Ditch Diggers: A New Podcast from Matt Wallace and Mur Lafferty of ISBW Fame is a Brutally Honest Discussion of the Publishing Industry

Mighty Mur Lafferty and Matt "F'n" Wallace are the writing superheroes we need. I make this statement, because under every writing podcast, there are people who stand out that actually do it "write". Stupid fucking puns, but these two are powerhouses of being honest about the process, and business of writing, and they are successful...so I suggest all wannabe writers to listen to Ditch a Diggers.

   Ditch Diggers gets me. I'm not a masochist very often, I don't do submissive, but Mur and Matt smack me digitally with their words of wisdom, and tell me I've been a bad, writer for spending too much time playing Flappy Crush, which is an application that keeps me sane. Ditch Diggers has been around for twenty-five episodes now, and it is worth listening to each one, and revisiting the finer point episodes of deep-seeded, grinding that every writer must do. The name says it all: Ditch Diggers; a hypothetical take on the hard work for the little reward, but the plight of writing every day, and wrestling with all the digital distractions that make flighty minds do everything but what they're supposed to, and that's write. 

   Granted, Mur and Matt aren't telling you that all free time must be kept free soley for writing, but they want to express that writers that want to get famous, and don't put in the work, digging those ditches, well, there's always a need for a copywriter. I love the podcast I Should Be Writing (usually abbreviated ISBW) and Ditch Diggers is the complimentary shot of hard whiskey, to Mur's first-born podcast that goes down smooth like the proverbial fine wine.  Ditch Diggers gets some of the top write in the field, in multiple genres, multiple markets, and I've yet to hear an episode where I didn't learn something about the industry, and I've been learning the market while still in my teens. Mur is the first podcaster that I've actually felt comfortable enough to e-mail, and she, along with Matt, are both outstanding writers. I like that they also don't pull punches, and in the era of safe spaces, I love when people are brutal, but also constructive in their criticism. I'd want Matt to tear a new asshole in anything I write, because in know it's only to better my abilities. I say this hypothetically, of course. 

  I would say that Difch Diggers is designed to be a dick towards you, but it's a sort of dick that you need to hear. Matt and Mur know their shit, and they will tell you in the most colorful, doggish language. This is the show you want to listen to, it's a podcast for people who need to hear the truth about writing, and that it's going to take you longer than you want to become the writer that you wish you could be. Ditch Diggers is essentially the podcast for writers that have been pampered for too long, and need not just a reality check, but a pro-informative podium that is  quintessentially helpful. I see it as a format that breaks you down, only not build you back up to even greater heights, it's a damn fine show. 

     I highly recommend Ditch Diggers, it's a compelling podcast, and as mundane as that sounds, it is as honest a description as any. Matt Wallace and Mur Lafferty are like salt and pepper, saying they compliment each other is an understatement. I've been a fan of ISBW for several years now, listening on-and-off, but now more than ever have I've been glued to my iPod, waiting for the next update, as I devour each new episode of a Ditch Diggers. I suggest you download the podcast, and get to writing. 

Magic: The Podcast A New Podcast About the Popular Card Game is Insightful and Engaging

Magic: The Podcast is relatively new, having sprouted up in mid-January, which is about Magic: The Gathering, which is my favorite card game, outside of Japanese Hanafuda. I've been playing Magic for several years now, and I still consider myself a newer player to the game. The game is nearly thirty years old, having been created in the very late eighties/early nineties, and was originally created as a game to teach kids counting techniques and adding/subtraction memorization skills. I have to say, it works. I've found myself able to count in my head much easier than before playing the games. I've played plenty of rounds of Friday Night Magic, but I've discovered drafting on Saturday nights locally at a new hobby shop. I have friends that are into Warhammer, Pokemon and other board/card games which weren't really my thing.  I've always been more into video games.  Until I got into Magic: The Gathering. 

