![[DD] Looking to 2026: Feast or Famine show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/196590805?height=50&width=50)
[DD] Looking to 2026: Feast or Famine
Ditch Diggers
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 !) Spicy Christmas romances: by B.K. Borison A Christmas Notch by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone (3 book series, begins with: ) We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season with people you love, and that your pets eat zero...
info_outline![[DD] Can Mur do ALL the things? show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/196583120?height=50&width=50)
[DD] Can Mur do ALL the things?
Ditch Diggers
"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. [podcast_subscribe id="6236"] (This post went live for supporters on December 16,...
info_outline![[DD] Dusty Hats and Burnt Out Pokemon Trainers show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/195518940?height=50&width=50)
[DD] Dusty Hats and Burnt Out Pokemon Trainers
Ditch Diggers
"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...
info_outline![[DD] AI Settlements and NaNoWriMo show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/195518980?height=50&width=50)
[DD] AI Settlements and NaNoWriMo
Ditch Diggers
"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 !) Links: Evergreen Links: Mur on ! , Support via ! ...
info_outline![[DD] Ursula's Year of Multiple Whales show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/195519010?height=50&width=50)
[DD] Ursula's Year of Multiple Whales
Ditch Diggers
"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...
info_outline![[DD] AI and the Art of Reading the Room show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/195519070?height=50&width=50)
[DD] AI and the Art of Reading the Room
Ditch Diggers
"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...
info_outline![[DD] Trad Marketing vs Self Marketing show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/195519115?height=50&width=50)
[DD] Trad Marketing vs Self Marketing
Ditch Diggers
"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...
info_outline![[DD] Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/195519175?height=50&width=50)
[DD] Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality
Ditch Diggers
"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...
info_outline![[DD] Weeping Bunkers and Writing Woes; Surviving the Creative Chaos show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/195519150?height=50&width=50)
[DD] Weeping Bunkers and Writing Woes; Surviving the Creative Chaos
Ditch Diggers
"Sometimes the best way to survive is to turn everything into hilarity." - Ursula Vernon 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...
info_outline![[DD] Ducks, Resolutions, and That Elephant Again show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/195519140?height=50&width=50)
[DD] Ducks, Resolutions, and That Elephant Again
Ditch Diggers
"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 or !) 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 in the background. We explore the challenges of self-promotion in a post-Twitter world,...
info_outline"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!)
Links:
Evergreen Links:
- Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher
- Mur Lafferty
- Mur on Focusmate
- Mur on Instagram, Youtube
- Support via Patreon!
- Theme song by Devo Spice