4 min read Newsletter

Fabulist publications! JoCo '25! Subscription gifting!

[I wrote this 2 weeks ago and never got it out. And then as time went on, I thought, well, now I should add to it. So it sat more. Don't ADHD if you can help it, kids. shakes head]

photo of game board with tiles of twisty paths, and one square left uncovered with two pieces still on the board.
This weekend I had a 6 person game of Tsuro end in a stalemate. This has never happened to me before.

I actually don't have a lot of year end thoughts that I want to air. I'm scared and worried and just trying to hold it together to create stuff. That's what I pledge to you; I will keep making stuff to attempt to make you smile during darker times.

The Hot Mic is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Twenty Years Podcasting!

Last week, on December 10, was my 20 year anniversary podcasting. I'm just stunned. I couldn't come up with anything neat to do. I'm not good for planning big extravaganzaaaas. I more go for "OMG it would be SO COOL if we could do X in time for tomorrow's party!" So if you have any ideas, please let me know.

Schroeder from PEANUTS comic welcoming people to his Beethoven party.
December 16th is the holiest of days in Schroeder’s calendar.

2025 Writing Retreat and Workshop!

2024 had me doing extensive traveling for the first time in many years, and one of the biggest trips was being invited to be a performing author on the JoCo Cruise. I'll be on the cruise again next year as an attendee, not a performer, but I am running the shadow event I Should Be Sea(sic) writing retreat/workshop, so if you're on the fence about the cruise, just come join us, already! (Us being me, and They Might Be Giants, and John Scalzi, and Sarah Gailey, and more.)

(Should I make shirts? I feel like I should make shirts.)

Gift subscriptions, not more STUFF!

My dear friend Ursula Vernon left today for her new home in New Mexico. I’ll miss her terribly, and while I do have a tinge of FOMO to pick up and move to the beautiful desert like Ursula and Kevin, one thing I didn’t envy was hearing the stress of them packing up and moving house. People accumulate a LOT of stuff in capitalism. And we are no exception.

Therefore, subscriptions—especially to digital things—are becoming a more and more attractive gifting option. And hey, Substack makes the possible for you!

If you have a writer in your life who doesn’t need another blank book, or you just don’t know what to get them, consider a gift sub to The Hot Mic!

Membership will get them access to the exclusive, ad-free RSS feed, the archives, and membership into the Discord, which is a fantastic space to talk about writing and/or other nerdy things. Writing encouragement might be just what they need to start the new year with!

Oh what the hell, get yourself one, too!

Subscribe now

Mur Spotted in the Wild

I was on the first episode of Devo Spice's new horror movie podcast, Random Acts of Horror! We watched a truly terrible movie and had a great time.

Fabulists Doing Stuff!

It shames me that it's taken me 19 years of doing the I Should Be Writing podcast, but I wanted to celebrate the people in our community who have gotten publications--and those who are still working hard.

My Escape Pod co-editor, Valerie Valdes, released some Magic: The Gathering stories this year (official canon stuff)!

Lore Sjöberg re-released his book The Book of Ratings - updated!

Melissa F. Olson released her new comic, Archaic.

V.M. Ayala (@spacevalkyries) had their 2023 story, "Emotional Resonance," picked for The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2024, which came out in October. In 2024 they published two other short stories:

  • “On Lunar Magic and Gryphons: Sofia’s Edition” - Flame Tree’s Moon Falling anthology
  • “Sending Signals” - Translunar Travelers Lounge

Richard Crawford (@underpope) had three stories!

Pauline Barmby (@paulinebarmby) was on FIRE this year. I list a few choice publications below, while you can see her full list here.

Free to read online:

And more of note:

Pauline included this with her report: "I also had 114 rejections (so far) and expect to hit 350 lifetime before 2024 is over…" (As of 12/13, Pauline HAS hit 350! Congrats, Pauline!)

Michele Stuart had "A Mother's Pride" in the anthology Hidden Villains: Betrayed. Get it on eBook, paperback, or audio.

Joe (JCM) Berne (@jcmberne ) released book 5 in the series The Hybrid Helix: Eyes of Empire

If you want your accomplishments listed here, please send them along!

Miscellany, or Music, of a sort

Speaking of Lore Sjöberg, he recently presented his beautiful* Christmas melody from 2012: Nine Inch Noëls.

*with some NSFW language

Reminder to all supporters:

Join the Discord here, if you haven't. The link expires by 12/24/24, BUT anyone can follow for temp membership, which will be revoked when they leave. So if you're a free user, check it out!

IF YOU HAVE NEWS, email me or message me via Substack! I'm talking sales, publications, meeting rejection milestones, etc.

Books make great holiday gifts! Here's my Bookshop.org list of the books from interviewed authors! Mine are on there, as are many others.

Thanks for reading and supporting. It means the world to me.

Stay safe, stay kind.

Mur

The Hot Mic is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Mur Lafferty

Mur Lafferty