Ditch Diggers – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

Ditch Diggers

Mur Lafferty

Arts

Frequency: 1 episode/30d. Total Eps: 50

Treat your writing like a blue collar job. Doctors don't get doctor block and ditch diggers don't get ditch digger block, and working writers can't get writer's block. Business and humor.

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Recent rankings

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Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - books
31/05/2026
#89

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://www.devospice.com/
50 shares
https://www.focusmate.com/i/eFYhRYYxW7
34 shares
http://murverse.com
22 shares

https://www.patreon.com/mightymur
62 shares
http://www.patreon.com/mightymur
14 shares
http://patreon.com/mightymur
11 shares

https://twitter.com/mightymur
45 shares
https://twitter.com/mattfnwallace
12 shares
https://twitter.com/spyscribe
1 share

RSS feed quality and score

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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 73%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

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Latest published episodes

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[DD] Astarion News and Work For Hire Talk

Season 12 · Episode 5

Monday, May 25, 2026 • Duration

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.

Read moreCollapse

[DD] Mistakes, Regrets, and Lessons Learned

Season 12 · Episode 4

Saturday, May 23, 2026 • Duration

"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 is licensed under

[DD] AI and the Art of Reading the Room

Season 11 · Episode 5

Thursday, June 5, 2025 • Duration 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:

Ditch Diggers credits:theme song by , art by , site hosted by (or ). June 4, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 5 | murverse.com "AI and the Art of Not Reading the Room" by is licensed under

[DD] Trad Marketing vs Self Marketing

Season 11 · Episode 4

Monday, May 26, 2025 • Duration 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:

Death of the Author (Game)
Stamp Fans (Mur isn't set up there yet, but bookmark that page)
Escape Pod

Evergreen Links:

Ditch Diggers credits:theme song by , art by , site hosted by (or ). May 19, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 4 | murverse.com "Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality" by is licensed under

[DD] Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality

Season 11 · Episode 3

Monday, April 28, 2025 • Duration 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:

Ditch Diggers credits:theme song by , art by , site hosted by (or ). Apr 14, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 3 | murverse.com "Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality" by is licensed under

[DD] Weeping Bunkers and Writing Woes; Surviving the Creative Chaos

Season 11 · Episode 2

Monday, April 21, 2025 • Duration 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:

[DD] Ducks, Resolutions, and That Elephant Again

Season 11 · Episode 1

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 • Duration 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:

Ditch Diggers credits:theme song by , art by , site hosted by (or ). January 13, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 1 | murverse.com "Resolutions, Ducks, and That Elephant Is Back" by is licensed under

[DD] How Mur and Ursula Edit

Season 10 · Episode 6

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 • Duration 01:03:46

"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:

Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher

Ditch Diggers credits:theme song by , art by , site hosted by (or ). December 30, 2024 | Season 10 Ep 6 | murverse.com "Our Book Editing Process" by is licensed under

[DD] Elephants in the Room: NaNoWriMo, Burnout, and More

Season 10 · Episode 5

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 • Duration 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:

Ditch Diggers credits:theme song by , art by , site hosted by (or ). October 9, 2024 | Season 10 Ep 5 | murverse.com "Elephants in the Room: NaNoWriMo, Burnout, and More" by is licensed under

[DD] Worldcon 2024 Debrief (AKA how have I not released this yet???)

Season 10 · Episode 4

Friday, October 4, 2024 • Duration 01:14:35

"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:

Ditch Diggers credits:theme song by , art by , site hosted by (or ). October 2, 2024 | Season 10 Ep 4 | murverse.com "Recorded back when Mur still had a Gallbladder" by is licensed under

Ditch Diggers – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Ditch Diggers – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other99+

Patreon5

Twitter3

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other99+

Patreon5

Twitter3