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TitreDateDurée
[DD] Astarion News and Work For Hire Talk25 May 2026

DD 12.5

If you haven't heard, Ursula (T. Kingfisher) is writing the prequel novel for ASTARION, the most popular Baldurs Gate 3 character. So of course we have to talk about work for hire, why you do it, what you receive from it, and how to get these jobs.

Also you can preorder Astarion!

Even if you're not a Baldur's Gate fan, work for hire is likely to come up in your writing career, and you should still check out the episode!

This post went live for supporters on May 8! If you want early, ad-free episodes, support at Patreon!

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). May 8, 2025 | Season 12 Ep 5 | murverse.com
"Ultimate Work for Hire Job: ASTARION" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Mur and Ursula 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.
[DD] Mistakes, Regrets, and Lessons Learned23 May 2026

"Take the chance to talk to an author or hang out with them,
because they die like any other people."

DD 12.4

In this episode of Ditch Diggers, hosts Mur Lafferty and T. Kingfisher (Ursula) share our unfiltered thoughts on lessons learned from mistakes and regrets in our careers. We cover pen names, self promotion, and agent relationships.

This post went live for supporters on May 9, 2026. If you want early, ad-free episodes, support at Patreon!

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). April 23, 2025 | Season 12 Ep 4 | murverse.com
"Mistakes, Regrets, and Lessons Learned" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Mur and Ursula 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.
[DD] AI and the Art of Reading the Room05 Jun 202500:49:12

"If you want this to be your thing, you got to keep doing the thing." - Ursula Vernon

In this episode of Ditch Diggers, Mur and Ursula dive into the chaotic world of writing, sharing their latest projects, travel plans, and ask you if that thing you wanted to say actually is the thing you want to say online. They discuss the SNAFU of the WorldCon AI controversy, the ethical considerations surrounding generative technologies, and whether it matters if the dog dies or not.

Highlights:

  • (01:15) Welcome to the Warbler Appreciation room!
  • (05:30) Ursula's upcoming travels and book festivals
  • (12:45) The challenges of writing while managing ADHD
  • (20:00) Ursula's progress on the next Swordheart book
  • (30:00) Audio quality warning—Ursula's mic issues
  • (35:15) The ethics of AI in writing and publishing
  • (45:00) Worldcon's controversial decision to use AI for vetting
  • (55:30) The importance of reading the room in online discussions
  • (01:02:15) Closing thoughts and where to find them online

(This post went live for supporters on June 3, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, join our exclusive community over at Patreon!)

Transcript

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). June 4, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 5 | murverse.com
"AI and the Art of Not Reading the Room" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Trad Marketing vs Self Marketing26 May 202500:36:24

"The best way to survive is to turn everything into hilarity." - Ursula Vernon

In this episode we dive into the chaotic world of writing, marketing, and the ups and downs of self-publishing. Mur shares her recent trip to Maryland for Independent Bookstore Day, and Ursula catches us up on Swordheart's launch. 

Self promotion is hard, ya'll.

Highlights:

  • (05:12) Mur's experience running a solo RPG at an independent bookstore
  • (12:45) Ursula's updates on Swordheart and her UK marketing team
  • (25:30) The difference between traditional marketing and self-promotion
  • (38:15) The importance of targeted outreach to influencers
  • (47:50) Mur's thoughts on new marketing tools and strategies
  • (55:30) Reflections on the passage of time and creative endeavors

(This post went live for supporters on May 22, 2025. Join the Fabulists if you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes!)

Transcript

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). May 19, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 4 | murverse.com
"Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality28 Apr 202500:55:01

"If you can tolerate the boring and lonely, then hopefully you'll be rewarded on the other side." - Ursula Vernon

In this episode of Ditch Diggers, Mur and Ursula navigate the chaotic world of freelancing, taxes, and the ups and downs of being a writer. They discuss the recent Hugo nominations (two for Ursula, one for Mur!), share insights into their creative processes, and delve into the challenges of working with agents.

