National Association for Literature Development

We asked a selection of NALD members what blogs they found indispensable.

I like the wider cultural picture of Mark Robinson's Arts Counselling and for an eclectic literature based blog enjoy Spike, out of the Melbourne based mag Meanjin. For visual refreshment I just love the gorgeous Grain Edit
Steve Dearden, NALD Director

I regularly visit two sites run by the lovely and super talented Kate Feld, a Vermonter currently residing in Ramsbottom who also runs Manchester Literary Festival's blog awards. Manchizzle - the blog that tells you all you need to know about what's going on in the city of the same name, and the interactive literary cityscape Rainy City Stories.
Ruth Heritage, New Continental

Try Christian Payne AKA Documentally's Our Man Inside and I like the blog by novelist and poet Bernadine Evaristo
Emma Hewitt, Director, Spread the Word

I can't say that there is anything indispensable on my blog reading list and my igoogle is shamefully neglected but there are a couple of blogs that I dip in and out of. I enjoy George Szirtes' ability to integrate social commentary with literature, and Adrian Slatchers The Art of Fiction where there's a good blend of information about literature across genres. Adrian works for the Manchester Digital Development Agency (MDDA). A couple of friends I follow are: Curiosa Casualidad, the musings of a Spanish journalist from Andalucia who writes about random topics... her life in England and now in Chile. Also Purveyor of Style – Becca Alexis is a stylist in New York city and has built her assertive reputation from making her own clothes and mixing unusual sources for her outfits. Light, fun and a little bit sassy!
Eileen Pun, NALD Ambassador

I like Bloglines, which is a handy reading tool if you read a lot of blogs.  Lemn Sissay writes a great blog – funny, thought provoking and regularly updated. I also like the TED blog, with downloads of their talks – ideas worth spreading from thinkers and artists worldwide. And recently a friend recommended Keri Smith, an illustrator and guerilla artist on a mission to spark creativity in readers. Check out her latest publication: This is Not a Book, and her blog Wish Jar.  And finally, for pure silly entertainment I like the photoblog Cake Wrecks. Has to be seen to be believed.  Lucy Macnab, Participation Producer, Southbank Centre

I don’t read many work related blogs – or many blogs by writers about writing. I do however enjoy Charlie Leadbetter’s site on which he offers up papers etc that are usually very interesting from a leadership/cultural/web perspective. Neil Gaiman’s blog is meant to be good. Claire Malcolm - Director of New Writing North

Well, there's this one Peter Finch Poet
Peter Finch - Director of Academi