Results Not Typical

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…

“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,…

“We need to write the weird stuff because that’s what makes us unique.” ~ T. Kingfisher DD 12.3 I’ve had considerable problems with Libsyn lately, so these are super late to the feed. In this episode of Ditch Diggers, hosts Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon (T. Kingfisher) discuss Ursula’s upcoming release of her southern gothic horror novel, Wolf Worm, and then attack Mur with a double dog dare to…

ISBW 22.11 (There will be a giveaway of Ruinous Creatures! I’m taking entries until May 21! Email me with GIVEAWAY in the subject line! You do not need to be a paying supporter to enter.) Recently we welcomed Jessi Cole Jackson to the show to talk about her debut novel, Ruinous Creatures! We cover Jackson’s unique bone-specific magic system and her inspirations, not to mention how to wrap your…

“If you injure somebody, that injury tells a story, and you have to decide whether that story fits the rest of your story.” ISBW 22.10 In this episode, I go into “realism” with regards to injuries and health. Are injuries for pain? For an instant of shock? To give the character a new hardship? We talk about some of Stephen King’s works and how to balance realism with narrative flow.   This…

“Every character is the star of their own story.” ISBW 22.9 In this episode we talk about how different writers view characterization, from the ones who struggle to the ones who say the characters live in their heads. How do you manage all these wily beasts who want their stories told? I will also be appearing next week at Ravencon, and then the following week at Demicon! This post went live…

“I think the thing people have the most problem with is, ‘This was very good, but it didn’t excite me.'” ISBW 22.8 Mur is back solo, talking about Rejectomancy and how to interpret the rejections you get, and more importantly, how to move forward after getting said rejection. And the bad news: you’re aiming to make writing a job, which means you have to deal with the bad parts along with the…

“We need to write the weird stuff because that’s what makes us unique.” ~ T. Kingfisher DD 12.3 In this episode of Ditch Diggers, hosts Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon (T. Kingfisher) discuss Ursula’s upcoming release of her southern gothic horror novel, Wolf Worm, and then attack Mur with a double dog dare to finally write the weird stories of her heart.     This post went live for supporters…

“Weird is hot right now.” ISBW 22.6 CW- pet death. It’s been a rough week, so I’m talking regret and spite. Can they help and fuel us? Or is it just wasted bile? Then we talk about new book releases, like Nobody’s Baby by Olivia Waite and Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall. And we touch on our next show, an interview with Justin C. Key, author of The Hospital at the End of the World. Remember you can…

“Take your time, there’s no rush. The audience will be here whenever your story is ready.” ISBW 22.5 In this episode we welcome author Olivia Waite to discuss her latest books, including Murder by Memory and Nobody’s Baby. We touch on one of my favorite topics, writing science fiction mysteries, but we also delve into compelling beginnings and how to avoid the cringe in…

“It might be too much, but it looks really fun.” ISBW 22.4 I’ve had a strong opinion about writing contests for years, but things have apparently evolved. I was reading about writing contests and found two that were quite interesting. A bit of housekeeping: I am no longer doing an exclusive version of Patreon episodes. They will still be early, still ad-free, but I’ve found that making two…

“If [I] start thinking about the details, [I] will either go down the wrong path and not record or [I’ll] talk [my]self out of it.” ISBW 22.3 I finally finished the archives, and learned quite a bit about myself, not all good things. We also touch on Hugo season, book club scams, and AI publicists.       (This post went live for supporters on February 20, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and…

“I am LARPing as an extrovert.” DD 12.2 Yeah, we know that K-Pop Idols have looks, style, and music and dance abilities–but what ELSE do they have that we don’t? Support and guidance in dealing with fans. Ursula is back from three signings, and we talk about how to deal with long signing lines and more. This post went live for supporters on February 17, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and…

“Not every opportunity is equal, and you don’t have to chase everything.” ~Tim Minneci ISBW 22.2 What do you need to have when you’re wrangling several pro writers? What can a writer expect from an assistant? Meet Tim Minneci, writer, podcaster, musician, and my assistant. (And Ursula’s, and Kameron’s.) We discuss the challenges of being a writer, the importance of having an assistant, and the…

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…

“All I can do is what I can do right now.” ISBW 22.1 First episode of the year, and we talk about the things we may not want to take along with us into the new year. New books, new shows (Patreon-only Evil Mur podcast called STET!), and all that other stuff.       (This post went live for supporters on January 12, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at…

  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!)     Don’t judge a…