BECOME A SPEECHWRITER IN A DAY
Leadership requires effective and inspiring communication, often in public. It’s a vital part of a leader’s job—and for many, the most difficult. And the only task tougher than delivering effective speeches is writing them.
No wonder speechwriting is one of the most sought-after and well-compensated communication specialties. Simply put, speeches matter—especially at a moment when leadership communication is helping guide institutions through one of the most fraught periods in modern history.
Writing a speech, presentation or video script for a powerful leader can seem so difficult and complex and high-stakes that doubt can creep into the mind of even the most experienced professional. How do you start? How do you capture the speaker’s ideas, the voice, the intonation? Is there an ideal structure? And, oh wait, it has to deliver a message that an audience might actually remember and act on?
There is no school for this. Yes, there is.
There’s Speechwriting School, convened by the Professional Speechwriters Association and taught by some of the best speechwriters, and speechwriting teachers, in the world.
In the course of one intensive, rich and entertaining day of learning, an all-star faculty will transform you into a leadership communicator. They know what works. They know what doesn’t work. And, even more importantly, they love to teach speechwriting—because it is so hard, and when it’s done right, also so rewarding.
AGENDA
Prepare yourself for a full day of instruction that combines expert lectures, practical discussions and short writing exercises designed to cover every aspect of speechwriting.
7:30 a.m. – Registration and Welcome Breakfast
8:00-8:15 a.m. – Welcome to Speechwriting School
Speechwriting School dean Eric Schnure and Professional Speechwriters Association executive director David Murray set the stage for what may be the most significant day of learning in your communication career.
8:15-9:30 a.m. – Foundations of Speechwriting
Dr. Rosemary King, a former Pentagon speechwriter, demonstrates how to think about a speech even before you begin to write. She’ll show you “The Golden Triad of Speechwriting,” and teach you how to explore and align the three crucial elements of every speech: Audience, Purpose and Message. You’ll learn how they work together—at the very beginning of the speechwriting process—to provide a sturdy foundation for every successful piece of oral communication.
9:45-10:45 a.m. – Structure: If You Build It, They Will Act
You’ll learn Monroe’s Motivated Sequence—a structure that works for pretty much every speech—from veteran White House speechwriter, legendary rhetoric teacher and Speechwriting School dean Eric Schnure. Schnure will show you every element every speech needs, and what each part does, walking you—and helping you walk yourself—from the beginning to the middle through the end of the speech.
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – Making the Case: How to Support Your Argument, Credibly and Compellingly
You have a theme, you know your structure, you know the story you want to tell. But what gives the body of the speech the muscle to move an audience? In this session, with speechwriting superstar Jerry Wohletz, you’ll learn how to use all the rhetorical tools—anecdotes; wit; quotations; statistics presented so that the numbers don’t numb—in ways that convince audiences that the problems they address are urgent, and that the solutions they suggest are reasonable, practical and right.
Noon-1:00 p.m. – Lunch, and Speechwriter Sit-Down: Essential Real World Tips for Speechwriters
Grab some food and hang on as veteran speechwriters give you quick, easy-to-implement, and essential real-world tips from their personal school of hard knocks. This round-robin format is a ‘don’t-miss’ opportunity to learn valuable insights.
1:15-2:15 p.m. – Storytelling for Speechwriters: How to Make Your Speeches Sing
Mike Long will lead the discussion on storytelling. He’ll demonstrate the importance of storytelling. He’ll teach you where to find stories. He’ll show you how to incorporate them gracefully into a speech. And he’ll teach you how to get your speaker to deliver them with authenticity and panache.
2:30-3:30 p.m. – Editing: Secrets Every Speechwriter Should Know
One of Speechwriting School’s original Founders, Fletcher Dean will share the editing secrets every speechwriter needs to know. He’ll explain how to take a deliberate approach to editing that will transform your copy into ‘must-hear’ oratory. You’ll learn how to use quotes, numbers, and research the right way, how to enhance your speaker’s credibility, how to simplify your writing for the ear, and how to make your speaker warm and personable, even if they aren’t.
3:45-4:30 p.m. – How to Use AI to Improve (Almost) Every Part of the Speechwriting Process
AI’s here, it’s in our workplaces and—love it or loathe it—speechwriters are increasingly asked to incorporate it into their work. In this session, the PSA’s resident AI guru and veteran international speechwriter Brent Kerrigan makes the case that AI belongs at every stage of speech creation except one. (Spoiler alert: it’s the drafting—that’s yours.) From managing the horror show of the data dump to eradicating factual errors, from making statistics land to preparing your speaker for a tough Q&A, Brent will walk you through the prompts, assistants, and agents that actually save time and make your best work even better. No hype or forced conversions. Just tools that work—in the hands of someone who’s still in the trenches with you writing speeches for a living.
