I Should Be Writing

ISBW 22.17
So much to talk about! Worldcon is looming, and we take listener questions.
How do you handle writing after a long break?

What books do you recommend for writing fight scenes? Books by Alan Baxter and Marie Brennan are mentioned

Mur is reading Page One to Done.

Mur also has silly notebook problems that no one else seems to have.

The HWA sent a ridiculous newsletter out and we are all seeing the fallout. See Chuck Wendig's take on it, and HWA's response is in the comments.

The lesson of this episode is the classic, if no one buys your thing, it is probably because THEY DO NOT WANT THE THING, not because they want to spite you. Authors have many reasons to hate AI that have nothing to do with "gatekeeping."
Other links of stuff I said: Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Covers, Grant Baciocco's Creativity Journal video, Hobonichi Planners.
This post went live for supporters on August 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 August 20!
Evergreen Links
I Should Be Writing merch

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.
Aug 19, 2026 | ISBW 22.17 | murverse.com
"AMA, Silly Notebook Problems" 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.
And "AI" or large language models are wretched and we hate them so very much. 
If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

ISBW 22.16

I finished the book, I started a short story, and I have been looking at the concept of confidence a bit lately. Also been enjoying Charisma on Command videos. So let's talk about confidence.
Don't forget the book giveaway from last time! You have a week to enter!
The Books (along with links if you want to just order right now!):
The Good Girl Effect by Sara Cate
Nemesis Mine by Ann Archer
A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara
To Cage a Wild Bird by Brooke Fast
Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley (and Agatha Christie)
This post went live for supporters on August 7, 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 August 13 with Ann Archer!
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.
Aug 7, 2026 | ISBW 22.16 | murverse.com
"Are you confident? What does "confident" actually mean?" 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.
And "AI" or large language models are wretched and we hate it so very much. 
If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

ISBW 22.15
I want a lot of books.
I buy a lot of books.
I get sent a lot of books.
I can't with all these books. So you get to benefit! I'm discussing five new or upcoming books of several different genres and then doing a giveaway! All you have to do is email me (mightymur at gmail) and tell me which one you want to be in the drawing for!
I will draw the winners August 15!
This is open to anyone, Patreon supporter/follower or not!
The Books (along with links if you want to just order right now!):
The Good Girl Effect by Sara Cate
Nemesis Mine by Ann Archer
A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara
To Cage a Wild Bird by Brooke Fast
Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley (and Agatha Christie)

This post went live for supporters on July 24, 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 August 6!
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.
Jul 29, 2026 | ISBW 22.15 | murverse.com
"Let's Give Away Some Books! (#1)" 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.

ISBW 22.14
The scammers are getting wilier, and we have to keep up, folks. They want you to pay to join book clubs, they catfish you to make you fire your agent and take theirs, and they are really into helping you promote a book you have forgotten about, and have zero control over because it was work for hire.
GLOSSARY:
Work For Hire: It is an exception to the general (copyright) rule that the person who actually creates a work is the legally-recognized author of that work.
Meaning when Marvel* hires you to write Superman, Marvel owns the rights to everything and you get a check.
The biggest thing we discuss is how to best battle these monsters.
The following help too: 
Writer Beware
Preditors and Editors (They're moving to a new platform, so all that's there right now (July 2026)  is a Facebook link…)
Our own Discord server for Patreon supporters!
This post went live for supporters on July 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 30!
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!
*Yes of course I know that DC owns and publishes Superman. But I bet someone out there is trying to scam people by inviting them to write Superman from a fake Marvel address. See, guys, I'm telling you, these scammers are WILEY.
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.
July 24, 2026 | ISBW 22.14 | murverse.com
"Scams scams scams!" 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.

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 a Week
Beatnik Turtle's Song of the Day
David 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, 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.
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.