How to use humor in a speech (without getting burned)
One of the best perks of speechwriting is the way it lets you indulge your sense of humor. Nearly every time you sit down to write a speech, there’s a chance to tell at least one joke. That’s not something most other communicators get to do nearly as often. (Try...
Draw me a speech: Six speechwriting lessons from eight years of cartooning
Eight years of drawing Noise to Signal has taught me a lot about cartooning… and almost as much about speechwriting.
Why leaders should embrace gotcha questions
The long-standing Republican hostility toward the news media was on full display last week after the CNBC GOP presidential debate. And it led them to fall into a trap that tempts many speakers: settling for easy wins instead of preparing for difficult questions. Even...
Being there: Why a seat in the audience can make you a better speechwriter
Sometimes, there’s just no fighting geography. And the truth is, there’s no faster or better feedback on how a speech you wrote goes over than to be in the audience when it does.That’s often hard, especially if the speech is in another city, or if your speechwriting...
