Speaking Archives | Philippa Writes

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…

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…

26Aug 2021 by Philippa Willitts

Talking about the Paralympics on BBC Radio Sheffield

Disabled writer, Speaking

I was on Paulette Edwards' show on BBC Radio Sheffield again, this time talking about the Paralympic Games and the visibility it gives to disabled people. There were a couple of other disabled people being interviewed, too, so I've clipped my bits here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRDUcxbbOHc Transcript Well, listen, I'm going to talk to Philippa now, Philippa Willitts freelance writer and blogger. So for the next couple of weeks, the Paralympics are going to be getting extensive coverage on TV and online. How important Philippa do you think that is? This X kind of exposure? Actually, I think it's brilliant because it brings a level of visibility that disabled people have normally have. We were not on TV 24 7, and when the Paralympic games is on the last, you know, two…

24Aug 2021 by Philippa Willitts

I was on BBC Radio Sussex talking disability discrimination against a disabled councillor

Disabled writer, Speaking

Claire Needs is a disabled local councillor but, because her council has now removed the option of attending meetings via Zoom, she is being excluded from participating in local democracy. I spoke to BBC Radio Sussex about it. https://youtu.be/f-eU2JmQDWw Transcript: Just the five Friday afternoon as we head towards the weekend. Hope you well. So as society opens up after COVID, for some it's shutting down, that's been the experience of one disabled Sussex counselor. Who's unable now to attend council meetings in person, Aaron district counselor, Claire needs lives in a residential care home and to protect other residents. She can't go out to crowded council. Chambers virtual meetings had been the perfect dancer, but since may, they haven't been allowed by the government. Our political reporter, Ben vice…

03Aug 2021 by Philippa Willitts

I was a guest on the Crippled Stomp podcast

Disabled writer, Podcast, Speaking

Last week, Shabaaz Mohammed invited me to be a guest on his intriguingly named podcast Crippled Stomp. Always keen to talk all things disability, I said yes. We had a great chat about white men failing upwards, abuse in ATUs, the French far right, having EMDR for PTSD. Amongst much, much more. The article I discussed is here. The transcript below was auto-transcribed, so expect errors. Hello, and welcome to another episode of crippled stomp. Today we have another guest. Oh you and Pippa will introduce yourself over the paper. Hi everybody, I'm Pippa or Philippa either goes, not pick that like that. But I'm Philippa Willitts I am a freelance writer and editor, and I have done a lot of disability rights campaigning and feminist campaigning and LGBTQ…

20Jul 2021 by Philippa Willitts

I spoke on BBC Radio Sheffield about disability during lockdown and accessibility as we open up

Disabled writer, Speaking

Last week, I published an article with Now Then magazine about the strangeness of things becoming more accessible in many ways during the lockdowns, and the relentless accessibility checks I'm having to do again now that the world is opening back up. I was contacted by BBC Radio Sheffield to talk to them about it and this was my interview with Paulette Edwards. A transcript is below the video and the video also has subtitles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocSnQuUglgc Okay to me, but he was nice enough to join me for a quick call. So July the 19th was fun for Dan. However, a lot of people, a lot of us still anxious. Philippa Willitts is a freelance writer from Sheffield. She says that lockdown, while brutal for people living with some people,…

12Jun 2021 by Philippa Willitts

Deadly Intersections presentation replay: disability and gender-based violence

Disabled writer, Speaking, Video

So I did my presentation on disability and gender-based violence for Festival of Debate and it went really well! It was great to have so many interested people attend and to be able to share my knowledge and experience with people who care and want to learn. Enjoy the video, and the transcript below (the transcript is automated so not always entirely accurate). The links I mention to attendees are here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJBj67-cqCI 00:00:00 Right. Well, first of all, welcome everybody. It's really nice to see so many people here. My name is Charlotte Mead and I'm the branch leader of the Women's Equality Party branch in Sheffield. It's really love to see, let me see. Well, so I'm just really, really here just to introduce the wonderful and amazing Philippa…

11May 2021 by Philippa Willitts

Festival of Debate: my upcoming presentation on disability and violence against women and girls

Disabled writer, Speaking

Earlier this year, I presented a webinar called Deadly Intersections: Disability and Gender-Based Violence. It was really well-attended and the questions and discussion at the end showed me that people had really absorbed the message I was trying to get across. It's full of facts and figures but also real stories of disabled women's experiences of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and sexual violence. The great news is that for Festival of Debate, in association with the Sheffield branch of the Women's Equality Party again, I am repeating the presentation again on 2nd June. It will be broadly the same as the February event, with a few added extras. Some people who came to the original expressed interest in seeing it again so they could fully grasp the numbers, so you…

05Mar 2021 by Philippa Willitts

Upcoming presentation: Proofreading and copywriting for translators: tips, tools and techniques

About Proofreading, About Writing, Speaking

I'm really excited to be a speaker for the Chartered Institute of Linguists. At the webinar, I will be talking about proofreading and copywriting and, in particular, how they are relevant to translators. Translators might want to know how to use copywriting skills to promote their businesses or how best to proofread the work they produce, or the work of other translators. I will go through all of that and more. As you can see on the event page, Translators in all sectors can benefit from learning proofreading and copywriting skills. Join freelance writer, editor and proofreader Philippa Willitts as she guides you through the tools and tips you need to improve your proofreading skills and learn about how copywriting can help you to promote your work. Key learning objectives:…

Category: Speaking