Getting Started as a Speechwriter

12. Executive Branch for America Course: Speechwriting Getting Started as a Speechwriter

A speechwriter needs to put himself in the speaker’s own shoes and understand who the speaker is. A good speechwriter also understands that no two speakers are the same. Every speaker has his own voice, his own style, his own demeanor, his own opinions, and his own story. Something that works for one individual might not work for another.

It is the speechwriter’s job to figure out what works best for that speaker while ensuring that the speaker sounds like themselves. Imagine if Ronald Reagan read one of Jimmy Carter’s speeches or if Barack Obama read one of George Bush’s. It just wouldn’t work. The personality of the prose is just as important as the content – it’s what makes what the speaker is saying convincing and believable. This is why it’s so important that the speechwriter has an open line of communication and a strong relationship with the speaker. The speechwriter should always keep in mind that the speech should reflect the speaker’s style, voice, and thoughts—not the writer’s!

Ultimately, the speechwriter needs to understand not just what the speaker thinks about the issues, but how the speaker thinks about the issues. In other words, the speechwriter needs to be clear on why the speaker thinks the way he does (i.e. personal experience, values, evidence from history, polls, studies, or research). Speechwriters often find themselves referencing back to this type of supporting evidence as they write.

For longer or more important remarks, it’s a good idea to solicit guidance from the speaker on the front end. Ask about key themes, phrases, stories, or jokes the speaker thinks are relevant to the topic at hand—this will end up being much easier than completing a draft and being asked to work in a new theme later!

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