The Murverse Mothership

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? The post [ISBW] Are you sure you want to injure that character? appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

Ursula and Mur are back to talk about conventions and our 2026 plans. Notable discussions: Do not use ChatGPT to vet your contracts! The post [DD] Being a Pro at Conventions appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

First episode of the year, and we talk about the things we may not want to take along with us into the new year. The post [ISBW] Careful What You Pack appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

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. The post [DD] Looking to 2026, Feast and Famine appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, Mur discusses the seemingly innocuous action of research, and how it can become a trap that distracts from actual writing. The post [ISBW] Research or Procrastination? appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this somewhat festive episode we talk about all the books we weren't able to feature over the year, to let you know about books you may not have heard of. We go by blurbs and first sentences - video also shows book covers! We talk SF, horror, mystery, and more. The post [ISBW] Gift Guide for 2025 appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

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. The post [DD] Can Mur Do ALL the Things? appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

Cadwell Turnbull joins us to dive deep into the creative process and discuss his latest book, A Ruin Great and Free. The post [ISBW] The Journey from Ideas to Anarchy with Cadwell Turnbull appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

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!) The post [DD] Dusty Hats and Burnt Out Pokemon Trainers appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

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. The post [DD] AI Settlements and NaNoWriMo appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

I've invited Valerie Valdes back for a candid discussion about the recent demise of NaNoWriMo and what it means for writers. The post [ISBW] NaNoWriMo’s Ghosts and New Beginnings appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

I have SO MANY seasons where I tried to do a daily podcast, and this year I figured I would present them to you - FREE for all followers on Patreon! The post It’s a NaNoWriMo Rerun! Day 0 appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

Welcome back to the talented Valerie Valdes, also known as Lia Amador! We are here to launch her newest book, a fantasy rom-com titled Witch You Wood. We talk magical reality shows, romance, and tropes. We also get real about the struggles that persist even after being published. The post [ISBW] Exploring Romance and Reality in Writing with Valerie Valdes appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

It's a solo episode! I get into the complexities of writing and self-doubt, the struggles of completing a manuscript, the challenges of balancing creativity with personal life, and the ever-present specter of The Imposter Cop. The post [ISBW] Embracing the Imposter Cop: Battling Doubts in Writing and Life appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, we welcome Tim Chawaga, author of Salvagia, as we dive into the depths of his near-future science fiction mystery set in a flooded Florida. Tim shares the inspiration behind his book, where a freelance Salvagia diver uncovers a dead body while searching for valuable artifacts from the past. The post [ISBW] From Idea to Ink: Tim Chawaga on Crafting Salvagia (plus Bully #6- The Party!) appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode we welcome Nigerian Canadian author Chinaza Bado, to discuss her debut fantasy novel, Birth of a Dynasty, an exploration of political intrigue, magic, and vengeance. The post [ISBW] Chinaza Bado and Moving From Romance to Epic Fantasy appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this special 20th anniversary episode of I Should Be Writing, recorded live at Worldcon 2025, I reunite with my mentor and long-time friend, James Patrick Kelly. We talk about the last two decades of writing, the evolution of our careers, and the ever-changing landscape of storytelling. The post [ISBW] Live from WorldCon with James Patrick Kelly! appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, we welcome Hugo winning author Sarah Gailey, author of Spread Me, as we explore the wild world of erotic horror. Sarah shares their journey of writing a novel that takes inspiration from John Carpenter's classic film, The Thing, blending horror and erotica and humor.  The post [ISBW] The Sweet Spot of Horror and Desire with Sarah Gailey appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, I welcome my old classmate from UNC, Dan Kois, Slate editor and author of Hampton Heights. We dive into our journey from college classmates to published authors. Both pro writers, we each took a very different path.  The post [ISBW] Chasing Monsters: A Journey Through Hampton Heights appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, we welcome Seth Haddon, the talented Australian author behind Volatile Memory. We cover hybrid publishing, writing routines, and pursuing nuns. The post [ISBW] The Haunted Mask: Exploring Volatile Memory with Seth Haddon appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