    I wasn't very social as a child, and rarely made friends in high school, so I didn't do the whole social gaming games, like Magic, Dungeons and Dragons, and other games that weren't necessarily nerdy to me, but rather too social for me at the time

    You see, I have always had leaning disabilities, many that stem from my lack of math skills, but also because I always had socialization issues. I've spoken on these before, but I recite these facts again because I began playing Magic much later in life. I've heard about Magic:The Podcast, from Twitter,because  they sent me a Tweet. I don't know exactly what made them send me a message, I'm assuming my Tweet : "Magic:The Gathering, and Chill?" but who knows? I've mentioned Magic quite a few times because I appreciate the game, it's a medium that reminds me of chess in card form, but faster paced. I'm a huge chess fan, it's probably my favorite of all board games, but Magic was the first card game I've delved into, having created several decks over the last few years, adding boosters here-and-there. So I subscribed, and listened to the first five episodes, and found them to be entailed with information about, and outside the cards. I also like the show is hosted by dabblers rather than extremists, it allows for a more objective view to a subjective medium. 

    Magic: The Podcast is hosted by Johnathan Edwards and Andrew Edwards, and Max Roche. I have to assume that Johnathan and Andrew are brothers, but I'm not quite sure. The show invites guests on like many other podcasts, where people who are experts/collectors and innovators thwt have been touched by, or dabble into Magic give their insight. So-far there's a great deal of early-on episodes, as I've stated, this is a very new podcast in respects, but it's entertaining, and somewhat educational, but it's more towards the interview/informer type of podcast. The first episode had on two comedians that discussed their love of Magic: The Gathering, and did a big of improv, which is their specialization. They've  discussed other aspects of the show, which are Comander, the newer of game variants that has begun to sprout up in the community. The two comedians' names are Andy Hill and Sean Tabares, who host a podcast called the Commander Brew. So Magic: The Podcast could inevitably become a podcast to promote other Magic podcasts, kind of like Podcast 411, but specifically for Magic. 

    The second episode is about the art of Magic: The Gathering, which was more about prints, the artists at conventions and trade shows, and the guest was Josh Krouse, who apparently has the single online collection of Magic: The Gathering artwork in existence currently, but also information on how to collect prints and artwork as a layman. There is also an E block where Johnathan discusses some of the more famous  kickstarter campaigns in the Magic Community. This show was informative, as Krouse is an afficianado on the art, and a mass collector who has over fifteen years of expertise in playing Magic: The Gathering. The show is well done, and the overall podcast has been rather intriguing so-far. Coming from someone who has tried numerous times to get a podcast off the ground, it's fun to hear people talk about something they love, just for the sake of discussing it, as the community is large, and always pandered to by individuals that simply want to get subscribers. Granted, I will assume that Johnhathan and company want subscribers, but having someone that is observing, and learning as he goes with an open mind, there is some strategy discussed,mbut it's not overbearing, nor underrepresented. 

   The third show is completely different, and brings in a musician that uses Magic: The Gathering as their influence, and makes some pretty intriguing music. Cody Avdek who is the musician behind  Spectrums by Visible Spectrum, uses the five main colors and shades behind the cards in Magic as the influence for the progressive rock stylings on the album. This is a pretty cool idea, and I have heard a bit about this from others in the community, but still being a bit outside of what are considered outsiders, I learned the majority about this project from this particular episode, all of which can be downloaded at Magic: The Podcast here: https://t.co/g63qyqErcZ

   The last show, which is a preview of their Shadows Over Innistrad is a very technical discussion, but for me it felt very technical which is not good or bad. There is a debates between Johnathan and Max, and they discuss mana amounts and other aspects of the game that are too much to mention here. There's a lot of discussion in only twenty-five minutes, and one of the better usages of time. There is a huge difference from Episode 1, to episode 5(?) and shows promise for the overall show. At this point, that is all the episodes for this infant podcast, but I would like to see how it matures over the next few months. Magic is a huge game, it is always being updated, morphed and formed to fit the now, and even if you are the most knowledgable on the game, it is always changing, and feels new whenever you go up against a player with the newest of the new decks. Honestly, this game is impossible to pin down, and becomes a respect/envy of those who bring out the best cards, and newest cards, but like anything, it comes down to simply reading the card. I'd recommend this podcast for anyone who has thought of Magic: The Gsthering, and may want to understand a bit about it, because their links give you enough information, and delving into many apps, websites, and resources on the game. 

