"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:

• Tor Publishing

• Zombies Run

• Swordheart

Evergreen Links:

• Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher

• Mur Lafferty

• Mur on Focusmate!

• Mur on Instagram, Youtube

• Newsletter, The Hot Mic

• Support via Patreon! Or Substack!

• Theme song by Devo Spice

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

"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:

• Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher
• Mur Lafferty
• Mur on Focusmate!
• Mur on Instagram, Youtube
• Newsletter, The Hot Mic
• Support via Patreon! Or Substack!
• Theme song by Devo Spice

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

"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 or Substack!)

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:

• Hugo Awards
• Dragon Awards
• Tor Books

Evergreen Links:

• Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher
• Mur Lafferty
• Mur on Focusmate!
• Mur on Twitter, Instagram, Youtube
• Newsletter, The Hot Mic
• Support via Patreon! Or Substack!
• Theme song by Devo Spice
• Check Bookshop.org for all mentioned books!

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

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