Chapters:

(03:29) Congratulations to Hugo Finalists!
(04:06) Several people from the podcast have been nominated for various awards
(05:41) Ursula has been working on several projects
(21:25) NaNoWriMo reportedly folded due to poor financial decisions
(22:03) NaNoWriMo brought hope to authors for decades
(28:07) Other writer community options?
(30:39) There are many guides on how to get an agent and how to spot a scam
(36:02) Agents are all different people.
(48:54) How much creative control does the author have over their book
(51:25) Where your agent is plugged into the ecosystem of the genre is very important
(54:48) How do you know when it's the right agent
(01:00:45) Brief side quest with Andrew the plant guy
(01:01:53) Ursula's new book hit number five on the New York Times bestseller list

(This post went live for supporters on April 21, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). Apr 14, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 3 | murverse.com
"Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Weeping Bunkers and Writing Woes; Surviving the Creative Chaos21 Apr 202500:41:15

"Sometimes the best way to survive is to turn everything into hilarity." - Ursula Vernon

Transcript

S.11 Ep.2

In this episode of Ditch Diggers, join hosts Mur and Ursula as they navigate the chaotic world of freelancing, taxes, and the ups and downs of being a writer. They discuss the recent Hugo nominations, share insights into their creative processes, and delve into the challenges of working with agents.

Highlights include:
(05:32) Ursula has too many author copies. She's written nearly 50 books
(12:30) Let's talk about marketing for SwordHeart
(24:09) A lot of your writing happened when you were doing chemo
(31:34) Mur wants to talk about newsletters. They constantly vex her. 
(33:00) When Mur left mailchimp, she didn't export her mailing list
(44:58) It's called decision fatigue for a reason
(54:26) If you do get the desire to create during this time, do it

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores!

Ditch Diggers credits: theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja, site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon).

April 21, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 2 | murverse.com
"Weeping Bunkers and Writing Woes: Surviving the Creative Chaos" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

[DD] Ducks, Resolutions, and That Elephant Again22 Jan 202500:47:38

"Try to make the world a better place. You personally are not on the hook to fix everything." - Ursula Vernon

(This post went live for supporters on January 17, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)

Transcript

S.11 Ep.1
Welcome to Season 11 of Ditch Diggers with Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon! We try to be positive and funny in this episode, but stuff happens. We cover the Neil Gaiman controversy, touch on Ursula's move, and what our goals are this year.

Also there's a duck game in the background.

We explore the challenges of self-promotion in a post-Twitter world, the art of balancing work with personal life, and the importance of setting achievable goals.

Highlights include:

  • Ursula's new life in New Mexico and the joys of mountain views
  • The fallout from the Neil Gaiman scandal and its ripple effects
  • Resolutions for 2025: from organizing Magic cards to self-promotion strategies
  • The challenges of social media and finding new ways to connect with readers
  • The enduring appeal of escapism and the role of storytelling in turbulent times

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). January 13, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 1 | murverse.com
"Resolutions, Ducks, and That Elephant Is Back" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
[DD] How Mur and Ursula Edit15 Jan 202501:03:46

"Editing is where you leave the craft behind and start thinking like a business." - Mur Lafferty

"I am the person with the hat." - Ursula Vernon

Transcript

(This post went live for supporters on January 13, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

In this final episode of season six of Ditch Diggers, Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon dive deep into the world of editing. From the trials and tribulations of editing passes to the nuances of hat confidence, Mur and Ursula share their personal experiences and industry insights.

Mur shares her recent adventures at World Fantasy Con, including a surprise upgrade experience, while Ursula reflects on the significance of hats in her identity as a writer.

Highlights include:

  • The stages and emotional journey of editing a manuscript
  • Hat confidence and its unexpected perks
  • World Fantasy Con experiences and the allure of fabulous hats
  • The intricacies of balancing writing with editing and personal life
  • Community alternatives to NaNoWriMo

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

 

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). December 30, 2024 | Season 10 Ep 6 | murverse.com
"Our Book Editing Process" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

December 30, 2024 | Season 10 Ep 6 | murverse.com | Copyright 2024, Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Elephants in the Room: NaNoWriMo, Burnout, and More08 Oct 202400:45:12

"Sometimes you just need to chase the inspiration, even if it means working on a project nobody asked for." - Ursula

Transcript

(This post went live for supporters on October 4, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

In this episode, Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon tackle the complexities of burnout, the writing hustle, and the latest controversies in the literary world. Ursula shares her battle with mortgage woes, while Mur discusses the challenges of juggling multiple podcasts and writing projects.

