Saturday 18 June 2011

Nascence: 17 Stories That Failed and What They Taught Me

I've been thinking about 'story' all month. What makes a good story? Why do some of my stories sell and others don't? Why can't I judge what's good in my own stories?

Then, as in answer to my wordless pleas, I came across Nascence by Science Fiction/Fantasy author, Tobias Buckell..

What a genius idea. Buckell has published 17 of his trunked stories written over a decade. Each story has an introduction explaining why he believes the story failed.

If you find yourself reading the author's introductions to stories as carefully as the stories themselves; if you're a writer who thinks about that mysterious thing called story, do consider this book. Tobias Buckell is offering something unique: a real insight into the mind of an author. Lessons to be learnt. Nascence has really crystallised some ideas I've been having about 'story,' and given me some new insights.

Available on kindle for three dollars. (And if you don't have a kindle, did you know that you can download a free reader for your PC, that's what I did)?

This is the most helpful book I've read on the craft of short story writing for ages. 

13 comments:

  1. I could definitely name 17+ stories of my own that failed. Failed to capture my interest, or failed to turn into what I had hoped. Often failed to even get finished ;)

    This book sounds great and like a very interesting read!

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  2. Same here. I have plenty of stories lurking on my PC unsold. It's the curse of the writer never to be able to judge your own work.

    I never knew that about the kindle though.

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  3. Hi Trisha, Hi Neil -- me too. The genius of the book is that Tobias Buckell can recognise what's wrong with the stories and pass that information onto the reader. Something that I can't do-- more's the pity.

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  4. Deb, this is amazing. I'm a little afraid to read it, though...there's that nagging fear of what might happen if I find his failed stories to be so much better than my own.

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  5. *laughs* I've already had to face that, Joe. The stories were good.

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  6. I think what Buckell has that we don't is the luxury of time, he is so far removed in time from these seventeen stories that it is now possible for him to view them as if for the first time and judge them. Plus of course he has progressed as a writer.

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  7. D'oh...hadn't thought of that part (them being better than mine... LOL). But I can imagine! Definitely adding this one to my TBR list.

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  8. Hi Trisha *laughs* well I don't know if they're better than your. All I can say is that they're better than mine -- onwards.

    Hello Dungeonmum, what a great name. Thanks for the comment and the follow. Yes, in time, I might be able to judge my stories better. But I want it all -- and I want it now. hee hee

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  9. Oh no. Forgot to say hello to Mark. Hi, Mark. Thanks for stopping by.

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  10. Someday I hope to be able to figure out why some of my stories haven't sold (yet). For now, I'm content subbing them to death!

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  11. Good plan, Milo. I've been having a bit of bootcamp craft couple of weeks, but I'm back to my old ways this week.

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  12. will have to read that see if I can find out what makes a story fail when it shouldn't - if you follow!!! I had a kindle ap for my computer when I wanted to test the my book in the smashword edition of mobi - it works well

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