Good Naked

March 1, 2017

In Good Naked, author Cole (creative writing, Dartmouth Coll.; Toxic Feedback: Helping Writers Survive and Thrive) shows readers how daring to share their "naked" writing--early drafts--can help them become aware of certain foibles and encourage them to continue. She disabuses common misconceptions of how one should think, act, and be as a writer, exchanging those myths for ideas that feed creativity and productivity. Essentially, one doesn't have to suffer to be a genuine artist. To use the Nike slogan, Just Do It.

Moore (director, creative writing, Ohio Univ.) offers various ways to tackle self-inflicted problems. For the self-proclaimed "Book Doctor," it's all about the story: how well writers can craft a narrative that comes alive in the reader's mind. Both volumes steer readers through the roadblocks of self-doubt and inspire them to be themselves, albeit with a little tweaking. Cole focuses on process, embracing the day-to-dayness of writing and defusing mental obstacles that get in the way. Moore includes that advice as well but also poses pointed questions dealing with character, voice, and plot. VERDICT These two volumes accomplish what they set out to achieve. Good Naked is more appropriate for newbies. The Story Cure is a better option for anyone who has been writing for a while but feels stuck.

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