The duo also delves into the fallout from NaNoWriMo's recent controversies and the implications of AI in the writing community. They ponder the impact of fallen idols in the literary world and the importance of making good choices in public-facing careers.

Recorded on Twitch every other Monday at 3pm Eastern time.

Highlights include:

  • The struggles of balancing writing and personal life
  • NaNoWriMo's AI controversy and community backlash
  • Fallen idols and the consequences of public misconduct
  • The importance of community in writing challenges

Links:

Evergreen Links:

 

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). October 9, 2024 | Season 10 Ep 5 | murverse.com
"Elephants in the Room: NaNoWriMo, Burnout, and More" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Worldcon 2024 Debrief (AKA how have I not released this yet???)04 Oct 202401:14:35

"Networking is just meeting people and having them remember you exist." - Ursula Vernon

Transcript

(This post went live for supporters on October 2, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

In this episode of Ditch Diggers, Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon return from their adventures in Scotland and dive into the art of networking. They explore the nuances of making connections in the writing world, share tales from Worldcon, and discuss the challenges and joys of upcoming conventions.

The duo also tackles the importance of maintaining a presence in the ever-shifting landscape of social media and the significance of in-person networking at conventions. From the intricacies of interactive fiction to the recent developments at SFWA, Mur and Ursula cover a wide range of topics with the wisdom you have come to expect from them.

Highlights include:

  • Networking strategies and the importance of being present
  • Worldcon reflections and Ursula's Hugo win
  • Upcoming conventions and the art of balancing work with travel
  • Social media alternatives in a post-Twitter world
  • Interactive fiction and the joy of hidden Easter eggs

Links:

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). October 2, 2024 | Season 10 Ep 4 | murverse.com
"Recorded back when Mur still had a Gallbladder" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Recorded back when Mur still had a Gallbladder31 Jul 202400:43:37

"If you, you know, give ten writers an idea, you get eleven different books." - Ursula

Transcript

(This post went live for supporters on July 30, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)


In this episode of Ditch Diggers, Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon dive into the gritty realities of the writing world. From the anxiety of upcoming surgeries to the chaos of travel and illness, they share their personal and professional struggles.

The episode takes a critical look at the pitfalls of online behavior, especially concerning agents making inappropriate comments on social media. They discuss the importance of professionalism, the fear of idea theft, and the phenomenon of simultaneous similar ideas emerging in the literary world. 

Links:

Evergreen Links:

 

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). July 31, 2024 | Season 10 Ep 3 | murverse.com
"Recorded back when Mur still had a Gallbladder" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Book Tours, TikTok, and Twitter Tantrums05 Jul 202400:37:59

"Being on BookTok will not give you a career if you don't have one. Do what makes you happy." - Ursula

Transcript

(This post went live for supporters on July 3, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

In this episode, Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon dive into the realities of book tours, the financial intricacies of publishing, and the ever-changing landscape of social media for authors. Ursula shares a retraction about the profitability of her book tour, while Mur discusses the challenges of balancing writing with personal commitments and health issues.

They also tackle the latest trends and controversies in the writing community, including the misguided advice about writing styles and the pressure to be active on platforms like TikTok.

  • Book Tour Financials
  • Author Panels and Interviews
  • Social Media Trends
  • Writing Styles and Absolutes

Links:

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). July 5, 2024 | Season 10 Ep 2 | murverse.com
"Book Tours, TikTok, and Twitter Tantrums" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Dare You to Write Something WEirD27 Mar 202600:48:00

"We need to write the weird stuff because that's what makes us unique."
~ T. Kingfisher

DD 12.3

In this episode of Ditch Diggers, hosts Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon (T. Kingfisher) discuss Ursula's upcoming release of her southern gothic horror novel, Wolf Worm, and then attack Mur with a double dog dare to finally write the weird stories of her heart.

This post went live for supporters on March 25, 2026. If you want early, ad-free episodes, support at Patreon!

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). March 27, 2025 | Season 12 Ep 3 | murverse.com
"Dare You to Write Something Weird" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Ursula Vernon Takes Over- New Beginnings and No More Cancer!28 Jun 202400:55:56

"If you want to make money, you have to think about it like a job."- Mur

Transcript

(This post went live for supporters on June 26, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon)

Welcome back to Ditch Diggers! In this episode, we kick things off with a fresh start and a new co-host. The mighty Mur Lafferty is joined by the fabulous Ursula Vernon (aka T. Kingfisher) as they dive into the nitty-gritty of the writing business.

