JUST THINKING about the scene—my husband and kids lying belly down on the carpet reading the Sunday funnies—makes me smile.
My mother’s heart swelled with love to witness this weekly connection between father and daughters/son. Back then, I considered only that bonding aspect, that break from full-time mothering, the laughter that spilled from the living room.
I’ve never been a reader of comics, considering them a waste of time. Besides that, I’m a serious person, not inclined to reading anything remotely humorous. But now, at age 56, it is not too late to admit that I was wrong. Comics offer not only laughter, but insights into life and much more. Duh.
Thanks to Minnesota writer Sue Ready, who blogs at Ever Ready, I discovered the value in comic strips via her recommended reading of Snoopy’s Guide to the Writing Life, published in 2002 by Writer’s Digest Books and edited by Barnaby Conrad and Monte Schulz.
It was the title, not the comedic aspect, which grabbed my attention. I am always interested in reading about writing and this volume offers insights from noted authors like Ray Bradbury, Fannie Flagg and Danielle Steel, among about two dozen others.
Their advice, though, isn’t presented in a straight-forward manner. Rather, the selected writers are prompted by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz’s Snoopy strips, specifically featuring Snoopy the writer at his doghouse rooftop typewriter.
Why had I forgotten that Snoopy was a writer? Perhaps because I have not read all that many Peanuts cartoons.
Snoopy faces the sometime issues of writer’s bloc, criticism (from the ever present loud-mouthed Lucy), rejection and more. But the problems somehow seem funny when faced by Snoopy and not me.
The canine is stuck on beginning his stories with “It was a dark and stormy night,” or a slightly revised version. How often do we writers also become stuck, writing in the same way or, even worse, writing how we think we should write?
Author Fannie Flagg advises:
The joy about writing is that as long as you write from your heart, a thousand English degrees cannot compete with that.
How true. Readers can sense when you write from your heart.
I found Snoopy’s Guide to the Writing Life packed with pieces of useful advice, some which I already knew, some not. Here are some paraphrased gems I plucked from the book:
- Too much time on the typewriter (translate computer) can cause double vision. (Correct.)
- Avoid boring descriptions and heavy explanations.
- Understand your subject and your market.
- Surprise is an important element of humor (and writing in general, might I add).
- Stop seeking approval and advice and trust your instincts.
- “Try to leave out the parts that readers skip” (direct quote that I could not paraphrase).
- Plot develops from character, a point emphasized by more than one writer.
- Just write. Every day.
Now, one of my favorite lines comes from Monte Schulz, the son of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz. Monte surmises that writers write “for the music of beautiful language.” I love that phrase because I totally get what he means. As a writer, and especially as a poet, my heart rejoices when I find the exact word or line which makes my poem sing. It is a glorious moment.
Then, on the second to last page of Snoopy’s Guide, writer J.F. Freedman throws in that element of surprise, at least for me, when he writes:
Great comic strips…are a fine introduction into literature, and are damn good writing in and of themselves…
And after reading (in this book) more than 180 “Snoopy at the typewriter” comic strips, likely more comics than I’ve read in my life, I’d agree with Freedman. Damn good writing, indeed.
WHAT WRITING TIPS can you offer? Let’s hear them.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I love Snoopy—the four kids in our family followed in our father’s footsteps with a love of all things Peanuts including my brother who saved notebooks and notebooks of Peanuts comic strips which I think he still has today. A lot of wisdom in those pictures and words. Writing tips?? I think that what I have learned is that any thought that enters my head can be used to write about—–just sit down and write!!! Some of my most “popular” posts have been silly little insights or thoughts that popped into my head. You never know where it will go when you sit down and just start. There is wisdom in the words “just write. every day.”. Thanks, Audrey for a great review!
Interesting that you should remark on your most popular posts being those that “just popped into your head.” I am often surprised by the posts which generate the most interest. My biggest challenge is blogging from a personal perspective because my training and work experience are in journalism and I’ll always be that journalist first. Yet, that journalistic style approach also sets my blog apart from others. It works and I’ll keep blogging like I am now, with a mix of journalistic style and more personal pieces.
I think you should quiz your brother on his Peanuts comic strips collection and post about it. That could make for an interesting story.
I will have to do that with Mark!!! I suspect they may actually still be with my mom so next week when I see her I will have to check into that!!! A lot of his stuff got boxed up and stored when he left home but now that he is 54 I think he should have all his own stuff, don’ t you?? He could have them by now but I remember at one point they were still with my mom and dad!
Oh, don’t tell me, please don’t tell me that my grown kids will still have their “stuff” at my house when they are 54. I’m after them already to sort through some of their belongings stashed in closets and drawers. I’ll give them until they have their own houses.
I look forward to your Peanuts “report.” Enjoy your time with your mom.
Well I suspect he has told her to just get rid of it all but she is reluctant! I will have to do some investigation….
Ah, yes, that makes sense. My mom holds onto everything also, because “you never know…”
EXACTLY!!!!
Hi Audrey!
I had both the privilege and pleasure of knowing Charles Schulz personally (the creator of Peanuts and Snoopy). He was a thoughtful, warm and caring person.
