Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life

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.

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! How many times I would love to write a letter to an editor that says, I have just written the best story ever but I'm not going to mail it to you...instead you can come and get it...giggle... If you are looking for a "how-to" book, then this isn't it, but if you are looking for a way to laugh at the whole process of writing, submitting and waiting for the good/bad letter to come..then this is the book for you... I have many of the comic strips hanging at my computer, so when I get writer's block, I read the many "It was a dark and stormy night" and I seem to laugh a little and then start writing even more...

This is a fun book. It doesn't provide much practical advice on writing, but it does contend with the psychological hurdles of writing, from struggling to get words on the page to dealing with rejection and bad critics. The short essays by famous & successful writers helped me by providing a little perspective on how various writers work. I liked the comic strip and short essay format. You could read it cover to cover, but you can just as easily put it down between essays and actually get some writing done. I checked it out of the library, but I think it would make a great gift.

Collaboratively compiled and edited by award winning short story writer Barnaby Conrad and novelist Monte Schulz (who is also the son of the "Peanuts" comic strip creator Charles M. Schulz), Snoopy's Guide To The Writing Life is an engaging collection of writing anecdotes and insights drawn from over thirty of the world's most popular writers, including Danielle Steel, Ray Bradbury, and William F. Buckley Jr. But perhaps the real star of the book is Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, featured in timeless comic strips about Snoopy's struggle to write the Great American (Dog's) Novel, as well as the other kids' attempts to construct literate book reports. Replete with a wealth of humorous, insightful, and filled with practical tips, Snoopy's Guide To The Writing Life is highly recommended reading for both aspiring writers and "Peanuts" fans.

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.