New website to post speechwriting-related jobs regularly
SpeechwritingJobs hopes to post a new job listing every day.
On The Need for a Bipartisan Foreign Policy
“To unite our voice at water’s edge.”
Speeches: We can’t live with ’em and we can’t live without ’em
You know I love my job as editor of Vital Speeches. Seriously: Try to imagine someone who would love it more. You can’t. But I’d like speeches even more if …
How to write the state-of-the-town speech, in five easy steps
Open with positive platitudes, bore people with your accomplishments, share “challenges” that only you can handle, draw a bold and impressionistic picture of hope, and ask God for a political favor.
When the president went from “we must” to “will we?”
Late LBJ speechwriter Harry McPherson shows why he was entrusted with the big job.
A Quiz: Name the bold-spoken CEO
A year’s subscription to the digital version of Vital Speeches to the reader who correctly identifies the corporate CEO who once gave the following six speeches in a single year: …
How long should you practice your speech?
Keynote pro says you’ve rehearsed your speech long enough when you’d rather dig a ditch than run through the thing one more time.
Hired in desperation, thanked with faint praise
Actor Denzel Washington talks about why he hired a speechwriter to help him with a commencement speech. And he tells some universal truths along the way.
The Quotable TED
TED Talks makes its money quotes available and searchable.
A confession of ignorance: Speechwriters, talk to me about Toastmasters
A few years ago, a freelance writer pal started writing for the Rotary Club’s magazine, and at the tavern one night I made a dismissive remark about the Rotarians. He …