J. Kim
    Jun 22 2026

    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 episodes, support at Patreon!

    Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is June 25!

    Links:

    • Isabel J. Kim
    • “WHY DON'T WE JUST KILL THE
      KID IN THE OMELAS HOLE”

    Evergreen Links

    • Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing.
    • Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate
    • Theme by John Anealio
    • Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!
    • OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books!
    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.
    Jun 19, 2026 | ISBW 22.12 | murverse.com
    “Isabel J. Kim talks SUBLIMATION” 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.
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    32 mins
  • [ISBW] Magic Systems and Ruinous Creatures

    [ISBW] Magic Systems and Ruinous Creatures
    May 14 2026
    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 head around romance and spice when you've only written tame things before. Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is May 16. This post went live for supporters on May 11, 2026. If you want early and ad-free episodes, support at Patreon! Links: Jessi Cole JacksonSarah MacleanT. KingfisherNaomi NovikThe Ornithologist's Field Guide to LoveSave the CatThe Heroine's JourneyThe Author Burnout Cure podcast4 Act Structure Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing.Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, FocusmateTheme by John AnealioSupport local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! 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. May 16, 2025 | ISBW 22.11 | murverse.com "Ruinous Creatures and Magic Systems" 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.
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    39 mins
  • [ISBW] Are you sure you want to injure that character?

    [ISBW] Are you sure you want to injure that character?
    Apr 28 2026

    "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 for supporters on April 21, 2026. If you want early and ad-free episodes, support at Patreon!

    NOTE- This coming weekend (May 1-3) I will be GoH at DemiCon!

    Remember, you can join us live on Thursdays at 3 PM Eastern on Twitch! Don't miss our next live episode!

    Links

    • Ravencon

    • Demicon

    Evergreen Links

    • Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing.

    • Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate

    • Theme by John Anealio

    • Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!

    • OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books!

    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.

    April 27, 2025 | ISBW 22.10 | murverse.com
    "Are you sure you want to injure that character?" 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.
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • [ISBW] When Characters Go Rogue

    [ISBW] When Characters Go Rogue
    Apr 21 2026

    "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 supporters on April 17, 2026. If you want early and ad-free episodes, support at Patreon!

    Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is April 24, when we will talk about A Year of Furious Creation.

    Links

    • Ravencon
    • Demicon
    • Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman

    Evergreen Links

    • Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing.
    • Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate
    • Theme by John Anealio
    • Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!
    • OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books!

    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.

    April 21, 2025 | ISBW 22.9 | murverse.com
    "When Characters Go Rogue" 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.
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • [ISBW] Can Rejectomancy Save Our Sanity?

    [ISBW] Can Rejectomancy Save Our Sanity?
    Apr 6 2026

    "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.

    Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is April 9*, when we will talk about A Year of Furious Creation.

    *(Maybe. I may have jury duty that day. Stay tuned.)

    Links

    • The person who coined the phrase 'rejectomancy.'

    • Escape Pod

    Evergreen Links

    • Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing.

    • Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate

    • Theme by John Anealio

    • Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!

    • OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books!

    —
    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.

    April 6, 2025 | ISBW 22.8 | murverse.com
    "Can Rejectomancy Save Our Sanity?" 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.
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • [ISBW] Medicine and AI with Dr. Justin C. Key

    [ISBW] Medicine and AI with Dr. Justin C. Key
    Mar 30 2026
    "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 setbacks. This post went live for supporters on March 27, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon! Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is April 2, when we will talk about Characters with a Mind of Their Own. Links Justin C. KeyEscape PodOut There ScreamingVital, the Future of HealthcareScribophileThe Hospital at the End of the World Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing.Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, FocusmateTheme by John AnealioSupport local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — 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. March 30, 2025 | ISBW 22.7 | murverse.com "Medicine and AI with Dr. Justin C. Key" 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.
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • [ISBW] Regret, Spite, and shiny new book haul

    [ISBW] Regret, Spite, and shiny new book haul
    Mar 24 2026
    "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 join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is March 26, when we will talk about Rejectomancy. Links Nobody's Baby by Olivia WaiteHell's Heart by Alexis HallThe Hospital at the End of the World by Justin C. KeyRuinous Creatures by Jessie Cole JacksonYou Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom by Vincent TiradoWolf Worm T. Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon)Flyleaf Books Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing.Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, FocusmateTheme by John AnealioSupport local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more!OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — 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. March 23, 2025 | ISBW 22.6 | murverse.com "Regret, Spite, and shiny new book haul" 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.
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    37 mins