Speechwriting is an inherently difficult, unglamorous, and surprisingly formative work--as I have found out firsthand.
The main difficulty in speechwriting, obviously, lies in appropriating another person's thoughts and finding the words that will express those thoughts in the speaker's voice. Channeling the speaker's character, I would argue, is always challenging. The final product, after all, needs to be not just informed and persuasive, but "authentic"--in the sense that the audience should feel no disconnect between the speaker and her speech. At best, the speechwriter is simply a sounding board or a practice coach to someone who is already eloquent and well-read; at worst, the speechwriter is expected to be a mind reader. Regardless, speechwriting is a constant test of empathy.
Anonimity, of course, is key to successful speechwriting, and this is why it is not a job for those who aspire to be in the limelight. The speechwriter surrenders credit and credence to her speaker. There are no awards for good speechwriters (though there is a professional organization based in the UK), and, for better or worse, a speechwriter's reputation becomes intertwined with her speaker. Being "just a writer" also means that a speechwriter's work is always subject to the editorial judgment (or plain whims) of the speaker. Those who write speeches professionally know that this is inevitable, but I presume most find themselves surprised at the healthy amount of offense they take when a speaker decides to exercise her right to modify a speech prepared for delivery as she sees fit. This is natural, and while it is just right to be protective of one's ideas, the greater virtue in this job is tempering that inclination with humility--which is, again, the bedrock of effective speechwriting.
Together, it is the unglamorous and demanding nature of speechwriting that makes it, ultimately, a character-building exercise. And whether one is preparing a formal address or remarks for an informal gathering, a speechwriter would inevitably find herself reflecting on the promise of a better community, a better country, a better environment, a better world. Doing that on nearly an everyday basis should impact even the most jaded and cynical of persons. (Then again, those who are not very idealistic would probably not be speechwriters in the first place.)
There is a nobility to lending one's intellect and language to someone who truly embodies and gives life to possibilities; there are few things in life as fulfilling as seeing one's words uplift the spirits of many. The gift of tongues is rare and precious, and speechwriters should only be too happy to yield it to those who can wield it to full effect.
Today's links:
Signaling social status in Facebook
The tragedy of commons, an overview
Craigslist's unusual--and highly successful--business model
*This online journal, while mainly a means for the author to practice writing, is intended not just as a "log" of thoughts and personal insights, but a laboratory for exploring ideas and topics (hence the namesake) and a useful consolidation of interesting material found on the Internet.
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