Ursula shares her personal journey of overcoming cancer and getting back into the writing groove, while Mur talks about the realities of making deadlines and the business side of writing. They also discuss the recent Hugo Awards controversy and the implications for authors involved.

Highlights include:
- Transition to Ursula as the new co-host
- Ursula's health update and return to writing
- The Hugo Awards controversy and its impact
- Backing up your work and the Google Drive debacle
- The pros and cons of attending conventions

Links:

Evergreen Links:

(check here for all mentioned books)

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). June 28, 2024 | Season 10 Ep 1 | murverse.com
"Ursula Vernon Takes Over New Beginnings and No More Cancer." by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Birthdays and Gail Carriger 2, Electric Boogaloo05 Sep 202301:17:39

This was recorded back in July, but time and things and travel got away with me. 

Actually what happened was the fact that I can't spread podcast production across more than one day. If I do, I will forget it needs to be finished. It's not great spending 4+ hours to produce and upload 2 shows, but if I don't, one will fall by the wayside. ADHD brain for the win. 

We will be back in september, hopefully with lots of amazing ditch digging. 

August 10, 2023 | Season 9 Ep 9 | murverse.com
Copyright 2023, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License
[DD] Data Wonking with Podmother Gail Carriger20 Jul 202300:59:23

Streamed live, July 10, 2023
Below are some affiliate links that support indie bookstores and may benefit me financially with no cost to you.

S9 Ep8
Horny chaotic god energy is what we're all about in today's Ditch Diggers, "Data Wonking with Podmother Gail Carriger" where Gail joins us to talk about sifting through data in self publishing. It is some heady stuff, and we discuss tying your self worth to "bad" data and more!

Gail Carriger: 30:30 (ish): My sense of failure will kick in when a reader says I love Gail Carriger. And I didn't know she had a new book out, that's when I feel like I failed at my job. I am an author, that's the one job I had is to make sure that people who liked me can read my new books, right? That's it.

Transcript

  • Let's Get Weedy
  • Twitter doesn't kiss well
  • When you have a new book out, your main job is to make sure your existing fans know.
  • We <3 librarians!

Links

(check here for all mentioned books)

July 20, 2023 | Season 9 Ep 8 | murverse.com
Copyright 2023, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License
[DD] Author/Agent Seth Fishman Answers Our Questions26 Jun 202300:53:01

S9 Ep7

Recorded live on Twitch!

Mur's agent Seth Fishman joins us to take your questions, and we fill up an hour FAST. Full transcript available!

Seth Fishman: ...the industry is right now, where editors are just, they just have, they're just too busy. There's just not enough people working in publishing. So it's harder for agents to do to sell books is really what we're saying. There's a number of times that were like, were you passing because of this, you don't want to put that like, work into it or whatever. But you know, what the people pass for all sorts of reasons, we get the books into pretty great shape, before we send them out. And I mean, we try to, and if an editor is passing, for those reasons, they're what they're really probably saying is more along the lines of developing of an author versus, like editing an author.

Transcript Links

(check here for all mentioned books)

June 21, 2023 | Season 9 Ep 7 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License
[DD] Matt's Book Launch: Savage Crowns20 Jun 202301:17:35

Streamed live, June 13, 2023
Below are some affiliate links that support indie bookstores and may benefit me financially with no cost to you.

S9 Ep6
It's our 1001st episode (not really) and Matt is here to launch the final book in the Savage Rebellion trilogy, and it's a very honest episode. Serious Ditch Digging here, y'all. He doesn't hold back. It's publishing, warts and all. Links to Savage Crowns and other books below!
Full transcript available!

Matt Wallace: I was like, what if I did 'the Wire' as an epic fantasy? That was my other thought when I started it. So my mother says there are strong women characters, there are, Thank you, mom. And I was raised, but I was raised by a strong woman who's definitely a character.

Transcript
(I wanted to do an annotated transcript like the other two podcasts, but frankly, the others are already taking up so much time I can't do three transcripts, annotate all three, record the podcasts, AND write books.)

