Posts Tagged ‘Self-Publishing’

I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[DD] Trad Marketing vs Self Marketing

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:23 — 29.8MB)

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“The best way to survive is to turn everything into hilarity.” – Ursula Vernon

Ditch Diggers Season 11 logo featuring ursula illustrated
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
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(This post went live for supporters on May 22, 2025. Join the Fabulists or support my newsletter at Ghost if you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes!)

Transcript

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores!

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
“Trad Marketing vs Self Marketing” by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Ditch Diggers, Podcasts, Projects

[DD] Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:00 — 43.9MB)

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“If you can tolerate the boring and lonely, then hopefully you’ll be rewarded on the other side.” – Ursula Vernon

Ditch Diggers Season 11 logo featuring ursula illustrated 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 for Mur!), share insights into their creative processes, and delve into the challenges of working with agents.

Chapters:

(03:29) Congratulations to Hugo Finalists!
(04:06) Several people from the podcast have been nominated for various awards
(05:41) Ursula has been working on several projects
(21:25) NaNoWriMo reportedly folded due to poor financial decisions
(22:03) NaNoWriMo brought hope to authors for decades
(28:07) Other writer community options?
(30:39) There are many guides on how to get an agent and how to spot a scam
(36:02) Agents are all different people.
(48:54) How much creative control does the author have over their book
(51:25) Where your agent is plugged into the ecosystem of the genre is very important
(54:48) How do you know when it’s the right agent
(01:00:45) Brief side quest with Andrew the plant guy
(01:01:53) Ursula’s new book hit number five on the New York Times bestseller list

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(This post went live for supporters on April 21, 2025. Join the Fabulists or support my newsletter at Ghost if you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes!)

Links: 

Evergreen Links:

Support Local Book Stores!

Ditch Diggers credits:
theme song by Devo Spice, art by Numbers Ninja,
site hosted by Libsyn (or Patreon).
Apr 14, 2024 | Season 11 Ep 3 | murverse.com
“Navigating Agents, Rights, and Reality” by Mur Lafferty and Ursula Vernon
is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
I Should Be Writing, Podcasts, Projects

[ISBW] Navigating Novel Noodling and New Ideas

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:02 — 32.6MB)

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S20 Ep17: In Which Mur Reflects on Creativity and Ambition

“It’s really easy. It’s so relaxing to not be creative.”– Mur

Transcript

(This post went live for supporters on June 24, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)

This week, Mur shares her journey through book edits, the struggles of low energy, and the comforting realization that creation is often less comforting than consumption. Mur explores the myriad of creative opportunities available today—from writing novels to making music videos—and the emotional weight that comes with each creative endeavor.

She also touches on her admiration for hybrid creators like Ursula Vernon and the spontaneous creativity of the band, The Garages. Mur reflects on her past as a sports journalist and how it shaped her writing, offering insights into finding the right angle for storytelling. Whether you’re struggling with a boring main character or the challenges of prequels, Mur provides thoughtful advice and personal anecdotes to help you navigate your creative journey.

Links:

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“Navigating Novel Noodling and New Ideas” is brought to you in large part by by my supporters, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon or Substack!

Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please!

CREDITS
Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja,
and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon.
July 1, 2024 | Season 20 Ep 17 | murverse.com
“Navigating Novel Noodling and New Ideas” by Mur Lafferty
is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Ditch Diggers, Podcasts, Projects

[DD] Ursula Vernon Takes Over: New Beginnings and No More Cancer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:55 — 46.2MB)

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Ditch Diggers logo, illustrated with Mur and Ursula images.
Ep 01: Ursula Vernon Takes Over New Beginnings and No More Cancer
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“If you want to make money, you have to think about it like a job.”– Mur

Transcript

(This post went live for supporters on June 26, 2024. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or Substack!)

Welcome back to Ditch Diggers! In this episode, we kick things off with a fresh start and a new co-host. The mighty Mur Lafferty is joined by the fabulous Ursula Vernon (aka T. Kingfisher) as they dive into the nitty-gritty of the writing business.

Ursula shares her personal journey of overcoming cancer and getting back into the writing groove, while Mur talks about the realities of making deadlines and the business side of writing. They also discuss the recent Hugo Awards controversy and the implications for authors involved.

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