As you surely know, Peanuts creator Charles Schultz passed away this weekend-just before the final Peanuts comic strip was to have been published. Although most probably wouldn't think of Mr. Schultz as a writer, his work had powerful and relevant things to say to us as writers. And lest we forget, the soul of Peanuts was not in the artwork, but in the words.
Writers are taught to be succinct with their prose, that less is more.
Mr. Schultz demonstrated this every day with a mere four panels that contained only a few brief words-words that hit home and made us not only laugh, but think. He also created memorable characters that are loved because in them we see ourselves. Peanuts dealt with real issues and concerns while masquerading as a children's diversion. The Peanuts Gang may be children themselves, but for decades they've navigated the complex mine fields of embarrassment, anxiety, depression, rejection and loneliness-and have helped their fans do likewise. And it's true that Mr. Schultz was there before anyone else.