Links


(check here for book links)

June 13 2023 | Season 9 Ep 6 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License
[DD] Premee Mohamed and our 1000th Episode (?)22 May 202301:08:50

Matt and Mur welcome Premee Mohamed, multiple award winning author of No One Will Come Back for Us. We talk about chickens, sea cucumbers, conventions and anxiety, and there's a hair flip in there, but you can only see it if you get the video on Patreon.

Links

May 15, 2023 | Season 9 Ep 5 | murverse.com | Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] OG Ditch Digger Fonda Lee Is Back!11 Apr 202301:04:36

Streamed live, April 3, 2023

S9 Ep4

Matt and Mur welcome Fonda Lee, multiple award winning author of Untethered Sky. Fonda talks Patreon, starting something new after a very successful series, and more!

Links

April 3, 2023 | Season 9 Ep 4 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Debut Author Advice from Mary Robinette Kowal23 Mar 202301:04:20

S9 Ep3

Matt and Mur welcome Mary Robinette Kowal, podcaster, puppeteer, former SFWA president, audiobook narrator, and Hugo Award winning writer. Mary Robinette has had blog posts helping out debut authors, so we decided to pick her brain for a few more pieces of advice, from how to run a kaffeklatch to how to write something cute into your book that isn't insufferable.

Links

March 13, 2023 | Season 9 Ep 3 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Do AIs Dream of Electronic Submissions?07 Mar 202301:02:14

Streamed live, February 27, 2022

S.9 Ep.2
I'm joined at the last minute by Valerie Valdes, my co-editor at Escape Pod! We talk about the whole AI thing and look to shed some light on the current kerfuffle.

Links

February 27, 2023 | Season 9 Ep 2 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Discussing Ethics in Publishing16 Feb 202300:48:30
S9 Ep1

Streamed live, February 6, 2022 - next livestream is Feb 27, 2023

How do we, the little guys, handle things like strikes and other uncomfortable news?

Links

February 6, 2023 | Season 9 Ep 1 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] What Do KPoP Idols Have that We Don't?21 Feb 202600:40:37

"I am LARPing as an extrovert."

DD 12.2

Yeah, we know that K-Pop Idols have looks, style, and music and dance abilities--but what ELSE do they have that we don't?

Support and guidance in dealing with fans.

Ursula is back from three signings, and we talk about how to deal with long signing lines and more.

[podcast_subscribe id="6236"]

This post went live for supporters on February 17, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). February 20, 2025 | Season 12 Ep 2 | murverse.com
"What Do KPop Idols Have That We Don't?" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] We close out 202203 Feb 202301:25:31
S8 Ep22

Streamed live, December 12, 2022

Matt joins us to close down the year and send seasonal greetings!

Links   Support Local Book Stores!

December 12, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 22 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Unexpected Solo Cast with Mur31 Jan 202301:09:01

Yep, I'm still behind in posting the final episodes for 2022! Here you go!

S8 Ep21

Streamed live, December 5, 2022

Matt can't make this episode, so Mur handles it herself! 

  Links   Support Local Book Stores!

December 5, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 21 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Veronica Roth Talks Sending Messages to Past Self28 Oct 202200:44:56

Streamed live, October 24, 2022.

I was thrilled to have Veronica Roth of Divergent and Chosen Ones fame to come talk about her new book, Poster Girl, and what the business has taught her in her career!   Links Twitch schedule Oct. 31-Nov 3 (Eastern time):
  • M 4:30p,: Ditch Diggers After Dark with Kameron Hurley
  • T 3:00pm: I Should Be Writing NaNoWriMo Launch Day!
  • W Gaming streams canceled for November until I get my schedule sorted out 
  • Th 3:00pm: I Should Be Writing - live write? Chat? Who knows? 

October 17, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 20 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Ursula Vernon Talks Power Dynamics and New Writers17 Oct 202201:02:27
Matt had a family emergency so Ursula stepped in to talk about the gross topic of grooming, and whether any one person has the power to make or break your career.    Links Twitch schedule Oct. 17-Oct 21 (Eastern time):
  • M 12:00p,: Ditch Diggers with Ursula Vernon
  • T 3:00pm: I Should Be Writing with Eden Robins
  • W 3:00pm: Gaming TBD
  • Th 3:00pm: I Should Be Writing with Jule Selbo

October 10, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 19 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Station Eternity Launch with Cherie Priest and Chuck Wendig14 Oct 202201:16:26
Station Eternity is out! Cherie Priest and Chuck Wendig come on the show to celebrate with me!  Links Twitch schedule Oct. 17-Oct 21 (Eastern time):
  • M 12:00p,: Ditch Diggers with Ursula Vernon
  • T 3:00pm: I Should Be Writing with Eden Robins
  • W 3:00pm: Gaming TBD
  • Th 3:00pm: I Should Be Writing with Jule Selbo

October 3, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 18 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Mur and Matt and Book Launches30 Sep 202200:44:00

Streamed live, September 26, 2022.

