Poetry Friday--The Ever Inspirational Snoopy

Have you read Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life edited by Barnaby Conrad and Monte Schultz (Writer's Digest Books, 2002)? If you're a writer, you simply can't miss it. It comes

With insights and advice from more than 30 of the world's most popular and respected storytellers, including Ray Bradbury, William F. Buckley, Jr., Julia Child, Clive Cussler, Fannie Flagg, Elizabeth George, Sue Grafton, Elmore Leonard, Ed McBain, Sidney Sheldon, Danielle Steel, Jack Canfield

The advice is interesting, and, helpful, but Snoopy is the real reason to read the book. There are many, many daily and Sunday comic strips that feature the little beagle in his role as writer--complete with his portable typewriter. (Don't you dare ask, "What's a typewriter?")

Since this is POETRY Friday, I've used Snoopy's words and mine (in red) to write a "poem" (according to the school of "a poem is whatever you say it is"):

The Elements of a Really Good Book (With Examples from a Master) and a Little Advice

GREAT BEGINNINGS:
It was a dark and stormy night.

It was a sort of dark and kind of stormy night.

Some nights were dark. Some nights were stormy.

Unbeknownst to everyone, it was a dark and stormy night.

If I remember correctly, it was a dark and stormy night.

It was one of those dark nights when you weren't sure if it was going to be stormy or not.

It was a dark and stormy marriage.

ENGAGING MIDDLES:
The cat left the room.

Then came the dog.

SATISFYING ENDINGS:
She threw herself in front of a Zamboni.

MEMORABLE CHARACTERS:
He was a dark and stormy knight.

A WELL-CONSTRUCTED PLOT:
"Ah, ha!" cried the Inspector, "The plot thins!"

AN UNFORGETTABLE TITLE:
Snow White and the Seven Beagles

Why Dogs Are the Most Superior of All Creatures On Land, Sea and Sky and Maybe Space

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Good Writing is Hard Work!

Visit Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe for this week's Poetry Friday Round-Up.