NONFICTION: Three books on the craft of writing teach, inspire and sometimes amuse.
"Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts," by Matt Bell. (Soho Press, 168 pages, $15.99.)
Though his handy, authoritative book is structured as a how-to guide with specific steps, novelist and teacher Matt Bell ("Appleseed") lays down few absolute rules. He admonishes readers to use what works for them and toss everything else: "Only what is useful to you applies." Fortunately for readers, particularly those who believe their first draft is perfect, most of what he says applies nearly universally.