Mur has a book coming out! And it's hard to think about anything else. Matt's taking a well-earned break from writing novels.   Links Twitch schedule for September (Eastern time):
  • Sept 29 3:00pm: I Should Be Writing with
  • Oct 1 7:00pm: Station Eternity LIVE! Mini Audio Drama performance on Twitch!
All times EDT

September 26, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 17 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Kameron Hurley and Margaret Dunlap Decode Hollywood29 Sep 202200:59:37

Streamed live, September 23, 2022. Kameron Hurley is guest host today, and we are talking with Margaret Dunlap about the enigma that is Hollywood, money, and how you keep going when so few projects actually get to the screen Links

Twitch schedule for September (EDT)

  • Sept 29 3:00pm: I Should Be Writing
  • Oct 1 7:00pm: Station Eternity LIVE! Mini Audio Drama performance on Twitch!
[DD] Matt and Mur Talk Short Story Markets24 Sep 202200:51:04
S8 Ep15   It's Post-WorldCon, and Mur and Matt have stuff to talk about regarding short stories and short story markets.  Matt has new merch!   

September 5, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 15 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Why We Do This, with guest host Kameron Hurley22 Sep 202201:29:33
S8 Ep14   Kameron and Mur aren't bitter at all. But we do mention Nick Mamatas' Starve Better. Kameron Hurley's site  

August 22, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 14 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Matt Wallace Returns! Walking Many Freelance Paths22 Aug 202200:47:20

Matt returns. This wasn't supposed to be a "buck up little camper" pep talk for Mur, but it turned out to be. But mostly, we talk about the importance of different things to focus on as a freelancer. 

August 15, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 13 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Being a Pro at Conventions20 Jan 202600:42:56

DD 12.1

Ursula and Mur are back to talk about conventions and our 2026 plans. Notable discussions:

  • Do not use ChatGPT to vet your contracts!
  • Ursula finished [REDACTED] book! Mur forgot to ask herself what she was working on, but it's a book. That's about it.
  • This year Mur returns to ConFusion at the end of January. (Alas, Kameron Hurley won't be attending this one.)
  • Ursula has changed her mind regarding where she wants to die in a ditch. We've moved from Target to Costco.
  • LARPing as an extrovert, and how to LARP as a confident person. Write your CV!
  • Mur is GOH of DemiCon this May! Also she'll attend WorldCon in LA.
  • Ursula's busy year starts with a mini book tour on the east coast US, then she's going to NorWesCon, then the Celsius Festival in Spain in July, then toastmaster(!) at WorldCon, then Mile High Con, and HalCon in Nova Scotia!
  • Find Ursula and Mur online!

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(This post went live for supporters on January15 , 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). January 15, 2025 | Season 12 Ep 1 | murverse.com
"Being a Pro at Conventions" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Guest Host Alasdair Stuart and the DOJ vs PRH17 Aug 202200:54:18
S8 Ep12

Streamed live, August 8, 2022.

Monopolies are bad, we all know that, and yet the "Big Six" publishers are eating each other, dwindling down, and claiming it's in the authors' best interest. We call shenanigans.   Links Twitch schedule for August:
  • Monday 12pm: Ditch Diggers
  • Tuesday 3pm: I Should Be Writing
  • Wednesday 3pm: Gaming TBD
  • Thursday 3pm: I Should Be Writing
  • Thursday 8pm: Arsenic and Old Dice, A Brindlewood Bay Livestream

August 8, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 12 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Kameron Hurley and Writing Reality Shows25 Jul 202201:02:21
S8 Ep11

Streamed live, July 18, 2022.

