Dr Nick Bradley

Dr Nick Bradley
University Teaching Associate - Creative Writing

Biography

I am an internationally bestselling novelist and Japanese-English translator. I teach Prose Fiction on the Creative Writing MSt here at Cambridge. In 2024 I was chosen by The British Council and The National Centre for Writing as one of ten rising stars in UK writing. My work has so far been translated into twenty languages. As of September 2025, I am a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at the University of Cambridge.

After gaining my master's degree in English Literature from the University of Oxford, I moved to rural Japan, became fluent in Japanese and obtained qualifications in translation and interpretation. I've had a variety of jobs since then, spanning continents and cultures, from travel photographer to video game translator.

I am a full-time writer of fiction now, but I very much enjoy working with students and helping them pursue their writing dreams. Nothing makes me happier than hearing news that my students have gone on to secure book deals and are embarking on their own literary careers. Just as I was helped by my professors of Creative Writing, I wish to help others.

Research topics

I have four degrees, which when I think of it now seems a bit greedy... a BA and an MSt (Oxon) in English Literature, and an MA and PhD in Creative Writing, so my academic background firmly covers both the Creative and Critical sides of writing. I hold an FHEA teaching qualification. My interests are predominantly in fiction that crosses boundaries, culturally and linguistically. I’m interested in translation, storytelling, multi-genre works, and basically anything that is difficult to place in a bookshop. One of the things I admire most about Japanese literature is the idea of beauty in simplicity. I worked as a travel writer, and photographer in the past, and am very interested in that art form. Ultimately, what I can help students most with is overcoming plot issues, developing nuanced characters, and giving you the confidence to write and finish your novel or collection of short stories.

Publications

Books

  • Four Seasons in Japan, 2023
  • The Cat and the City, 2020

Courses Taught