Joni B. Cole

oni B. Cole is the person you want to be sitting next to whispering snarky comments and witty observations about the people around you. In this collect of essays about adopting the perfect dog and coming to grips with the whole aging thing, she discovers that she is not quite perfect and therefore needs a dog that will match her uniqueness - oh, and maybe get a book out of the deal. She find her match in Eli (aka E Pie Pie), an adorable misfit of a breed called a Chihuahua Bat. Cole was show more nominated for a Pushcart Prize and I have found that the parties responsible for this one, completely understand my wants and needs from a literary award. I have never been disappointed with any of their selections.

Yes, there are quite a few bad dog tales in this one, but seriously, her spray tan debacle should come with a warning label. Do not drink while reading this book since it will come out your nose while you laugh. There are also some very wonderful stories about fitting in, the pain and agony of getting older and the grieving process. Ok, the grieving process in the essay is about her foot pain, but still, it makes a lot of sense once you are at a certain age. Overall this is a book to hide in your bathroom, so you can pick it up if you ever need an escape. If you enjoy Celia Rivenbark, Dave Barry and Jen Lancaster, you will adore this one as well! show less

There are a gazillion books on writing (more, better, less angstily) out there. It would be unrealistic to expect any of them to do anything new, and this one doesn't. It offers fairly standard advice on coping with the psychological difficulties of writing. But what's unique about this book is the writer's voice and approach. Cole's style is intimate and chatty, and she heavily draws from her personal experience as the leader of writing workshops.

Don't expect clear rules and how-tos. It's show more not that Cole doesn't offer advice, but it's couched in narrative and storytelling. In order to get the kernels of advice, you need to read/skim the whole book. I don't see this as a downside, but anyone who's looking for easy-to-find lists of do's and don'ts will be disappointed.

This is a nicely written, compassionate book on integrating the practice of writing into a psychologically healthy lifestyle. show less

Spoiler alert: according to writing teacher Joni B. Cole, the key to writing more, writing better, and being happier, as promised by the subtitle, is to join a writing group. I'm in a writing group, and although I don't always find happiness in this, I can attest to the "more" and "better" components of the formula. This entertaining, encouraging guide addresses the psychological and emotional aspects of writing, most notably how to get out of your own way, overcome your hesitations, and get show more some work started or revise what you have written. Highly recommended; I borrowed this book from a library but am considering buying my own copy for reference for when writing times get tough. show less

"Good Naked: Reflections on How to Write More, Write Better, and Be Happier" by Joni B. Cole is an engaging book on writing packed with excellent advice. While Cole’s book is geared towards creative writing, many of the ideas here would work for many writers. Furthermore, many of the suggestions transcend the act of writing; in fact, they apply to life as well. For instance, in the chapter fittingly entitled “Survival of the Optimist,” Cole describes how people, who are hard-wired for show more negativity anyway, seem especially prone to focusing on the bad when it comes to their own writing. Rather than taking on this negative slant, which can lead to us wanting to avoid writing altogether, she recommends that we “see our work in a realistic, but also positive light” (p.34). Certainly, this is excellent counsel for any writer, but it also applies to most people.

Cole’s other suggestions range from avoiding “brutal honesty,” both as a phrase and a mindset, to setting personal targets for getting a creative work done to defending the word “nice” and seeing it as something to aspire towards. These recommendations come together to fulfill the promise of the book’s subtitle that readers can “write more, write better, and be happier.” Although some cynics might scoff at the notion of the happy author (a stereotype that Cole tackles), the optimistic tone and lack of cynicism make this a refreshing book on writing. It would be a great read for any writer, ranging from published authors and writing instructors to writing novices.

The only caveat I have with the book is its title and cover. While the title, “Good Naked,” is provocative, it proved befuddling until I got to that chapter (about a third of the way in). Even after reading the chapter and having context for the title, it still doesn’t resonate with me and doesn’t seem to be the most important idea in the book. Added to this is the cover, which features a pair of bare legs from the knees down emerging from one of the Ds. The effect isn’t awful, but when paired with the title, it does seem misleading. However, this is a very minor issue and likely one that can be attributed to the publisher rather than the author. It certainly shouldn’t deter people from reading the book (though be prepared for some odd looks from people if you read it in public, like I did). show less