So there's talk of a writing reality show. No really. So we talk about that and all the things that could go wrong with it. (And how we're dying to watch the train wreck)    Links Twitch schedule for July:
  • 25th Monday 12pm: Special Birthday Stream!
  • 26th Tuesday 3pm: I Should Be Writing
  • 27th Wednesday 3pm:Gaming TBD
  • 28th Thursday 3pm: I Should Be Writing
All times EDT

July 18 2022 | Season 8 Ep 11 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Co-starring Jennifer Udden, ex-agent, current writer!22 Jul 202201:10:41
S8 Ep10

Streamed live, July 11, 2022.

Y'all have asked for it, and I deliver! My former agent Jen Udden joins us live to answer questions (since she isn't an agent anymore but she still has all that knowledge.)   Links Twitch schedule for July:
  • 25th Monday 12pm: Special Birthday Stream!
  • 26th Tuesday 3pm: I Should Be Writing
  • 27th Wednesday 3pm: Gaming TBD
  • 28th Thursday 3pm: I Should Be Writing
All times EDT

July 11, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 10 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Ursula Vernon, the Lost Episode12 Jul 202201:07:37
S8 Ep9 Streamed live, May, 2022.   Whoops, I told you I needed a break this past spring. I never got this out to folks. Recorded mid-may I believe.  Links Twitch schedule for July 11-15:
  • 11th Monday 12pm: Ditch Diggers with Ursula Vernon
  • 12th Tuesday 3pm: I Should Be Writing
  • 13th Wednesday 3pm: Thousand Year Old Vampire Solo RPG
  • 14th Thursday 3pm: I Should Be Writing
All times EDT

May something, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 9 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Grant Baciocco, Podcaster and TikTok Star08 Jul 202201:05:04
S8 Ep8 Streamed live, July 5, 2022.   I'm joined by Grant Baciocco and we talk about video and TikTok and how to know what kind of content to make, if you're digging ditches!  Links Twitch schedule for July 11-15:
  • 11th Monday 12pm: Ditch Diggers with Ursula Vernon
  • 12th Tuesday 3pm: I Should Be Writing
  • 13th Wednesday 3pm: Thousand Year Old Vampire Solo RPG
  • 14th Thursday 3pm: I Should Be Writing
All times EDT  

July 5, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 8 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] BEACHCAST With Gwenda Bond27 Jun 202201:39:51

Streamed live, May 23, 2022.

I'm joined by Gwenda Bond, and we talk about writing at the beach and what we hope to get accomplished this week!

Links

May 23, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 7 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Alasdair Stuart and Publishing Trashfires16 May 202200:50:24

I'm joined by Alasdair Stuart and we talk about burnout and how it's hurting writers as well as publishing at large. But we manage to find some hope within!

Links

Twitch schedule for May:

  • 16th Mon: 12:00pm Ditch Diggers with Matt Wallace
  • 17th Tues: 3:00pm I Should Be Writing
  • 19th Wed: CANCELED FOR MAY
  • 20th Thurs: 3:00pm I Should Be Writing
  • 23rd Mon: 4:30pm Ditch Diggers with ??? (Live from writing retreat at the beach!)
  • 24th Tues: 3:00pm I Should Be Writing (Live from writing retreat at the beach!) 
  • 26th Thurs: 3:00pm I Should Be Writing (Live from writing retreat at the beach!) 
  • 30th Mon: CANCELED - VACATION
  • 31 Tues: CANCELED - VACATION

All times EDT

May 9, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 6 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Imposter Syndrome and Censorship09 May 202200:45:36

I talk about Imposter Syndrome and how it can mess with my career, and then Matt and I discuss book banning and censorship as our politicians attack libraries. Check Links for what you can do to help. 

Links

Twitch schedule for week of May 9:

  • Mon: 4:30pm Ditch Diggers with Alasdair Stuart
  • Tues: 3:00pm I Should Be Writing
  • Wed: 3:00pm Gaming
  • Thurs: 3:00pm NO STREAM

May 2, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 5 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Kameron Hurley and Social Media, Pt. 2 (!!audio is not good)04 May 202200:47:33

Please note the audio is terrible. I did what I could. See if you can fast forward through me and just listen to Kameron!

Kameron Hurley is back playing Proxy Matt and we talk social media again! *l*n M*sk got himself a new toy, so we start discussing what else we can do as authors who need to use social media. (I'm on Mastodon now!)

