Within various forms of writing there are different skills and traits which are required in order to become a success. For example a not all journalists are able to be great scriptwriters, not all scriptwriters can become great essayists and so on. There are some in this field who understand the world of writing so well that they can turn their hand to just about anything. People like Roger Wolfson for example really bucks the trend here, a man who has worked in just abut every writing discipline and nice which you could possibly imagine.
Roger got his start in speech writing, and this formed the foundation for his future success. This is a key role which politicians in particular rely on heavily, and here is exactly what you need in order to become a great speech writer.
Clear Understanding of Message
No matter what reason the speech is being made, or who it is being made to, as a speech writer your key responsibility is to understand what message you are being asked to deliver. This may sound incredibly basic but this is the most critical aspect of a speech. All speeches serve a purpose and as the writer of said speech, you are the first person who needs to grasp what that purpose is, and then create a speech which achieves its goal.
Understanding Words and Emotions
The very best speech writers are those who have a perfectly good understanding of what words evoke emotions. This in actual fact is a science, the understanding of how certain sounds within words, certain imagery and the way that you play on words, can evoke emotion. This is the next step once you have grasped the message which you are sending, and it is about then using words to bring about the emotion which helps the message to land.
Understanding of Speech Giver
Something which the very best speech writers like Roger are able to achieve, is the ability to be flexible based on who exactly is delivering the speech. Some speeches work best with certain accents for example, and this is critical in helping the message to land. When we think back to some of the world’s most famous speeches, it is important to recognize that were they given by someone else, they would not have worked in the same way. There is very much a need to be flexible if you are a speech writer, and understanding how your client or your boss speaks.
Attention to Detail
When you are creating a speech, every single detail is important. All of these words work together to tell a story and then is exactly why you must have the attention to detail which is required, in order to ensure that all aspects of the speech are congruent with one another.
This is a discipline which requires hard work and dedication, as well as a natural passion and love for the English language.