   Magic is very akin to chess in that it takes minutes to learn, and a lifetime to master, and may seem strange, or odd, but really is just a fantasy card game that is fun, and quite sociable. Magic: The Podcast reiterates these points, and does so in a friendly, likable fashion. 

Twitter @MagicthePodcast 

Johnathan Edwards: @justfinethanku

Andrew Edwards: @silvinlight

Max Roche: MTG_JLP

Thank you for reading the Malacast Editorial, I will be returning next week with me posts, and new Short Story Weekly posts.

 You can find me on Twitter: @mcasteditorial. Thank you for reading and supporting the Malacast Editorial, and have a great weekend! 

Voices in the Static Podcast is a Constant Update on all Things Silent Hill

     I was listening to a podcast I've recently downloaded called "Voices in the Static", which comes from the Silent Hill Historical Society website, which is hosted by a lovely lady named Whitney. I will not post her last name out of respect, but she is found at silenthillhistoricalsociety.com. Personally, I love the name of this podcast, and being a Silent Hill fan, I'm glad to find someone more obsessed with this series than I am. I also respect the podcast, because they get honest interviews, the participants don't pull any punches, especially their unbiased perspective. 

    I also respect that they say let's give the game a chance, or the film a chance before we tear it to shit, because that's how reviews and critiques should be done. This is why I've always hated doing previews, because speculation on vapor ware is not as satisfying as actually commenting on a finished,published product. 

      "Voices in the Static" has been going strong for over three years now, and being a bi-weekly, or once-monthly podcast, it is a very definitive Silent Hill podcast, and is up-to-date to such a degree, Konami should thank them for caring where, and supporting the franchise more than Konami has done for the last seven years! This podcast is for the fan of the series, no matter where they come from, and although I'm an old-school fan, I love how this podcast tells it straight, and has a real perspective that this is simply a game, and if you don't like certain titles in the series, just don't buy it! Vote with your wallet, and quit being assholes to those who disagree. Sure, I can't stand Homecoming, I see it as a continuation of a series that wanted to end after game four, but let's put this into perspective: if games like Homecoming, and Downpour weren't made, then the "outrage" from fans would not have pressured the upcoming Silent Hills game, which looks to either make or break this series, and if I'm wrong, I'm wrong, I'm not going to crow and caw about how terrible the game is, I simply won't buy it! 

     Truthfully, all the games have pluses, and minuses to them: yes, even Homecoming got some things right, and even the holy relic of Silent Hill 2 had it's share of embarrassing issues, that even I blushed. Also, the translations in the third game made me laugh so hard, I forgot that this was a survival horror. Look, I don't agree completely with Ms. Whitney, and her constituency, especially when it comes to the last five games, I've found them so terrible, but I didn't harp on anyone who loved the games. In-truth, and this is hard for some people to understand: liking something is objective, I like things you don't, and it's okay! The only time anyone is ever allowed, and again, this is my opinion, that someone has my respect for disagreeing so vehemently with someone is when it comes to politics, because that is when opinion is subjective, as the views of other people do affect you directly.          

     This is a game series, be thankful it's still around for a consecutive fourth generation, because it could've died out with The Dino Crisis, Crash Bandicoot, and Parasite Eve titles of yesterday consoles. I'm a Silent Hill fan, and I don't have an agenda, and even if I did, I won't shit on someone else's parade because I dislike a title. Maybe I'm an old-school kind of guy, but I look at things objectively, even as a critic, and give my raw opinion after actually experiencing the medium im reviewing! That's why I hate when someone says: "Oh man! This is going to suck!" Two years before it releases to the public! 

