Speechwriting: the next generation

Just got a message from a public relations student asking me for advice on a speechwriting career. I resisted the competition-stifling urge to invent some dire reason why she should go into some other field (“You’re very brave, given all that media...

Insolent swine!

Just watching The Last Samurai on DVD. One of the samurai warriors who have captured Tom Cruise’s character has just barked “Insolent swine!” at him.The writer must be especially adept at stifling his gag reflex to have penned a line like that. (So...

Blatant self-promotion

You never know when somebody on the other side of the spectrum (waaaaaay on the other side) might take notice. (Scroll down to “Canada Votes, Day 3”.)Sure, I disagree with him on the issues. But jimminy, the guy’s written for a U.S. president. So...

Radio Free Rob

Ever wondered what happens when you get three speechwriters from three different parties in a room together? (Pretend for a moment that the answer is “Gosh, yes.”) CBC Radio’s smashing morning show The Current did just that today, with yours truly...

Add focus group and stir

The shock of election night in California wasn’t Gray Davis’s recall or the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor.It was hearing commentator after commentator fall all over themselves to say what a great speech the victor gave.I listened to the...
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