We discuss the sneaky ways the Nap can derail our writing plans. Rest is vital, but The Nap isn't rest. It's escape. We also discusses the importance of sleep hygiene and how to combat the allure of a cozy nap when creativity calls. The post [ISBW] The Silent Bully: The Nap appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, we talk about Bully #4, Despair. Despair wants to hug you and join you when it's raining. It's nice to feel sorry for yourself for a moment, but you can't listen to it. The post [ISBW] Tango with the Tentacles, DESPAIR appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

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.  The post [DD] It’s a Multiple Whale Year for Ursula appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, we welcome K.M. Huber, the author of Call of the Owl Woman, about her journey from writer to published author. K.M. talks about how her years in Peru, including extensive exploration and research into local mythology, affected her writing and her new book. The post [ISBW] Writing Between the US and Peru with K.M. Huber appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

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. The post [DD] AI and the Art of Not Reading the Room appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

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. The post [DD] Trad Marketing vs Self Marketing appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, we talk about the creative process with guest author S.A. Barnes. We discuss her latest release, Cold Eternity, a space horror novel, and her upcoming work, Death's Daughter, set to release in May, 2026. The post [ISBW] Dancing Through Genres with S.A. Barnes and Bully 3, The SPONGE appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, we talk about the bullies that can sap our confidence and creativity again, today's bully is the Blade, a stern knife that can cut deep. The post [ISBW] Jealousy and Bully #2: The BLADE appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, we launch our series on the bullies that live in your head, rent free. This week we talk about my original bully, Bart (a potato). The post [ISBW] Conquering Creative Bully #1: BART (a potato) appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

“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 […] The post [DD] Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

“Sometimes the best way to survive is to turn everything into hilarity.” – Ursula Vernon In this episode of DITCH DIGGERS, hosts Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon share their experiences navigating the chaotic world of writing and marketing. From discussing the emotional rollercoaster of meeting deadlines to the challenges of book marketing, they explore the […] The post [DD] Weeping Bunkers and Writing Woes: Surviving the Creative Chaos appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, I talk a little about the JoCo Cruise and how it reminded me of the importance of community and creativity. I forgot how good it felt to surrounding myself with fellow creatives. Then I talk to Natania Barron... The post [ISBW] From Medieval Fashion to Modern Writing with Natania Barron appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode, I dive into the significance of holidays in storytelling and how they can shape character development and plot progression. With no guest this week, I talk about my own projects, creative work and admin work both. The post [ISBW] Crafting Tales Through Holiday Themes appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

We welcome Premee Mohamed, a Nebula and Aurora award-winning author. We explore the process of creating clean first drafts, the chaos of deadlines, and the balance between creativity and productivity. And why the cat needs a job. The post [ISBW] Taking a Machete to Creative Blocks with Premee Mohamed appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this episode of I Should Be Writing, we dive into the chaotic world of creativity with acclaimed author Rachel Howzell Hall, thriller writer turned fantasy writer. The post [ISBW] Rachel Howzell Hall on Balancing Thrillers and Fantasy appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

Ever-looming existential dread, but we keep going. Then there's the challenge of navigating creativity amidst mental health struggles. I also reflect on a fear of failure. I'm not proud. I'm human. The post [ISBW] Mental Health and Creativity appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

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. The post [DD] Resolutions, Ducks, and That Elephant Is Back appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

Welcome to a new season of I Should Be Writing, where the notorious Evil Mur takes the reins to deliver a unique message of hope for the new year. TL;DR, it's time to quit. The post [ISBW] The Art of Quitting, Evil Mur Style appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.

In this final episode of season six of Ditch Diggers, Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon dive deep into the world of editing. From the trials and tribulations of editing passes to the nuances of hat confidence, Mur and Ursula share their personal experiences and industry insights. The post [DD] How Mur and Ursula Edit appeared first on The Murverse Mothership.