Check Your Spades James , the writer's title? (8)
I believe the answer is:
baroness
'check your spades james the writer's title?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'check your spades' is the wordplay.
'check' becomes 'bar' (bar can mean to restrict or check).
'your' becomes 'ones' (I've seen this in other clues).
'spades' becomes 's' (abbreviation in card games).
'bar'+'ones'+'s'='BARONESS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for baroness that I've seen before include "Titled lady" , "Woman life-peer" , "Thatcher possibly" , "Lady peer" , "Noble" .)