Ten-Minute Blog Break - 22nd October

Most weeks, there are a few blogs that make the cut for this column, and others (although interesting) that I have to leave out. This week, it seemed every link I clicked on was a goody - let's hope I can type quickly!


Bryony Pearce's blog posts are always required reading, as evidenced by the huge popularity of the one she wrote for Words & Pictures back in April. This week at the edge, Bryony weighs into the debate about fair payment for authors, as she asks Is Job Satisfaction Enough?

Lorraine Gregory is getting her job satisfaction in a different way, by peeling herself away from her writing and going out to author events. But are these a useful way to spend her time, or should she have stayed chained to the desk? Find out as Lorraine ventures into The Big Book World.

I missed highlighting Dyslexia Awareness Week last week, and unfortunately for me, Sally Poyton didn't blog about it until the day after the Blog Break went live. But there's still plenty of time to enjoy Sally's post, in which she talks about her experience of growing up as a child who struggled to read, and how an audio magazine changed her life.

Jan has already flagged up Sally's other post, a Space on the Bookshelf preview of the Poacher Turned Gamekeeper SCBWI event. But here's the link again, in case you missed it.

How does Jane Heinrichs do it? With lists, it turns out. Super-organised Jane spends her Sunday nights Making Lists to Get Things Done. And yes, blogging is on there (I'm pleased to see).

Finally, let's find out all about the amazing three day visit that Candy Gourlay made to Ellis Guilford School in Nottingham. Candy's Tall Story has deservedly become part of the curriculum, and the author rises to the occasion, as well as eating an incredible number of custard creams.

Nick.

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Nick Cross is a children's writer, blogger and all-round techno-ninja. In 2010 he was a winner of Undiscovered Voices with his zombie comedy Back from the Dead.

This week on his blog, Nick is asking Why Not Be a Writer? and having a moan about all the new writing courses popping up.