For most of my adult life, I have been a dramatist and a broadcaster. I also have been intensely involved in promoting individuals and businesses. I also have mentored performance elements for actors and singers in my own projects. I think this is why I can bring some special expertise into speechwriting.
Speech writing is a platform for performance just like a screenplay or a stage play script. It needs to customize the script to the desired “stage personality” of the speaker. Now in many cases- and in some cases, preferable- the speaker is just trying to amplify the natural way he speaks to a larger audience. This is not always the easiest thing to pull off, particularly if the person is new to speaking to audiences. The trick is to each person to embolden a bit the way he is speaking and his gestures. Speaking to the audience is not the same as chatting to a few friends in a living room.
But there are times when a person intentionally wants to create a “stage personae” – for instance, someone presenting a highly humorous speech; or someone who is into a very forceful presentation- like a highly charged political speech- or a person giving a eulogy where the performance has to be tasteful and just the right tone.
My efforts in speechwriting is to customize the speech to the topic and the personality- and, if the person needs it, to practice it with me remotely. This is only necessary if the person needs it. But for some, even polished speakers, their speech does not just include writing – but some additional research.
Sometimes I will be modifying a text. Sometimes I will be reviewing past speeches to capture the right tone for an entirely new speech. And sometimes I will need to work intensively with the client to research, write, and perform the speech.
It is all good. I like to write speeches and work with clients.