Good naked Reflections on how to write more, write better, and be happier

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. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.