By Words

Editorial | Copywriting | Proofreading | Brand Consultancy

Byword: (noun) expression summarising a person’s principles; an outstanding example.

’m obsessed with the written word and know first-hand its power to change the course of a life- but I also know the skill and effort involved in wielding that power. With a background in academic research, creative writing, and education, I have also worked in copywriting, editorial, brand development and social media management across varied bodies whose work I believe in. Whether it is research papers, workshops, talks, presentations, educational resources, articles, emails, blog posts, social media, brand concept or even poetry, I am a conscientious, rigorous, endlessly creative writer.

Words By:

I’m a fully AHRC-funded, creative-critical PhD researcher in the arboreal humanities at Birkbeck UoL, also working as a freelance writer, intersectional educator, English teacher, and poet.

What I do now:

I’ve worked as a copywriter, content editor, proofreader, brand identity consultant and social media manager in sustainable fashion, academic publishing and the environmental arts; I have a BA in English from the University of Cambridge and a double- prizewinning MA in Victorian Studies from Birkbeck UoL.

What I’ve done before:

What I’m like to work with:

I’m a flexible, friendly word nerd with integrity, nuance and grit.

What I’m into outside of work

books, vinyl records, walks in the woods, craft beer and whisky, dogs, sitting under blankets.

Get in touch

  • “Collaborating with Shani throughout my career as a designer has completely transformed how I present myself professionally. She has an incredible talent for crafting compelling and persuasive copy that not only captures the content but also perfectly reflects the tone I want to convey.  I recently had to submit a Design Award nomination for a team member, and I was amazed by how Shani creatively refined and restructured my words, adding confidence, impact, and authority. Her skill is truly impressive—I only wish she could edit all my written work!  I highly recommend Shani—she is an exceptionally talented writer, poet, and copywriter with a keen ability to craft words that resonate. Her creativity, intelligence, and thoughtful approach make her a pleasure to work with and an invaluable collaborator.”

    — Victoria Sowerby  |  Global Design Lead Dr Martens PLC 

  • “Shani is an excellent writer and editor, with a concise and flexible prose style and sharp eye for detail. In her work on the journal 19: Interdisciplinary Studies in the Long Nineteenth Century she copy-edited academic essays, oversaw the peer review process, handled queries from authors and worked closely with the production team. She worked with minimal supervision, shouldering responsibility and ultimately helping to train others in how the journal's editorial process functioned. I couldn't have been happier with her work, and she comes very highly recommended.”

    -David McAllister  | General Editor at 19: interdisciplinary studies in the long nineteenth century

  • “Shani worked with us at Deakin&Blue in a freelance capacity during the early days of the company, consulting on the naming of our distinctive sizing concept and writing for the website. She is an adaptable, inventive and detail-oriented writer who produces polished and thoughtful copy in line with brand voice- I recommend her highly.”

    — Rosie Cook  |  CEO Deakin&Blue

  • “Shani Cadwallender was the winner in of our annual writing competition and became walk · listen · create’s Poet-in-Residence for 2023-4. Little did we know that we had picked such a talented copywriter and wordsmith as a winner. We asked her to write a blog piece to introduce herself as well as choosing the theme and writing the competition introduction for the following year.  A highlight for us was her conceiving, writing copy for, and chairing two fascinating online events with author Noreen Masud and researcher Dr Anna Burton. For each of these events she wrote a blog post and a creative poetic response to Noreen and Anna’s writings.  We would highly recommend her to you.”

    — Andrew Stuck  |  Head of walk · listen · create

  • “Shani worked as my co-convener for the Death Studies Discussion group ‘Grave Matters’ for two years from 2022 to 2024. One of her main duties was to write marketing copy for the sessions, appealing to a broad audience from academics to non-specialists. This involved simplifying complex ideas and writing accurate and engaging copy. Shani also regularly looked after the social media account for ‘Grave Matters’, live-tweeting events and creating content for our blog. Shani is an extremely versatile and talented writer, great to work with and super creative. I would not hesitate in recommending her for this position”

    — Claire Cock-Starkey  |  Convenor of Grave Matters

  • "I’ve had the privilege of seeing Shani perform at poetry events, and her creative work is as intellectually rigorous as it is emotionally resonant. Her writing blends historical research with innovative poetic experimentation, particularly in the realm of ecopoetics and environmental humanities. In her PhD project, Trees Revisited: Exploring the Nature of Identity in Nineteenth-Century Arboreal Poetry, she engages deeply with nineteenth-century botanical knowledge, colonial histories of plant migration, and ecological entanglements. Her concept of ‘dendrology’—a poetic method that mirrors botanical classification—demonstrates both her originality and ability to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives. Whether in performance or on the page, Shani’s work bridges scholarship and creativity in ways that would make her a valuable asset in any writing, research, or editorial role."

    -Stephen Willey | PhD co- supervisor and Co-Academic Director of Environmental Education Projects, School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science.

  • "I am delighted to write in support of Shani Cadwallender. Shani is one of the best writers I have ever come across. Her understanding of language and its rhythms is felt in every sentence she writes. For this reason she is a formidable editor, too. In my role as General Editor of 19, the journal she worked in as intern, I saw how she worked with writers and editors in the most professional way: silently correcting and improving when needed. It is rare to find a writer and editor of her calibre."

    -Dr Ana Parejo Vadillo | General Editor (2019- 23) at 19: interdisciplinary studies in the long nineteenth century