SJ Bradley
@bradleybooks.bsky.social
Maps of Imaginary Towns available in all bookshops! Also: The Netflix Reviewer Substack, Uneasy Listening podcast. PGcert Teaching Creative Writing (Cambridge), K Blundell Trust Award. Short story writer, novelist, audio playwright.
linktr.ee/bradleybooks
linktr.ee/bradleybooks
Starting to think cinemas should issue 'film comprehension certificates', with special tiered screenings for people who don't understand films. These could be paused every ten minutes, for them to ask questions such as: 'who's that?' 'where is all this happening?' 'what year is this?', etc
November 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Starting to think cinemas should issue 'film comprehension certificates', with special tiered screenings for people who don't understand films. These could be paused every ten minutes, for them to ask questions such as: 'who's that?' 'where is all this happening?' 'what year is this?', etc
So glad it is Friday, after a week that has been a mere 12 years long
November 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
So glad it is Friday, after a week that has been a mere 12 years long
I love how the Male Hipster Look du jour is to look like an outsized garden gnome. Large beard, fisherman's hat, cosy jumper.
Saw a guy earlier on today and had to bite my tongue from asking him where his fishing rod was
Saw a guy earlier on today and had to bite my tongue from asking him where his fishing rod was
November 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I love how the Male Hipster Look du jour is to look like an outsized garden gnome. Large beard, fisherman's hat, cosy jumper.
Saw a guy earlier on today and had to bite my tongue from asking him where his fishing rod was
Saw a guy earlier on today and had to bite my tongue from asking him where his fishing rod was
Driving home the other day. Passed a plumber-style van emblazoned with advertising for "UI / UX and Web Design!"
thought, wow, that's cool, their business must be doing well if they've got a van.
Then a minute later: why would a web design company need a van. A VAN?!!!
thought, wow, that's cool, their business must be doing well if they've got a van.
Then a minute later: why would a web design company need a van. A VAN?!!!
November 5, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Driving home the other day. Passed a plumber-style van emblazoned with advertising for "UI / UX and Web Design!"
thought, wow, that's cool, their business must be doing well if they've got a van.
Then a minute later: why would a web design company need a van. A VAN?!!!
thought, wow, that's cool, their business must be doing well if they've got a van.
Then a minute later: why would a web design company need a van. A VAN?!!!
Can't believe it is only Tuesday. Feels like it should be Thursday, at least. I've only worked one day this week, as well, because I had Monday off. How come this week already feels like it's about 87 days long? UNACCEPTABLE.
November 4, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Can't believe it is only Tuesday. Feels like it should be Thursday, at least. I've only worked one day this week, as well, because I had Monday off. How come this week already feels like it's about 87 days long? UNACCEPTABLE.
Reposted by SJ Bradley
Is there a crossword person in your life? Would you like to get them a unique gift? PERHAPS FOR CHRISTMAS?
Well maybe a bespoke quiz or cryptic crossword would fit the bill, on any theme, of any size, by the author of [counts on fingers] more than 900 published crosswords, i.e. Me. Give me a shout!
Well maybe a bespoke quiz or cryptic crossword would fit the bill, on any theme, of any size, by the author of [counts on fingers] more than 900 published crosswords, i.e. Me. Give me a shout!
November 3, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Is there a crossword person in your life? Would you like to get them a unique gift? PERHAPS FOR CHRISTMAS?
Well maybe a bespoke quiz or cryptic crossword would fit the bill, on any theme, of any size, by the author of [counts on fingers] more than 900 published crosswords, i.e. Me. Give me a shout!
Well maybe a bespoke quiz or cryptic crossword would fit the bill, on any theme, of any size, by the author of [counts on fingers] more than 900 published crosswords, i.e. Me. Give me a shout!
