Podcasts, Projects

Ditch Diggers #77: Just Jetpacks

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:38 — 12.6MB)

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The 20-Minute Ditch returns! Time is the fire in which we burn! In this new mini-episode Matt and Mur talk about inventing science fiction and how it’s just people plus robots plus jet packs. More seriously, they talk about how “literary” authors offering “serious takes” on SF is reductive and harmful to SF authors and the field in general, and the result that attitude has on how books are marketed and sold.
News

Award nominations, new Ditch Digger team member, and more!

Work proceeds on my current novel, still unnamed and untalked about. Except I just did. But I’m writing a lot.

I have unexpected award nomination news! The Japanese translation of Six Wakes was nominated for the prestigious Seiun Award, and Solo: A Star Wars Story was nominated for the media tie-in focused Scribe Award! I was shocked and honored to hear both of these.

Solo also just came out in paperback, so if you’ve been waiting for a cheaper version of the book, wait no more!

Ditch Diggers 77 comes out shortly, and Matt and I are recording on a regular schedule now. We also welcome Hugo-nominated fan writer Alasdair Stuart to the team to give us some of his wisdom, and his first column is here: Welcome to the Montage, Now Stare at a Test Tube

I think that’s it. Summer looms, with movies, and heat, and new book launch, and running, and lots and lots of writing.

Podcasts, Projects

Ditch Diggers #76: Ennui

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08:19 — 40.6MB)

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  • Matt and Mur come to you live from Jeff Goldblum’s Teeter-Totter Playground, which is really just one teeter-totter in the middle of a room that his guests all think is an art installation but that Jeff desperately wants them to use.
  • Matt is stressed and yearns to live in Goldblumian fantasy, and Mur is using self-awareness to guide her out of a depression fog as she drives towards her most recent book deadline.
  • Depression, phlebotomy, and tormenting butchers are all discussed.
  • The main topic of the episode is finally revealed, and that is the myth that once you make that first big sale as a writer, your work is done and your career is made.
  • Matt and Mur talk about experiencing the highs and lows of a long, steady freelance writing career, specifically how they’re both currently experiencing a quiet year after a big professional year.
  • Dealing with the illusion, vastly perpetuated by social media, that everybody is constantly announcing big deals and exciting news except for you.
  • Matt can’t think of a non-sexual-sounding metaphor for orally ingesting CBD oil.
  • Mur talks about feeling like nothing matters when you’re in-between big projects and big announcements, and trying to fill her time by redirecting energy into meaningful tasks.
  • Matt and Mur talk about how to get past that initial slong of trying to get into a new project, and how to build momentum.
  • Q&A! Matt and Mur are referred to as “entrepreneurs” and are very excited about it, eventhough the question that follows is vague. Plus, conspiracies and Matt resisting his old urges to say dickish things, and much more!
  • Obligatory end-of-episode shilling.
Podcasts, Projects

Ditch Diggers #75: Feedback

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:40 — 40.0MB)

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  • Mur and Matt come to you live from Jeff Goldblum’s Genius Bar, because it is time once again for a Ditch Diggers feedback/Q&A episode!
  • Matt is pissed off and Mur is emotionally and physically drained, so they are both ready to do the best episode ever!
  • Matt rants for several minutes about Apple and Mac products. (spoiler: they both anger him)
  • Mur is tired because they keep stealing her blood. No, seriously. Well, it’s not technically theft, but still. But anyway, Mur is literally too metal for life.
  • Mur is behind on listener-submitted I Should Be Writing questions, but that’s not what we’re dealing with right now.
  • What lesson did the Ditch Diggers learn from their first published novels that made a big difference?
  • In a future episode, Gail Carriger will return to DD to talk about public speaking for writers!
  • A drachma is 100 leptas and the plural of “drachma” is “drachmae.”
  • Phillip asks Matt about novella series, and low-key calls Matt out for constantly bemoaning the disappointing commercial performance of his novella series.
  • ML Moos asks about internet trolls and “agent blacklists” (mostly to hear Matt light up a particular troll who neither Matt nor Mur have ever heard of).
  • A listener responds to a previous question about publishing rights and languages in the Finnish market.
  • Short story, novellete, novella, and novel lengths are discussed and defined as well as such things can be in this or any genre.
  • How typical is it for authors who sell movie rights to retain control over character and story decisions about their work? (spoiler: very rarely if ever)
  • How private is your identity when you use a pseudonym? (Matt’s meta erotica fiction pen name is going to be John Smith)
  • Scams played on new authors trying to get published (this could obviously be an entire episode of its own, but Matt and Mur give general guidelines to protect yourself).
  • Previews of episodes to come, praise for Russian Doll, and the customary end-of-episode shilling (which includes out-of-date Hugo nomination pleas)! 


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Podcasts, Projects

Ditch Diggers #74: Drinks with an Agent

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:53 — 17.3MB)

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  • Mur comes to you live from the Double Tree Hotel bar in Dearborn, Michigan as she flies solo this episode for a special sitdown with her agent, Jen Udden! It’s “Drinks With An Agent!”
  • Mur hits Jen with a listener question about how your suddenly defunct publisher’s reputation “taints” your work moving forward as you try to find a new publisher.
  • Jen talks about the different situations to which this problem applies, and how to proceed accordingly.
  • Jen also talks about how an agent perceives/handles this particular situation.
  • Mur and Jen discuss leveraging offers from small press when querying agents, and an agent’s value in the negotiating process.
  • Generous margarita pours and Mur’s reaction to them.
  • The common writerly problem of falling in love with ideas and staying in love with those ideas even when they don’t sell, and how to stay flexible.
  • Mutual author/agent respect and appropriate affection is demonstrated.
  • Knowing what your goals are, and living at home to achieve them.
  • Jen talks about her podcast, Shipping and Handling, and lets everyone know she is open to submissions!
  • Mur misses Matt. She says so.
  • Jen on Twitter
  • Shipping and Handling Podcast
  • Jen’s Submission Guidelines

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