   That's why I like what I'm hearing from "Voices in the Static" and it's great to see fans who are as obsessed, but as realistic and as critical of Silent Hill, and Konami as am, if not more! They use facts, and their opinions are backed up by facts, what was once called debate in this world, before asinine people could post without fact-checking. I hate nerd rage, I cannot stand people who act like babies when discussing games, but I suppose babies are always going to act as such with their toys, and that saddens me. 

     Again, I like this show, it has in-depth interviews, which is just incredible for a podcast, and Whitney and company have done more to keep this series relevant more than Konami has done for the past two, count them, two console cycles. Despite posting about writing, and writing critique, whilst having several typos and mulligans along the way, I am, at the core, a video game fan, and a mass media critic. Silent Hill is a franchise I house close to my heart, and the reason for that is because it is, in theory, an experience that is so dramatic, and so personal to the character, it is a truly psychological experience. Sure, if we want to get critical, we could say that this game steals from H.P. Lovecraft, Anton Szandor LaVey, Francis Bacon, of course, Dario Argento. Do we not realize that everything has some influence from another medium, and even if you create something from scratch, wholly original, someone will go out of their way to compare it, and give it more depth than even your original idea ever had! Critics put more thought into the medium than the developers, who in-the-end, want to make a profit! So if a game sells bad, guess what, their wallets get hurt, and they overhaul, or drop a franchise, if you truly want to change a model for your favorite game, don't buy the ones you hate, trust me, they know when you don't buy,mans that will make them remember the fans. 

     Also, stop with all the negative angst, it doesn't help your cause, and makes you look like an incompetent, immature imbecile (alliteration!) whose opinion hold. Of water, or is not backed by any actual fact. Hell, even a Wikipedia page on Homecoming  has more explanations than most fans on the reasons it sucked, but at least that page has the opinions backed with facts! 

    This all is found on "Voices in the Static" which is worth a download, especially if you're a fan of Silent Hill. At first I was iffy about this show, and once I actually sat down, and listened to the conversation, I think it would be a benefit for fans, rather than a disservice. You can download "Voices in the Static" on iTunes, and I assume  it can be downloaded on the Android store as well.   

     If you are a fan of the Silent Hill franchise, and you may want to hear a unique perspective on the franchise, I would say to download this podcast, and go to www.silenthillhistoricalsociety.com for more information. Whitney and her various guests make each and every episode a joy, and although they are all very adamant, I believe their honesty, and desire for a legitimate discussion, not a flame war on this  series is a breath of fresh air, for any perspective on the object of debate. I believe in debate, and being a podcaster who debates his best friend (Edgar Holves) on many topics without it turning into a name-calling fiasco, shows an unfamiliar class of podcaster, that is a shame of being the minority.  

    So do I agree with the opinions on "Voices in the Static"? Not necessarily, but I respect their said opinions,especially when most fans have jumped in at Silent Hill 2, then have the audacity to spit on fellow fans who jumped in at The Room, or Downpour, or even Homecoming, that is a hypocritical outrage in itself! I admire this podcast, and although I could be critical with some points of the show, nothing is perfect, and Whitney and her fellow contributors do get better with each episode. I would say that the older episodes are not that well recorded, but the sound is light years ahead of most people who record, and it does sound better, just a tad low for my taste, but Whitney is soft-spoken, and it is lovely to not have a nerd screaming at me with rage for a change. 

     So try it out, "Voices in the Static" which I absolutely love that name, and the image of Heather/Cheryl is great as well, and please swing by silenthillhistoricalsociety.com and leave a nice comment for Whitney, be decent human beings, please, I cannot be more sincere than that. 

Thank you for reading the Malacast Editorial, please feel free to follow me on Twitter: Twitter.com/mcasteditorial or send me a message @mcasteditorial 

E-Mail: mcasteditorial@yahoo.com. 

This is not the last post for 2014, I should have one more beforehand, but if this is the last post, I'll have new posts up just after the New Year, so thank you for this wonderful year of posts, and as always, thank you for supporting this blog.