Don't blog, do blog ... let's call the whole thing off!

Cartoon: Johnny Ancich

By Candy Gourlay

Over at Jane Friedman's guest blogger L.L. Barkat has called on experienced writers to stop blogging.

Does this mean I would recommend that everyone stop blogging? No. I encourage new bloggers, just the way I always have. It’s an excellent way to find expression, discipline, and experience. But if writers already have experience, and they are authors trying to promote themselves and their work, I tell them to steer clear. If they’ve already found themselves sucked into the blogging vortex, I suggest they might want to give it up and begin writing for larger platforms that don’t require reciprocity (an exhausting aspect to blogging and a big drain on the writer’s energy and time). Read the whole thing

The End is the Whole Book

I have to exercise now to keep alive and when I'm gasping away in the privacy of my office, I like to listen to Director's Commentaries of my favourite movies.

Today's director's commentary has got to be the best - Finding Nemo not only features the voices of director Andrew Stanton, co-director Lee Unkrich and co-writer Bob Peterson, but cuts away to details and mini documentaries about the film.

Happy World Book Week! And an amazing Crystal Kite Shortlist

By Candy Gourlay

Happy World Book Week, everyone! And as luck would have it, the Crystal Kite Shortlist for Europe 2013 has been announced by SCBWI - and it's packed with friends of the Slushpile. The Crystal Kite Award is the only peer-nominated children's book award in the world. It is run by SCBWI region. Congratulations, all!