Blog Day

Well, I never! I just learned that it is, apparently, the 4th Annual Blog Day today. I mean, honestly, who dreams these things up? And how come I didn't know about it even though I've been blogging for 10 years (no, not just this one, there are others - some live, some long gone).

Anyway, the rules of Blog Day decree that I must plug and recommend 5 blogs by others that I follow (hmm, hope some others are plugging me - I don't do this purely for my own amusement, you know). So here, in no particular order, are some of my favourite blogs.

Benefit Scrounging Scum - because she writes about disability in an angry, passionate and entertaining way, exposing the absurdities and unfairness of the welfare system, talking about living with her particular condition in a way that is never self-pitying but often self-deprecating and always enlightening and showing us that life is for living no matter what hand you've been dealt. Incapacity benefit? Bendy Girl should be given a medal. (Although I don't think you can actually live on that.)

Freelance Writing Tips - yes, I know it's already fantastically well known, but Linda Jones deserves another plug for this consistently useful site and the amazing book that came out of it (or was it vice versa?). Simply, one of the handiest sources of advice and tips that really do work.

10 Yetis PR blog - my absolute favourite PR blog because it's always daft, funny, amusing, entertaining and enlightening, even when it's being serious. Wish they'd proofread before posting, though! ; p)

Musings from a Muddy Island - fabulous photos of a beach I am quite envious that she lives on, plus a strange obsession with ampersands and printing, and lots of thoughts on books from a fellow copy-editor.

Martin Millar - cult novelist blogging on the writing life, football and rhubarb crumble. This is a consistently entertaining read and often screamingly funny. Disclaimer: I do occasionally commission Martin to write short stories for a magazine I work for, but I'd be following this blog even if that wasn't the case.