4:30-5:00 p.m. – Candid Career Conversation with the Speechwriting School Faculty
Now that you’ve learned how to conceive, structure, write and edit a compelling speech expertly and efficiently—well, you still have a lot of questions: How do you get access to your busy speaker, and how do you make the most of those precious minutes? How do you defend the audience against your well-meaning colleagues who want to lard up your elegant draft with items from their own agenda? How do you convince a reticent speaker to truly communicate with an audience? And how do you know when a speech has succeeded? This is your chance to ask the faculty any question that’s on your mind. Tell us how we can help you become a better communicator and speechwriter before you pick up your certificate and depart for the day.
5:00 p.m. – Pick up Speechwriting School certificate, and adjourn.
SPEAKERS
Fletcher Dean
Fletcher Dean is an award-winning writer of speeches and author of 10 Steps to Writing a Vital Speech. He’s a popular presenter at speechwriting conferences around the world. He currently serves as Director, Office of the Chairman & CEO and Executive Communications at The Dow Chemical Company.
Brent Kerrigan
Brent Kerrigan is an executive speechwriter and AI communications trainer with more than two decades of experience writing for UN leaders, heads of government and Fortune 500 CEOs. He served for six years as Head Speechwriter at UN Climate Change (UNFCCC), supporting three Executive Secretaries through some of the most high-profile moments in global climate diplomacy. He leads AI for Leadership Communications workshops for the Professional Speechwriters Association and writes speeches for global leaders and international organizations. Based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Rosemary King
Rosemary King, PhD, is a sought-after leadership communication consultant. She served as speechwriter for Defense Secretary Robert Gates and two chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers and General Peter Pace. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
Mike Long
Mike Long is a speechwriter, author, and award-winning playwright and screenwriter based in Washington, D.C. He is a former director of the White House Writers Group and a lecturer at Georgetown University, where he served most recently as the director of writing for the graduate program in PR. Mike is also the author of the new book, Taming the Molecule of More.
David Murray
David Murray is executive director of the Professional Speechwriters Association, and editor & publisher of Vital Speeches of the Day, an 88-year-old collection of the best oral communication in the U.S. and the world. He’s author of the communication manifesto, An Effort to Understand: Hearing One Another (and Ourselves) in a Nation Cracked in Half.
Eric Schnure
Eric Schnure is a renowned strategist who served as Director of Executive Communications at GE and now helps high-profile leaders across sectors become more effective communicators. A sought-after humor writer in Washington, Schnure began his communications career in the White House in 1993 as a speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore. He teaches speechwriting at American University and conducts popular workshops all over the world. He is the co-author, along with Bob Lehrman, of The Political Speechwriter’s Companion, 2nd Ed. (SAGE, 2019).
Jerry Wohletz
Jerry Wohletz has, for 15 years, helped leaders communicate with purpose, clarity and conviction. He’s partnered with CEOs on the Time 100 (Titans) and Fortune’s Most Powerful Women (#7) lists, written for Hollywood A-listers and political leaders, worked alongside founders, and helped them all show up in high-stakes moments with messages that move people and get results. Before founding Analog Leadership Communications, Jerry led executive communications at Walmart, where he served CEO Doug McMillon and led a team that supported Walmart’s c-suite. His work shaped keynotes and thought leadership for global stages, from the Consumer Electronics Show to the World Economic Forum in Davos to Investor Day. Earlier in his career, Jerry worked in healthcare and education in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Rochester, New York.
LOCATION
The George Washington University, Foggy Bottom Campus
1957 E Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20052
The nearest Metro stop is Farragut West.
Street parking is limited in this area, so we recommend using the Elliott School Garage.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The PSA has secured a limited room block at the nearby Courtyard by Marriott Washington, DC/Foggy Bottom. The rate is $229 USD per night. We cannot guarantee room availability after the cut-off date of September 28, 2026, or once this discounted room block is sold out.
To register under the room block, please click here or call (202) 296-5700 and reference the Professional Speechwriters Association.
REGISTER
Cancellations Policy
No refunds on cancellations less than 30 days before the start of event. Within 30 days, your payment will be credited toward a future Vital Speeches or Professional Speechwriters Association event.
$995 to attend Speechwriting School on Monday, October 26, 2026 and a 6-month introductory membership to the Professional Speechwriters Association, commencing in November 2026.
$746.25 for members of the Professional Speechwriters Association (discount will show in checkout when logged in).
Phone registrations please call 312-585-6383
Registration deadline = October 16, 2026
$995.00