Former speechwriters are a naturally verbose group. And I’m loving it. Every other day or so I discover a new book to read or a newspaper column to follow. My list is getting long.
They’ve been through the trenches, experienced the exhilarating pressure of writing not just for a President, but for a nation. They know what works and what doesn’t.
Today we embark on a “series” of sorts. Drawing from their experiences and from great speeches of the past, we’ll consider eight important principles that set a great speech apart from other good ones.
In the spirit of #2, here’s a brief overview:
- Know Your Audience
- Tell Them, Tell Them, Tell Them Again
- Insert the Unexpected
- Address the Elephant
- Read Others & Quote Them
- Inspire & Challenge
- Be Real
- Know When to Stop Talking
So we begin. They have much to teach us. I have much to learn.
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