I very much enjoy your writings, and have a blog of my own, where I’ve always written under my pen name, JC Eberhart, at:
http://www.jceberhart.wordpress.com
{Hope you’ll come visit!}
You’ve offered some excellent writing tips. I cannot think of anything that I would add . . . but I certainly second your quote about writing from the heart. The majority of my published articles that inspired the most responses, I’d both:
– written from the heart; and
– felt very passionate about.
Thank you for this great blog, and God bless!
~Jeanie Fredlund, LADC
(JC Eberhart)
Thanks for stopping by, Jeanie. And, yes, I have checked out your blog in the past and will do so again.
How did you come to know Charles Schulz?
I always liked Snoopy. Writing from the heart can be important in lots of writing. Our daughter is in the midst of her soon-to-graduate job hunt. She hadn’t been getting any responses to her applications. When she was home this past weekend, working on yet another cover letter, it suddenly struck me. The students are all being told the “best way” to write these letters — key words, restating what the job ad said, etc. As she was reading me her letter, I realized it didn’t reveal anything about her personality. It could just as easily have been written by almost anyone in her department. We thought about some new ways to open. She thought of anecdotes that show her interacting with kids in the library where she volunteers. She has sent out two letters with the new personalized style. She already has one interview.
Excellent insight on your part, mom. Thank you for sharing this cover letter writing tip. Take note, all you job seekers out there.
Feel free to comment back and tell my readers what type of job your daughter is seeking and maybe she’ll land another interview or at least an inquiry.
Many years ago I worked at the Catholic Church in Wayzata where Charles was a parishioner. We shared many fascinating conversations. He was a delightful, non-assuming individual whose company I enjoyed immensely!
~Jeanie
Great comments already. 🙂 I don’t read cartoons anymore – I did up until about a year ago. BUT…I have always loved Snoopy/Peanuts. Great wisdom to be found there, eh? Great post – I JUST NOW (like 5 minutes ago) came up with a better title for my book, so I’m in the writing frame of mind and appreciate the advice you listed! And YES…my heart did rejoice! Good way of putting that moment when we KNOW…and we read and re-read it just for the pure joy of hearing it aloud!
Oh, Gretchen, my heart rejoices for you at the completion of your book. Readers, remember Gretchen. She’s one gifted writer and I can already envision her name on the spine of her book. Check out her blog, A Fine Day for an Epiphany, right now.
Oh, you’re so kind. I just checked out the blog you linked to in your post!
Just speaking the truth, Gretchen.
Try Stephen King on writing, too. Don’t like his kind of book, but he can write and knows the business fo writing well.
Stephen King is definitely not my genre. But I’ll take your advice and check out one of his books the next time I’m at the library. Readers, visit Clyde’s The View from Birchwood Hill blog. Clyde, of Mankato, is an exceptional writer. Exceptional.
I did not mean to read his horror. I meant to read his book on writing: “On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft” by Stephen King (Oct 3, 2000). Did not make myself clear. This book is read widely, My son-in-law is attending Wartburg Lutheran Seminary in a special program where he is on campus only every few weeks. They assigned this book in his sermoning class.
Thanks for the endorsement. I mean to look in on lots of blogs including the regular guests on here. As soon as settles after our move and my wife’s health settles down after the move.
Thanks for the clarification, Clyde. I’m jotting the title down right now.
Hope things settle for you and your wife soon.
Oh, and one of Twain’s rules for writing is “Eschew surplussage.”
Excellent advice from Twain.
Great insites Audrey! I failed English miserably in highschool and in college, I agree with Fannie quote:
“The joy about writing is that as long as you write from your heart, a thousand English degrees cannot compete with that. I’m not a writer, but sometimes I write better than I speak, so that comes in handy every now and then.
I love your writing, Jackie, because you always, always write with authenticity. When I read your Who Will Make Me Laugh blog, I know that I’m reading the “real Jackie,” what you feel in your heart. And that, dear friend, is worth more than any degree.
P.S. I’m pretty certain you are gifted in the sciences, something which I failed miserably.
Write every day is a great tip! I also look up the meaning of words that I am not familiar with. Happy Friday – loving your post – thanks for sharing:)
Just like anything, the more you practice, the better you get.
I love Snoopy! I used to read Peanuts comics all the time. And Doonesbury. And now I read Stone Soup and Zits and Luann. I love comics. What I love about them is the way they remind us to find the humor in our everyday situations because I’ve been known to take things way too seriously. Delighted to learn that you enjoyed the Snoopy strips about writing.
Writing is a way of life. Sink into it. Make it a habit. And read everything you can get your hands on. But, I suspect you already know that, since you’ve been at this a long time.
Have you ever picked up a copy of Verlyn Klinkenborg’s “Several short sentences about writing”? I recently picked up a copy at Common Good Books in St. Paul. Haven’t gotten into it yet, but it looks kind of fun. I don’t pick up many writing books anymore.
Happy Friday.
I absolutely agree that writing is a way of life. I cannot not write.
Thanks for the book tip, another to add to my list.