Links

Twitch schedule for week of May 9:

  • Mon: 4:30pm Ditch Diggers with Alasdair Stuart
  • Tues: 3:00pm I Should Be Writing
  • Wed: 3:00pm Gaming
  • Thurs: 3:00pm NO STREAM

April 25, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 4 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Some Kickstarters rise while magazines fall26 Apr 202200:24:29

Matt and I discuss how some Kickstarter have made millions, and smaller magazines are shutting down.

Links

Twitch schedule for April 18-30:

  • Mon: Ditch Diggers with Matt Wallace 12pm
  • Tues: ISBW 3pm
  • Wed: Gaming (Inscription) 3pm
  • Thurs: ISBW 3pm
  • Sat: Spoilers Club: One for All 6pm

April 18, 2022 | Season 8 Ep 3 | murverse.com
Copyright 2022, Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace | CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License

[DD] Looking to 2026: Feast or Famine29 Dec 202500:44:01

We present a casual and chatty Ditch Diggers where we close up the year with discussions of 2026 prep, spicy Christmas romances, and New Years' traditions.

And maybe future us doesn't need the apology that we haven't been consistent.

(This post went live for supporters on December 23, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

Spicy Christmas romances:

We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season with people you love, and that your pets eat zero things that sends them to the emergency vet. See you next year!

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). December 15, 2025 | Season 11 Ep 10 | murverse.com
"Looking to 2026, Feast and Famine" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Can Mur do ALL the things?18 Dec 202500:45:59

"You can pull it off if you write like an angel. I do not write like an angel."
- Ursula Vernon (T. Kingfisher)

In this episode of Ditch Diggers, hosts Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon (T. Kingfisher), talk about the horrors of ADHD convincing creative folk that they can do ALL the things.    (You can't do all the things.)   They also talk about Naomi Alderman's acquisition of Six to Start, the company behind the popular Zombies, Run! app, and how storytelling is essential in gaming. 

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(This post went live for supporters on December 16, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). November 29, 2025 | Season 11 Ep 9 | murverse.com
"Can Mur Do ALL the Things?" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Dusty Hats and Burnt Out Pokemon Trainers09 Nov 202500:54:41

"The point of a planner is to make your life easier, not be a source of guilt and stress."
- Ursula Vernon (T. Kingfisher)

Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon are back and dive into the chaotic world of writing! We talk about everything from  the trials of managing multiple projects to the absurdities of planner systems. (And talk about a bunch of options we've tried!)

Mur shares her recent experiences with her latest book, while Ursula discusses her creative process and the challenges of staying organized as a writer.

We also explore the joys (and pitfalls) of social media and how it impacts our creative lives. 

(This post went live for supporters on November 6, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). November 9, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 9 | murverse.com
"Dusty Hats and Burnt Out Pokemon Trainers" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] AI Settlements and NaNoWriMo08 Nov 202500:48:51

"You should absolutely always write spite books."
- Ursula Vernon (T. Kingfisher)

Unfortunately, this was recorded some time ago, but the Ditch Diggers tackle everything from the challenges of meeting deadlines to the complexities of AI settlements impacting authors. We touch on recent book releases, whirlwind tours, and the peculiarities of hotel bar conversations with state senators.

 (This post went live for supporters on November 6, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!)

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). November 7, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 7 | murverse.com
"AI Settlements and NaNoWriMo" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
[DD] Ursula's Year of Multiple Whales09 Jun 202500:43:55

"Genre is a marketing tool, just like a book cover." - Mur Lafferty

In this episode of Ditch Diggers, Mur and Ursula rant about genre expectations, marketing, and what happens when you decide that genre isn't for you because you're special. 

Ursula lists her whales, and Imposter Syndrome doesn't really make a showing when Mur travels. 

Highlights:
- (05:12) Ursula's anxiety over multiple deadlines and projects
- (12:45) Mur's recent business trip and the absence of imposter syndrome
- (25:30) The ongoing debate about happy endings in romance
- (38:15) The role of marketing in shaping reader expectations
- (47:50) The challenges of genre classification and reader assumptions
- (55:30) How personal growth as a writer often goes unnoticed

(This post went live for supporters on June 9, 2025. Join the Fabulists if you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes!)

Transcript

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores! Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon). June 12, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 6 | murverse.com
"It's a Multiple Whale Year for Ursula" by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

 

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