Solution to 23D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.
Open for anyone to solve, if not solved by 1 PM.
ACROSS
1 According to Spooner, beggars dance when author lacks inspiration at times (7,5) WRITERS BLOCK (blighters rock to writers block)
9 Beggar going around neighbourhood collecting money (5) TRAMP {P{M}ART<=}
10 Expert statement, master rejected by apple of the eye (9) COMPETENT {COmM{PET}ENT}
11 Handsome earl bent to hug girl (7) ELEGANT {E}{LE{G}ANT}
12 Name that is assumed by everyone carrying plastic money with no hassle ultimately (7) ALLONYM {ALL}{MONeY}*
13 Dummies for babies to suck, then rest (8) SOOTHERS {SO}{OTHERS}
14 Drop small court petition first (5) SWOOP {S}{WOO}{Pe...n}
18 Give up cocaine immediately to make up for deficiencies (5) ATONE {AT ONcE}
26 Ready for action, thespian performing without a trace of tears (2,5) IN SHAPE tHESPIAN*
27 Haze and frost follow wind destroying island in peace (9) ARMISTICE {MIST}{ICE}<=>{AiR}
28 Unpleasant smell from skunk essentially passing through swinging door (5) ODOUR {ODO{skUnk}R*}
29 Ask section about eligible trains primarily. It is good for several trips (6,6) SEASON TICKET {ASK+SECTION}*{El...e}{Tr...s}
DOWN
1 How a table could become a conveyance! (9) WHALEBOAT*
2 Short drive, almost long charge (7) IMPEACH {IMPEl}{ACHe}
3 Continuing in the same way, alien chasing alien participating in mixed race (2,6) ET CETERA {ET}{C{ET}ERA*}
4 Relish deer (6) SAMBAR [DD]
5 Fabrication prolonged, goes unnoticed (4,3) LIES LOW {LIE}{SLOW}
6 Unadulterated drug infesting society (5) CLEAN {CL{E}AN}
7 Freethinker takes time to participate in a robbery (7) ATHEIST {A}{T}{HEIST}
8 At start, players must struggle for wicket (5) STUMP {Pl...s+MUST}*
15 Amount for one differing from others in a group? (3-3-3) ODD-MAN-OUT {AMOUNT}* [RA]
16 Using brie repeatedly causes disease! (8) BERIBERI {BERI}* Letterbank
17 Both years unusual, so sad to remove from memory (2,5) BY HEART {BoTH+YEARs}*
19 Magi returned without taking special revenge! (7) NEMESIS {wISEMEN<=}{S}
23 Food and the like, one rejected in counter-attack (6) ?A?I?N ()
25 Celestial object swapped tails for philosopher (5) COMTE COM(E<=>T)
Reference List
Money = M, Master = M, Earl = E, Girl = G, Small = S, Court = WOO, Cocaine = C, Island = I, Drug = E, Time = T, With = W, Special = S, Tension = T