I've said it before but I'll say it again: we should all be enabled into semi-hibernation throughout Winter. Short hours at work, but full pay. Government-issued heated blankets and fluffy socks. Marzipan half price in the shops. That sort of thing
November 1, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I've said it before but I'll say it again: we should all be enabled into semi-hibernation throughout Winter. Short hours at work, but full pay. Government-issued heated blankets and fluffy socks. Marzipan half price in the shops. That sort of thing
I quite like horror films, but Him Indoors doesn't, so tonight we're watching Perfect Days and also having home made popcorn, still a 9/10 Halloween if you ask me
October 31, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I quite like horror films, but Him Indoors doesn't, so tonight we're watching Perfect Days and also having home made popcorn, still a 9/10 Halloween if you ask me
Grants proposal: for a grant giving body to give me £3m to buy Lightwater Valley, as an arts project, and then not do anything with it.
It will be called 'the museum of forgotten childhood dreams'
Entry £18, and you won't be able to ride any of the rollercoasters
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It will be called 'the museum of forgotten childhood dreams'
Entry £18, and you won't be able to ride any of the rollercoasters
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Lightwater Valley theme park on the market for £3m
The North Yorkshire attraction attracts more than 230,000 visitors each year.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Grants proposal: for a grant giving body to give me £3m to buy Lightwater Valley, as an arts project, and then not do anything with it.
It will be called 'the museum of forgotten childhood dreams'
Entry £18, and you won't be able to ride any of the rollercoasters
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It will be called 'the museum of forgotten childhood dreams'
Entry £18, and you won't be able to ride any of the rollercoasters
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
your good wishes and best thoughts for this little (big) guy, please, who is not very well at the moment and seems to be a bit out of sorts 💞
October 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
your good wishes and best thoughts for this little (big) guy, please, who is not very well at the moment and seems to be a bit out of sorts 💞
Reposted by SJ Bradley
Been seeing a lot of AI-is-coming-for-your-therapist headlines so I want to tell you a story from back when I was a lovely primary care mental health worker with the NHS.
This was back around 2006ish, when we were in the thick of CBT WILL CURE ALL mania.
This was back around 2006ish, when we were in the thick of CBT WILL CURE ALL mania.
October 28, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Been seeing a lot of AI-is-coming-for-your-therapist headlines so I want to tell you a story from back when I was a lovely primary care mental health worker with the NHS.
This was back around 2006ish, when we were in the thick of CBT WILL CURE ALL mania.
This was back around 2006ish, when we were in the thick of CBT WILL CURE ALL mania.
Q. How do you approach an angry cheese?
A. Caerphilly!!!
waheyyyyyyyyyyyyy
and sorry
A. Caerphilly!!!
waheyyyyyyyyyyyyy
and sorry
October 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Q. How do you approach an angry cheese?
A. Caerphilly!!!
waheyyyyyyyyyyyyy
and sorry
A. Caerphilly!!!
waheyyyyyyyyyyyyy
and sorry
Good cafes in North Leeds that do excellent croissants and baked goods, and where you can loiter for long-ish periods of times? Preferably somewhere that's a bit off the beaten track and not next to a massive busy road
October 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Good cafes in North Leeds that do excellent croissants and baked goods, and where you can loiter for long-ish periods of times? Preferably somewhere that's a bit off the beaten track and not next to a massive busy road
Reposted by SJ Bradley
Some absolutely top notch orange cattery here
October 24, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Some absolutely top notch orange cattery here
I've written down an important email address in a top secret location that only I can find, and the top secret mystery location is so good that even I, two days after I wrote it down, can no longer find it
October 20, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I've written down an important email address in a top secret location that only I can find, and the top secret mystery location is so good that even I, two days after I wrote it down, can no longer find it
Reposted by SJ Bradley
I'm pretty gutted this was called off, as it would have been nice to get out of the ventilation pipe I call an office, so do please shout if you need an agreeable yet opinionated WRITER at your festival, bookshop, podcast recording, book group, supermarket opening or anything else.
Heads up: this is no longer happening, pals, I'm afraid. So if you wish to hear my trenchant views on books, birds, the north, fascists, espresso and/or anything else, you will simply have to befriend me in real life.
October 20, 2025 at 11:32 AM
I'm pretty gutted this was called off, as it would have been nice to get out of the ventilation pipe I call an office, so do please shout if you need an agreeable yet opinionated WRITER at your festival, bookshop, podcast recording, book group, supermarket opening or anything else.
