It all begins with a story…
Shiromi is an exceptional talent. Immensely bright, brimming with creativity, a fantastic collaborator and stunning copywriter, she deserves nothing but the highest praise. Shiromi’s audience-focused strategic thinking and championing of person-centred storytelling have strengthened WaterAid’s global digital content significantly. Not only is she a pioneer, but she’s also a truly empowering line manager and all-round lovely person.
Alicia Robinson, Head of Digital Content & Experience, WaterAid
About me
I’m a writer, editor, strategist and author. I write stories to unite people, to inspire kindness and compassion, and to bring the best out of them so they feel empowered to help people they’ve never met. My work platforms under-represented voices, centring them within a narrative that promotes agency and equality. I did this for Amnesty International for 15 years, and have brought these skills to my freelance work today.
I also write stories to entertain, move and inform, whether through short works or novels – like my latest, Plastic Emotions. I have more than 20 years’ experience as an editor, produce audience-centred communications, and will be guided by your inhouse data analysts so that the content I create is targeted and effective.
Occasionally, I do presentations and talks, drawing on my creative and campaigning storytelling expertise. As an author, I’ve spoken at literary festivals, on panels, on podcasts and on radio, including BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio London.
Shiromi gave us a wonderful masterclass in human rights advocacy and storytelling, generating extremely positive feedback from staff who felt inspired and informed by the session. Her examples and her ability to weave the personal and political together throughout were so well received. She is a clear and focussed speaker with a brilliant editorial eye for how to meet and be relevant to her audience.
Sara Wilbourne, Director of Communications, Article 19
My services
Writing: I write pithy social posts and headlines, stories that demonstrate impact, interviews, features, or any other copy you need to market your cause. As a published author of two novels and several short stories, I can take on creative copywriting as well – if that’s what you need.
Editing: I specialise in turning complex and arid prose into clear and compelling stories. I work on short or long copy – anything from tweets to reports.
Strategy: I develop campaigns from concept through to production. Working with your creatives, I can help brainstorm ideas, refine them into a pitch and make them happen. This usually includes writing key messages and creating a communications and content marketing plan. All of this work should begin with a solid brief. If you don’t have one, I can help you devise one.
Shiromi is a first rate professional. I cannot recommend her highly enough. The energy, creativity and quality of work she has delivered has been amazing. During her time with Light for the World, Shiromi has developed engaging content and has also offered invaluable strategic advice. Her advice and insights will provide lasting value to our work to support people with disabilities.
DAWN RENNIE, HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD
My work – highlights
Storytelling for WaterAid (2021-22)
As Digital Content Manager at WaterAid, I championed first-person storytelling, centring the voices of the communities WaterAid works with in a series of Shorthand features. I applied an anti-racist lens throughout – as with all my work – ensuring that individuals were represented in the way that they chose, with agency and as partners. Click on the thumbnails to discover more.
Training for GiveOut (2021/22)
I led storytelling workshops with staff at GiveOut, an innovative and award-winning international foundation supporting LGBQI activism across the world. From neuroscience, to structuring a good story, to message framing tips, my training sessions offered participants opportunities to reflect, react and write up their own stories.
Shiromi has provided invaluable support to GiveOut, developing our first annual impact report for supporters and providing storytelling training and guidance to our team. Covering the science of storytelling, the training also equipped us with a strong understanding of how to structure stories and bring them to life. As well as offering first-class, deep communications and campaigns expertise, Shiromi is a warm, fun and lovely person to work with.
Rupert Abbott, Executive Director, GiveOut
Communications support for Light for the World (2020-21/2022)
Working closely with the Head of Communications at international disability NGO Light for the World, I have developed web content, conducted a preliminary review of the English language website, and provided strategic communications advice.
Campaign communications lead at Amnesty International
(2004-2019)
She is #notacriminal (2015) 
I helped counter stigma associated with abortion in Ireland and raised awareness of how Ireland’s abortion laws criminalised women as part of Amnesty’s She is #notacriminal campaign. I worked on everything from concept and messaging, to strategy and content, including blogs, interviews, features, graphics and more. The launch graphic (“She was raped, She is pregnant…) was Amnesty’s top-performing graphic ever at the time, with 30,000+ organic likes and shares on Facebook. She is #notacriminal proved a huge success, laying the ground for Ireland’s landmark reform of its abortion laws in 2018. 
I helped persuade media and other target audiences that violence against women on Twitter breaches women’s human rights, through Amnesty’s high-profile #ToxicTwitter campaign. Working with a researcher, social media manager and designers, I co-created a hard-hitting concept, messages, strategy and content, including a Twitter spoof page and numerous graphics. With extensive media coverage and high user engagement, the campaign culminated in better protections for women on Twitter while causing a drop in Twitter share prices. 
#ToxicTwitter (2018) 
Write for Rights (2016-19 / 2020-21) 
I helped convince hundreds of thousands worldwide to write for the rights of people suffering human rights abuses, as part of Amnesty’s letter-writing marathon, Write for Rights – the world’s biggest human rights event. I achieved this by writing compelling profiles and other content, including a detailed social media plan, messaging, blogs, web copy and more. These assets were used by Amnesty entities globally to push the campaign and raise funds, spurring positive changes in the lives of the people featured. 
Write for Rights web content + Togo visit 
I helped improve Global South representation in Write for Rights promotional materials by initiating a content-gathering and capacity-building visit to Amnesty Togo in 2018. Rolled out by a small team comprising a photographer, content manager and me (pictured right), this pilot initiative has since become a model of good practice for other parts of the organisation. Write for Rights is a case study in collaborative team work that spans almost every department at Amnesty. It is the movement’s most popular campaign, mobilising millions of people around the world, and I continue to support it as a consultant today.
Shiromi is dedicated, organised, innovative and best of all, passionate about producing excellent, effective content.
May Carolan, Senior Campaigner Write for Rights, Amnesty International
Work with me
I write with purpose. I’ve spent my career writing for causes, trying to change the story around some of our greatest challenges today. If you’re working to improve the world somehow, I would love to help you.
Email me your request and I will come back to you with my availability, rates and a work plan.
Shiromi led the portfolio on women’s rights over many years, among many other assignments on core human rights issues. She delivered top quality content that engaged global audiences, supported our campaigns and drove our social media engagement from strength to strength. I recommend Shiromi highly to anyone who needs a creative, committed and engaging author and editor.
Thomas Schultz-Jagow, Senior Director Campaigns & Communications/Public Engagement & Growth, Amnesty International (2012-2022)
Contact me
hi@writingeditingwords.com (for general queries)
shiromi@writingeditingwords.com (if you need help with a project)
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Writing. Editing. Words. 