#unplanned #writersretreat

The website is live! jobardsleywriter.co.uk

My website is ready to go! One site to rule them all and on the Web to bind them! Well all my published stories, anyway

Rejection feels like you banged your head on the cupboard door you left open earlier, especially the automated responses.

Not to brag but my kids just assumed that my surgeon will be a woman

It turns out that I am not as good at roller skating as I thought I was. And now I have a broken wrist.

I am sitting on the bus and a young man near me is talking to his friend on speaker phone about a car they stole and I don't even mind because the friend keeps breaking off to sing little made up songs to my guy over the phone. It's adorable

And in an exciting piece of fiction, the Guardian has published an article about Lough Neagh without mentioning the Earl of Shaftesbury, who currently owns it. ##JusticeforLoughNeagh

Standing in solidarity with the protests today. I wish I could be there #JusticeforLoughNeagh

Powerful video from @friendsofearthni.bsky.social seeking justice for Lough Neagh, the island's largest lake, dying from algal growth driven by agri & wastewater pollution. There are similar signs in other lakes around Ireland. It must be stopped. ✋ #JusticeforLoughNeagh youtu.be/aiXp79p9fOA?...

Aftermath of a science party

The reservoir was lovely today #coldwaterswimming

It's time to learn your ABCs of Black Lady Comic Pros. 🖤 Swipe through to meet them. Then follow them, buy their work, and tell someone else about them. And this is just the ABCs. We are just getting started. — Jean comicbooked.org

Want to hear me read? I'm with @foldingrockmag.bsky.social this evening at The Peckham Pelican

Researching a short story and found the following in the Niagara Falls Gazette, December 1875: 'Buffalo has another ghost-and a lot of fools'

As a social movements scholar, I absolutely love the diversity of tactics being developed by each city, reflecting their local flavor Portland kept it weird with inflatable costumes Chicago protected its street vendors by buying up their food each day Charlotte chased ICE agents into the woods

I am chapter 3 in this audiobook. Such a privilege to hear my words read so beautifully! open.spotify.com/show/5wUUoLs...

Kid at the Winter Fair: 'I won 17 candy canes and then they banned me'.

Big Thinking Publishing is about to release The Leaves Still Fallow - an anthology of queer love stories, poems, and essays created entirely for trans charities. Every contributor has donated their work, and 100% of profits will go directly to TransActual and Mermaids UK. #QueerLiterature

Out today! And I'm in it! shop.bigthinkingpublishing.com/products/the...

I've got a cold & can't hear anything. Perfect time to play Whamageddon.

I love it when I can put living writers on my school curriculum. I imagine them wondering why they've suddenly sold 100 copies in London.

Jo Bardsley's micro-fiction 'A letter C' is a tale of deception and revenge which builds slowly. @jobardsley.bsky.social inksweatandtears.co.uk/jo-bardsley/ #Microfiction #InkSweatandTears #ShortStory

Publication day! I'm sad I can't make it to the launch of @foldingrockmag.bsky.social 003, but it's beautiful!

We are delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize! 🌟 Poetry: Flora Beagley for ‘Sutton Hoo’ 🌟 Fiction: @jobardsley.bsky.social for ‘Iko of Benin, King's Diver’ 🌟 Life Writing: Luke Liu for ‘Chair Tombs on the Hill’ www.wasafiri.org/news-and-eve...

thin-skin.com?fbclid=IwY2x... And there is a bit of my flash fiction here

Totally floored! I won the Wasafiri Prize for New Writing! I have won precisely 3 prizes in my ENTIRE LIFE - a poster competition in 1984, a set of Pyrex baking tins in 2009 and this! I am so honoured and amazed!

I went to visit the Houses of Parliament today. Best bit was the large security guard humming Sodapop as he scanned my bag

Book related tragedy today - my lunch leaked over my brand new book. Serves me right for attempting to eat fish at work.

northerngravy.com/the-lake-by-... Here is my story! It was the first one that got accepted anywhere!

The longlists have been announced! And now it's time to celebrate! 🥳🎉 Join us, our two judges and Derby Poetry Festival at Derby Museums on 13th November where we will be revealing the winners of this year's Aurora Prize for Writing. 🥂 Tickets & see our longlists here 👉 bit.ly/AURORACEREMONY

I'm on the long list for this one - fingers crossed! The story has a really special setting for me, although it's on the other side of the world from the East Midlands writingeastmidlands.co.uk/for-writers/...

www.wasafiri.org/news-and-eve... So proud to be selected for the shortlist!

Our duck died.

• Jamila Fadhlaoui • Tom Morgan • @sarasherwood.bsky.social • @jobardsley.bsky.social • Mel Eagles • Liam Nolan • Michelle Penny • Cadi Cliff

Issue 003: Undersong | Out 13.09 Something is rekindled in the grainy late-night livestreams of the Eras Tour. A fisherman wakes to sing back the dead. A disillusioned thirtysomething finds solace in piano renditions of the Beatles. tinyurl.com/003Undersong

Back to school, year 28. The kids I taught in my first year are now in their 40s

Researching for the novel, I just tried jellied eel for the first time. It's nice. You should try it.

I'm on the long list! www.hastingsbookfest.org/2024-shortst...

Went to Brighton Aquarium, several fish very interested in First Born. Anyone know why this might be?

Offspring 2: Carry on like that and you'll get a walking stick whupping! Me: Who's been talking to you about walking stick whuppings? Offspring 2: The ancestors told me on the toilet.

I'm very interested in eels lately. I read Graham Swit's Waterland, which has good eel action

I saw somebody on TikTok using the word 'slopper' as a slur for people who use ChatGPT, and that's a thing we should start doing.

I swore I wouldn't write anything political here, but there is a Little People Big Dreams kids book about King Charles. Did someone change the meaning of 'Little' while I wasn't looking?

Huzzah! On a long list! crankedanvil.co.uk/2025/07/16/m... Their feedback was lovely as well, really detailed and positive.

So excited to be a finalist in the Jane Austen writing competition! janeaustenlf.org/writing-comp...

The Pirate (1948) with Judy Garland is avaliable through Apple TV. This has made my whole day better

Love this. So true. I always relax a little when I see the rainbow. "For some, a small rainbow flag can mean we feel safer. You see the flag and think; "I can fit in here" A simple way to know that I am also appreciated. Very nice video Oslo Pride🌈"

If the first thing you say when you wake on the first day of the month is 'rabbit, rabbit, rabbit', you'll have good luck all month. If the first thing you say is 'sh*t, my phone wasn't plugged up last night' you'll just have to carry on as best you can