Feel personally persecuted by the Guardian's "50 women's autumn wardrobe updates", in which not ONE of the items is "buy a massive dressing gown and don't leave the house again until February 2026"
October 19, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Feel personally persecuted by the Guardian's "50 women's autumn wardrobe updates", in which not ONE of the items is "buy a massive dressing gown and don't leave the house again until February 2026"
The lights have all just gone off in my house and I'm feeling extremely validated at having put the candles in an easy-to-reach location
October 16, 2025 at 3:19 PM
The lights have all just gone off in my house and I'm feeling extremely validated at having put the candles in an easy-to-reach location
Holy PO Numbers, you'll never believe it, but it appears that the persistent email I sent this week worked. I've just had an email saying that Large Organisation will pay in 2 weeks, in their next payment cycle - that's a mere 5 weeks after I sent the invoice. Quite a win.
Today's side quest (the fourth!) states simply: 'We cannot pay this invoice' (a copy of the original, sent as a reminder that the invoice is now overdue) 'because we have detected that it is a duplicate'
Alright, but would it KILL you to pay the ONE invoice I'm asking you to pay, THOUGH?
Alright, but would it KILL you to pay the ONE invoice I'm asking you to pay, THOUGH?
The third side-quest - the one they've sent me today - was "can you confirm your bank details by re-sending us the invoice"
October 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Holy PO Numbers, you'll never believe it, but it appears that the persistent email I sent this week worked. I've just had an email saying that Large Organisation will pay in 2 weeks, in their next payment cycle - that's a mere 5 weeks after I sent the invoice. Quite a win.
So yeah, just another call for, if anybody knows of any arts grants where I don't actually have to do anything or produce any work, and which will cover my living expenses for the next 5 years, tell me about them PLEASE
October 15, 2025 at 4:22 PM
So yeah, just another call for, if anybody knows of any arts grants where I don't actually have to do anything or produce any work, and which will cover my living expenses for the next 5 years, tell me about them PLEASE
After giving it careful consideration, I've realised that the problem with my old job wasn't that it was non-hierarchical (too chaotic) or with my current job that it's too hierarchical (too much boss, no freedom); the problem is more sort of that I hate working altogether.
October 15, 2025 at 4:22 PM
After giving it careful consideration, I've realised that the problem with my old job wasn't that it was non-hierarchical (too chaotic) or with my current job that it's too hierarchical (too much boss, no freedom); the problem is more sort of that I hate working altogether.
On the other hand: I want to acknowledge GOOD BEHAVIOUR by the Bronte Parsonage Museum: a shout out to them for paying a recent invoice within 9 days of receiving it.
October 15, 2025 at 12:08 PM
On the other hand: I want to acknowledge GOOD BEHAVIOUR by the Bronte Parsonage Museum: a shout out to them for paying a recent invoice within 9 days of receiving it.
Today's side quest (the fourth!) states simply: 'We cannot pay this invoice' (a copy of the original, sent as a reminder that the invoice is now overdue) 'because we have detected that it is a duplicate'
Alright, but would it KILL you to pay the ONE invoice I'm asking you to pay, THOUGH?
Alright, but would it KILL you to pay the ONE invoice I'm asking you to pay, THOUGH?
The third side-quest - the one they've sent me today - was "can you confirm your bank details by re-sending us the invoice"
Love to invoice a big organisation, only to have them send me a series of irrelevant side-quests like PO numbers and invoice numbers, all stuff I don't care about as much as being paid
October 15, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Today's side quest (the fourth!) states simply: 'We cannot pay this invoice' (a copy of the original, sent as a reminder that the invoice is now overdue) 'because we have detected that it is a duplicate'
Alright, but would it KILL you to pay the ONE invoice I'm asking you to pay, THOUGH?
Alright, but would it KILL you to pay the ONE invoice I'm asking you to pay, THOUGH?
Just remembered about this photo of my mate's dog. You're welcome
October 14, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Just remembered about this photo of my mate's dog. You're welcome
Can't understand why immigrants are being singled out to have to speak English to A Level standard, when half the people who were born here can barely speak English to Key Stage 3 standard
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Can't understand why immigrants are being singled out to have to speak English to A Level standard, when half the people who were born here can barely speak English to Key Stage 3 standard