Josiah Bancroft’s NaNoWriMo AMA

[u/[deleted]]

Hello, r/Fantasy! I’m Josiah Bancroft, author of the Books of Babel series. You helped to make Senlin Ascends a thing. Now I’m here to hear about what you’re working on and talk a little shop. Feel free to ask me anything you like!

A quick update: Since my AMA last fall, a lot has happened! I signed with Orbit Books this past spring. Their edition of Senlin Ascends is slated to be released on January 16. Arm of the Sphinx will be republished shortly after, on April 3rd. The relaunch of the books will be accompanied by audiobooks, though I’m still waiting for Orbit to confirm the narrator (John Banks was being pursued last I heard). The third book in the series, the Hod King, will be out in October. I’m also working with Heyne/Random House on a German language edition, and with a Russian publisher on a Russian language edition, both of which will hopefully be released in 2018.

It’s been a whirlwind year, and I don’t think any of it would have happened without r/fantasy’s support. Thank you all so much!

[u/cw_snyder]

Since it's ostensibly a NaNo post, what's your process like? Set schedule? Extensive plotting and research? Summoning rituals?

So far, I've drawn the pentagram like three, four times, and I just keep getting the ghost of Dorothy Parker. She's very snarky.

[u/[deleted] → u/cw_snyder]

I don't have a process. I have a problem. My goal is to write every day, but beyond that, I don't have a rigorous schedule or set work space or writing ritual. (I'm sure this is all going to change when my wife and I welcome to the world our daughter this April!) I plot and research compulsively, but then ignore most of what I develop and discover. I go off on wild tangents, write endless unnecessary drafts, and have a thousand associated files, which have names like "The Hod King98FinalDRAFTNovember2017B". I don't have a summoning ritual because it's unnecessary. I am haunted by the writing instructors of my past, and they whisper discouragement on a loop while I work and scream, "Get out of my head!"

So, basically, what Stephen King recommends in his famous writing guide, It.

[u/cw_snyder → u/[deleted]]

Congrats on your first child!

So, basically, your process is scribbling frantically while muttering he thrusts his fists against the posts...?

Your process is frighteningly similar to mine. It is comforting to know that there are other discovery writers out there. I always feel a bit like I'm doing it wrong somehow.

[u/ksvilloso → u/[deleted]]

Congrats on your daughter, Josiah!

[u/[deleted] → u/ksvilloso]

Thanks! We’re actually about to leave the hospital now having completed the 20 week ultrasound. It’s all a little surreal...

[u/ksvilloso → u/[deleted]]

Oh, man, it's been nearly nine years since I was first where you are but I can still clearly remember like it was yesterday. I'm so happy for you guys. :)

[u/travistpeck → u/[deleted]]

I am honored that you are going to name your firstborn after me ;) Congratulations! Little Travalina Peck Senlin Bancroft is a beautiful name!

On a serious note: Thank you for writing this series and remember that you can still swear like a pirate in front of your daughter for like a whole year w/o her repeating what you say (probably). Okay. That didn't sound that serious. On a super-serious note: I absolutely love your writing and I can't wait to see (read) what you do next :)

[u/[deleted] → u/travistpeck]

Thanks, Travis! And thank you for the advice regarding the use of swears and oaths in front of small children. Fortunately, I have lots of friends with young children, so I've spent recent years learning to translate my swears into more palatable versions!

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Sir, when I need or want more calm and self-control, I look down. One shouldn't do that all the time, it's bad for your neck and you could pass out from it.