Snoopy sits atop his doghouse, banging out stories on a manual typewriter: Usually they begin "It was a dark and stormy night." Always they're rejected. In Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life, a roundup of thirty famous writers and entertainers respond in short, 500-word essays to a favourite strip. Each essay focuses on how the strip presents an aspect of writing life - getting started, getting rejected, searching for new ideas - that they have experienced. The essays are light and humorous, but also offer insight and inspiration to writers working at any level. Contributors include Elmore Leonard, Sue Grafton, Jackie Collins, John Cleese, William Buckley, Danielle Steele, and Jonathan Winters. An introduction by Monte Schulz addresses the writing life and how Snoopy's experience - his tenacity and resilience - can inspire us all.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Using the many Snoopy "at the typewriter" strips as jumping-off points, 30 famous writers as disparate as Ray Bradbury, Elmore Leonard, Budd Shulberg, Dominick Dunne, Danielle Steele, and Sue Grafton have written short pep talks, amusing anecdotes, or just useful advice to would-be writers based on their own experiences. Witty and charming, the essays offer much creative and practical wisdom. But the highlight of the book is the touching foreword by Charles Schulz's son, Monte, who offers some striking insights into his father's life, giving the reader a glimpse of the legendary cartoonist as a reader as well as a writer. Editor Conrad (The Complete Guide to Writing Fiction) also contributes an insightful introduction to this collection, which is an inspiring homage to Schulz that will appeal to all writers and aspiring writers as well as to fans of the late Peanuts creator. Highly recommended.
Herbert E. Shapiro, Empire State Coll., SUNY, Rochester
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Herbert E. Shapiro, Empire State Coll., SUNY, Rochester
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"Witty and charming...will appeal to all writers and aspiring writers as well as to fans of the late Peanuts creator. Highly recommended."
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a lifelong Peanuts fan and a writer, when I learned of this book I was immediately excited. I got it from Amazon.com and read the whole thing in about two hours. It's a good, satisfying book, but not quite what I expected. I never thought I'd say this, but probably the best thing about the book is the introduction.
Monte Schulz, son of the great Charles, uses the introduction to cast his father as a lover of books and as someone who always thought of his work as low art. (Personally, I consider "Peanuts" to be among the highest art there is). The stories Monte tells about his father are wonderful and made me feel a bit closer to one of my heroes.
The strips collected here, most of which feature Snoopy pounding away at his infamous typewriter or getting a rejection slip (sometimes tied to a rock) are excellent. I've always said that anybody can find his or herself in a Peanuts [comic] strip -- I'm in MOST of the strips about Snoopy.
Where the book falls somewhat short is in the essays collected from some really great writers. Rather than being anything really groundbreaking or informative, most of them are little more than pep talks. The one from Julia Child is completely superfluous unless you're out to write the world's greatest cookbook.
It's a worthwhile book, especially if you're a writer who loves Peanuts. Just don't expect too much from it.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Even Snoopy has publishing woes. And this book contains close to 200 pages of the beloved Peanuts comic strips, all related to writing and getting published.
But this book is more than just a new decoration for your coffee table. Some of the most successful authors today have written essays tied into the comics.
For example, several strips illustrate Snoopy's trouble with Lucy, super critic. Author Sue Grafton's essay addresses the issue writers face when having outsiders take a look at your work in progress.
Over 30 authors offer their advice in a humorous, yet very informative essay. Some of those authors include Clive Cussler, Danielle Steel, Ed McBain, Fannie Flagg, Ray Bradbury, William F. Buckley, Jr. and more.
No matter what your writing experience, even if you're not a writer, you can take something away from this humorous look at the writing life. The authors lend a nice touch to the book, launching it into a writing reference tool as well as an entertaining one.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I luved this book. I read the whole thing and then bought it to take it home. It was inspiring to read what the authors contributed.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Snoopy is Smart
This is a smart, witty book about the writing life! The trials that Snoopy goes through, although tongue-in-cheek, are surprisingly real and made me laugh out loud! Read more
Published 10 months ago by marytownsend
5.0 out of 5 stars
Snoopy Saves the Day!
I love this book, and used it so often in my middle school classrooms that the binder was wearing out (it was a paperback. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Terry
5.0 out of 5 stars
Snoopy got me back to writing
It was a dark and stormy night when this book arrived in the mail. Ok, it could have been a late afternoon, but it was indeed dark and stormy. Read more
Published on November 25, 2010 by David Stoddard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun and Powerful
This book is a collection of the "World Famous Literary Ace" cartoons. Anyone who writes and publishes for a living will find a lot of laughs--some bittersweet--in these cartoons. Read more
Published on May 20, 2010 by Nicholas E. Sarantakes
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Stories aren't written ... they're rewritten"
'Snoopy's Guide To The Writing Life' is not the most in depth "how to" writing book you'll come across, but it certainly is the most charming. Read more
Published on December 30, 2006 by Schtinky
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Ultimate Gift for the Writer in Your Life!
Do you have a writer in your life? A child graduating from college or high school or even elementary school? Read more
Published on September 16, 2006 by Allyn Gibson
5.0 out of 5 stars
My motivation level has been increased!
I just loved this book! I didn't buy it because I was hoping it would tell me how to get published...I bought it for the motivational comic strips! Read more
Published on July 20, 2004 by B. Zirkle
5.0 out of 5 stars
It was a dark and stormy review...
"Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life" is a tribute to Charles Schulz, the late great creator of the Peanuts comic strip and its famous beagle-with-a-typewriter, Snoopy. Read more
Published on March 25, 2004 by H. Grove
4.0 out of 5 stars
Methinks I spotted a mistake
On page 153, in an effort to encourage writers who might be dismayed by rejection slips, Jack Canfield writes, "Margaret Mitchell's classic GONE WITH THE WIND was turned down by... Read more
Published on March 11, 2004 by B. M. White
4.0 out of 5 stars
For entertainment only - but what great fun!
Any writer looking for deep words from the large (and highly respected) group of writers featured in "Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life" will come away disappointed. Read more
Published on November 14, 2003 by Daniel L Edelen
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