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[ISBW] Unveiling the Magic of Cozy Fantasy with Stacy Sivinski

I Should Be Writing

Release Date: 11/14/2024

[ISBW] Conquering Creative Bully #1: BART (a potato) show art [ISBW] Conquering Creative Bully #1: BART (a potato)

I Should Be Writing

"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  or !) (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, rent free. This week we talk about my original bully, Bart (a potato). He's ugly and mean as a snake, but I do have some ways to deal with him. We also touch on the recent Hugo nominations, my reading habits,...

info_outline [ISBW] From Medieval Fashion to Modern Writing with Natania Barron show art [ISBW] From Medieval Fashion to Modern Writing with Natania Barron

I Should Be Writing

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  or !) In this episode, I talk a little about the JoCo Cruise and how it reminded me of the importance of community and creativity. I forgot how good it felt to surrounding myself with fellow creatives. Then I talk to , a prolific fantasy author and medieval scholar of the series. We delve into Natania's latest works...

info_outline [ISBW] How to use holidays in your fiction show art [ISBW] How to use holidays in your fiction

I Should Be Writing

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  or !) In this episode, I dive into the significance of holidays in storytelling and how they can shape character development and plot progression. With no guest this week, I talk about my own projects, creative work and admin work both. I cover Christmas romances that evoke themes of rebirth to the complexities...

info_outline [ISBW] Taking a Machete to Creative Blocks with Premee Mohamed show art [ISBW] Taking a Machete to Creative Blocks with Premee Mohamed

I Should Be Writing

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  or !) (recorded February) In this episode we welcome prolific, brilliant Premee Mohamed, a Nebula and Aurora award-winning author to talk about her new book, . . We explore the process of creating clean first drafts, the chaos of deadlines, and the balance between...

info_outline [ISBW] Rachel Howzell Hall on Balancing Thrillers and Fantasy show art [ISBW] Rachel Howzell Hall on Balancing Thrillers and Fantasy

I Should Be Writing

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  or !) (recorded February) In this episode of I Should Be Writing, we dive into the chaotic world of creativity with acclaimed author Rachel Howzell Hall, thriller writer turned fantasy writer. She discusses her new romantasy book, The Last One. We delve into the importance of urgency in storytelling, the balance of...

info_outline [ISBW] Mental Health and Creativity show art [ISBW] Mental Health and Creativity

I Should Be Writing

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  or !) Ever-looming existential dread, but we keep going. Then there's the challenge of navigating creativity amidst mental health struggles. I also reflect on a fear of failure. I'm not proud. I'm human. And then we welcome to the show Elaine M. Will, a writer and illustrator known for her graphic novels that tackle mental health themes....

info_outline [ISBW] Evil Mur Ushers in 2025 show art [ISBW] Evil Mur Ushers in 2025

I Should Be Writing

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 definitive choice. Evil Mur, the alter ego of Mur Lafferty, delves into the emotional rollercoaster of being a writer, the jealousy, the self-doubt, and the ultimate decision to either quit or...

info_outline [ISBW] Ten Terrible Ideas show art [ISBW] Ten Terrible Ideas

I Should Be Writing

[NOTE- even though I remember editing, this is still an all over the place episode. And apparently I said I wasn’t going to swear and then did it anyway. Pretty accurate ending to 2024, actually.] "You need to come up with terrible ideas. And once you come up with terrible ideas, you will start developing good ideas." -Mur In this episode, I talk about my writing journey, the challenges of ADHD, and shares ten terrible ideas that might just spark something wonderful. From comic book scripts to psychological thrillers set in idyllic farming towns, I explore the importance of embracing all...

info_outline [ISBW] Tigers [Explicit] show art [ISBW] Tigers [Explicit]

I Should Be Writing

S20 Ep34: In Which Mur Looks Into The Pit of Despair and Sees a Tiger [Explicit] "Don't talk yourself out of being creative, because that really is the biggest thing that stops us is ourselves." (This post went live for supporters on November 14, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at  or !) NOTE: It occurs to me that I have three explicit episodes--32, 33, 34--in a row. But one was a casual interview, one was rage, and one was despair. So we will get back to nice clean episodes soon. I promise.) Recorded two days after the 2024 election, and I'm...

info_outline [ISBW] Returning to Agenting with Jennifer Udden [Explicit] show art [ISBW] Returning to Agenting with Jennifer Udden [Explicit]

I Should Be Writing

S20 Ep33: In Which Mur and Jen Udden Discuss World Fantasy Con, Fan Fiction, and the Ever-Changing Publishing Landscape [Explicit] "I think we're about 10 minutes away from reinventing urban fantasy and paranormal romance." - Jennifer Udden (This post went live for supporters on November 12, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at  or !) (NOTE: It occurs to me that I have three explicit episodes--32, 33, 34--in a row. But one was a casual interview, one was rage, and one was despair. So we will get back to nice clean episodes soon. I promise.) At...

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S20 Ep30: In Which Mur and Stacy Sivinski Discuss Cozy Fantasy, Sensory Writing, and Sisterhood

"The senses are actually connected, and the way we describe sensation and prioritize sight and sound is actually attached to social biases that need to be reconstructed." - Stacy Sivinski

(This post went live for supporters on November 12, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)

In this episode, we welcome debut author Stacy Sivinski to discuss her new cozy fantasy novel, The Crescent Moon Tea Room. We explore the sensory elements that make her writing so immersive and the importance of sisterhood and self-discovery in her storytelling. Stacy shares her background in sensory studies, how it influences her writing, and the fascinating hierarchy of the senses that challenges traditional storytelling norms.

Stacy also touches on the challenges of transitioning from a PhD in English to writing cozy fantasy, her disciplined writing routine, and how she navigates the fears of starting new projects. We delve into her upcoming book, hinting at enchanted bookstores and ghosts, and discuss the power of writing rituals to overcome writer's block and anxiety.

Transcript

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"Exploring Cozy Fantasy and Sensory Writing with Stacy Sivinski" 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 or Substack!

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.
November 14, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 30 | murverse.com
"Exploring Cozy Fantasy and Sensory Writing with Stacy Sivinski" by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0