5 reasons never to become a speechwriter
Although many PR pros might be great communicators, that doesn’t imply they’d excel in speechwriting. One independent speechwriter says its hard work, and offers these five anti-tips to deter your from considering a career move.
PR consultant Fraser Seitel recently penned a piece about why all frustrated PR pros, wannabe HR peeps and social media ninjas should become speechwriters.
It must have been an early April Fool’s joke.
Now, I’ll spill the beans on what is likely one of the most misunderstood professions in the world: speechwriters. They are silent professionals. We just write the words, listen and go back to writing.
Are we satisfied and happy? No! But, as JFK’s speechwriter Ted Sorensen once made abundantly clear, you don’t steal the speaker’s thunder and you don’t claim the credit. End of story.
Let’s reflect on Seitel’s five reasons; one by one. Bear with me.
1. Speechwriters need access, but get none; frustration abound.
It’s true what Seitel says: Access is power. This is true, too: If a CEO wants to sound good, he/she should take time to talk to his/her speechwriter. Yet, he/she rarely does this, and after tons of conferences, seminars, workshops and conversations I can conclude—beyond a shadow of doubt—that the main frustration shared by almost all speechwriters is lack of access. We need it, but we don’t get it.
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