"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

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(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

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

"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

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

"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

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