Ditch Diggers

Mur Lafferty
  • 4.8 (52)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

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.

  1. [DD] Being a Pro at Conventions

    JAN 20

    [DD] Being a Pro at Conventions

    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! [podcast_subscribe id="6236"] (This post went live for supporters on January15 , 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!) Evergreen Links: Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher Mur Lafferty Mur on Focusmate! Mur on Instagram, Youtube Support via Patreon!  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). 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

    43 min
  2. Looking to 2026: Feast or Famine

    12/29/2025

    Looking to 2026: Feast or Famine

    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: Good Spirits by B.K. Borison A Christmas Notch by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone (3 book series, begins with: Merry Little Meet Cute) 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: Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher Mur Lafferty Mur on Focusmate! Mur on Instagram, Youtube Support via Patreon!  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). 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

    44 min
  3. [DD] Can Mur do ALL the things?

    12/18/2025

    [DD] Can Mur do ALL the things?

    "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, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!) Links:  Naomi Alderman Zombies, Run! Now You See Me (movie)   Evergreen Links: Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher Mur Lafferty Mur on Focusmate! Mur on Instagram, Youtube Support via Patreon!  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). 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

    46 min
  4. [DD] Dusty Hats and Burnt Out Pokemon Trainers

    11/09/2025

    [DD] Dusty Hats and Burnt Out Pokemon Trainers

    "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:  Ursula Vernon (T. Kingfisher) NaNoWriMo 2.0 Animal Crossing Pokemon Legends Z to A Traveler's Company Roterfaden Hobonichi Evergreen Links: Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher Mur Lafferty Mur on Focusmate! Mur on Instagram, Youtube Support via Patreon!  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). 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

    55 min
  5. [DD] AI Settlements and NaNoWriMo

    11/08/2025

    [DD] AI Settlements and NaNoWriMo

    "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:  Leigh Bardugo Science Fiction Fantasy Writers Association 4 the Words Evergreen Links: Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher Mur Lafferty Mur on Focusmate! Mur on Instagram, Youtube Support via Patreon!  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). 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

    49 min
  6. Ursula's Year of Multiple Whales

    06/09/2025

    Ursula's Year of Multiple Whales

    "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:  Stephen King Tana French Piranesi Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Evergreen Links: Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher Mur Lafferty Mur on Focusmate! Mur on Instagram, Youtube Support via Patreon!  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). 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

    44 min
  7. [DD] AI and the Art of Reading the Room

    06/05/2025

    [DD] AI and the Art of Reading the Room

    "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:  Escape Pod Rune Factory 4 Crashlands 2 Inaturalist Worldcon Agatha Christie Evergreen Links: Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher Mur Lafferty Mur on Focusmate Mur on Instagram, Youtube Support via Patreon!  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). 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

    49 min
  8. [DD] Trad Marketing vs Self Marketing

    05/26/2025

    [DD] Trad Marketing vs Self Marketing

    "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: Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher Mur Lafferty Mur on Focusmate! Mur on Instagram, Youtube Support via Patreon!  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). 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

    36 min
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4.8
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Mur Lafferty
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon. Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0
  • Show Website
    Ditch Diggers

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