"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 or Substack!)

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:

• Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher
• Mur Lafferty
• Devo Spice
• Legends and Lattes
• Babel by RF Kuang
• Supernova Con

Evergreen Links:

• 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).

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

"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 or Substack!)

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:

• Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher
• Mur Lafferty
• Devo Spice
• TJ Klune
• Worldcon
• Bubonicon
• Magic: The Gathering
• Baldur's Gate 3
• Tor Books
• Blue Sky

Evergreen Links:

• 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).

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

"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 or Substack!)

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:

• Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher
• Mur Lafferty
• Devo Spice

Evergreen Links:

• 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).

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