2022 | Philippa Writes

31Dec 2022 by Philippa Willitts

A selection of my best writing in 2022

2022 has been a really interesting year for me professionally. My role at Now Then magazine, where I was a community correspondent focusing on reporting on the LGBTQ+ and disability communities, changed as I took over as editor for six months to cover the regular editor's parental leave. Since he has come back to work, we are sharing the role, and I am still focusing on my original remit as well. I spend half my working week at Now Then and the other half freelancing. Most of my freelance work this year has been editing, whether at Global Comment or doing sensitivity editing for a range of authors and publishing companies. As a result of that, most of my writing this year has been either for private clients, mostly in…

13Apr 2022 by Philippa Willitts

I was a guest on the No Shame In My Name podcast

Podcast, Speaking

I was recently invited onto the No Shame In My Name podcast. It's a podcast I already listened to and I invited the host to take part in Global Comment's Podcast Showcase, after which she invited me to be a guest on the show. I had a really fun chat with Juliana about the name Philippa, the name's odd meaning, and my thoughts about names and how they impact our lives. Plus what I'd call my imaginary children. Listen, and enjoy! Transcript Hi guys, you're now listening to Episode 75 of the No Shame In My Name podcast. I'm Juliana and today we're joined by special guest. Philippa Willitts. Hi, Philippa, thank you so much for coming on. Thank you. Tell us more about what you do. I have a…

04Apr 2022 by Philippa Willitts

Who do you think you’re apostrophising? The dark side of grammar pedantry

About Proofreading, Language

Rob Drummond, Manchester Metropolitan University He’s been called “punctuation’s answer to Banksy”. A self-styled grammar vigilante who spends his nights surreptitiously correcting apostrophes on shop signs and billboards. The general consensus is that he’s a modern-day hero – a mysterious crusader against the declining standards of English. But his exploits represent an altogether darker reality. The man himself is not particularly offensive. In a BBC Radio 4 report, he comes across as a reasonable person who simply feels a compulsion to quietly make a difference to what matters to him. He doesn’t ridicule, he doesn’t court publicity, he simply goes out and adds or removes apostrophes as required. And he does it with care, usually. So what’s the problem? The problem lies in what this kind of behaviour represents and…

23Feb 2022 by Philippa Willitts

I was on BBC’s Front Row in defence of sensitivity readers

About Proofreading, Freelance Self-Promotion, Speaking

A couple of years ago, I started offering sensitivity reading for disability- and LGBT-related topics. I have worked on some fascinating manuscripts since then, including both fiction and non-fiction texts, and have worked with some brilliant authors and publishing houses. It was exciting to see this role begin to gain popularity as authors realised the benefits of making sure that their representations of marginalised characters or issues affecting marginalised communities were not going to alienate or inadvertently upset the very readers they wanted to attract. In recent weeks, however, sensitivity reading has become mired in controversy. After writer Kate Clanchy wrote a critique of her experience of sensitivity readers' assessments of her book (which, already published, had attracted accusations of racism and disablism), we are being discussed widely but the…

16Feb 2022 by Philippa Willitts

Upcoming presentation: LGBT Apostasy and Conversion Therapy

Freelance Self-Promotion, Speaking

A few weeks ago, I wrote about conversion therapy for Now Then, the magazine where I am a community correspondent. I had been trying for several months to find a local case study and, in the absence of anybody willing to talk about their own experiences, I shared mine instead. I was surprised by how confronting it felt to address the experiences I had when I was younger; surprising mostly because I did not undergo conversion therapy myself, instead I was offered it... twice. But being told you need it does profound damage to your sense of self, your sense of goodness, and your confidence. As a result of that article, Humanists UK's Faith to Faithless project have invited me to speak about conversion therapy at an online event next…

04Jan 2022 by Philippa Willitts

Bloody hell, I’ve been at this for ten years

About Proofreading, About Writing, Freelancing

Ten years ago, I embarked on a self-employment experiment. And I did it all "wrong". First, I didn't tell everyone to support my business as you're supposed to; instead, I was so convinced that I would fail that I told a handful of my closest people. Second, I didn't do that smart thing where you work a full-time job while trying to gradually build your freelance clients on the side; instead, I just launched full-time from scratch. I had some savings that could support me if my business failed and I did expect to have to live of them but, to my surprise more than anyone else's, I got clients, people hired me, and I made a success of it. [bctt tweet="Ten years ago, I did it all 'wrong'. Yet…

Year: 2022