Online Workshop: An Introduction to Speechwriting

This online speechwriting training will guide you to manage, impress and empower senior people within your organisation by helping them with their oral communication

Putting words into someone else’s mouth is a daunting prospect.

But in a busy world, leaders don’t really have time to focus on the time-consuming and meticulous task of writing speeches.

They need someone with sensitivity and expertise who can help them prepare properly.

Giving a speech remains the most powerful way to create trust in a brand or organisation.

For over a decade the European Speechwriter Network has organised training and conferences to give people the tools to do this difficult job well.

This online workshop will give you an introduction into how to

• connect with an audience
• dramatise ideas using structure
• energise content with figures of speech
• tailor the speech to the speaker
• make ideas unforgettable
• reduce demand for amendments

When you register for this training, we will set you a task to bring to the workshop.

The day will be a mixture of theory, followed by practice, followed by reflection.

At the end of the day, we will set aside 45 minutes for you to ask the tutor any questions you have about speechwriting.

No workshop is the same. Each delegate comes with their own questions, their own challenges and their own interests.

Is this workshop right for you?

This workshop is for anyone who feels uncomfortable about taking on the responsibility of writing speeches for others.

One of the most difficult parts of being a speechwriter is managing the expectations of your speakers.

We’ll give you a clear inventory of skills a speechwriter can offer.

This will help you avoid thankless situations and undeserved criticism.

We’ll build your self-esteem and identify red flags in the speechwriting relationship.

Writing speeches is very different from writing press releases or articles. 

This workshop involves exercises to make you aware of how oral communication works and throughout the day, you’ll be drafting, editing and delivering speeches to see how the tools work in practice.

The ability to write speeches for top people in public life is a highly-prized and lucrative skill.

An Introduction to Speechwriting gives you the resources you need to advance in the craft.

What you’ll learn and leave with…

• Knowledge of how professional speechwriters manage tasks
• A template for how to write a script for oral delivery
• Insights into how speeches need to stimulate emotion and imagination
• Strategies to find persuasive stories
• Tips for managing your speaker
• New contacts, resources, ideas and perspectives

Participating in an Introduction to Speechwriting also plugs you into the UK Speechwriters’ Guild and its sister organisation, the European Speechwriter Network, a community of speechwriting professionals that offers ongoing support and advice.

The Trainer

Guy Doza is an author, speechwriter, and TEDx speaker. He has a degree in education from Cambridge and a Masters in rhetoric from Royal Holloway. He has worked for members of both The House of Commons and The House of Lords. He’s run his own speechwriting consultancy and been a leading member of the European Speechwriter Network for ten years.

Outside of Parliament, he’s worked with numerous companies ranging from BP to the BBC. Beyond the UK, he’s worked as consultant to a range of governments across Europe and Central Asia.

Guy won awards for speaking at Toastmasters International. In 2019, he was invited to give a TEDxTalk at the University of Cambridge about how rhetoric influences the decisions that shape our lives. He has also lectured at Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard and Caltech.

Testimonials

Guy came to Edinburgh in June 2016 to deliver speechwriting training to newly elected Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) from all the main Scottish political parties.

His workshops were engaging and informative and inspired many of the MSPs to apply what they had learnt in their maiden speeches. I’ve always found him to be knowledgeable and enthusiastic when it comes to all matters concerning rhetoric. I would strongly recommend Guy as a both a speechwriter and a trainer.

Rodger Evans – The Scottish Parliament

His undeniable expertise on rhetoric and writing/delivering speeches can only be matched by his dedication and engagement capacity as a trainer.

His workshops are practical and executive, and yet supported by a strong theoretical basis; the fitting combination for anyone getting in the habit of speaking in public. I do not hesitate to say that he is the best trainer I have ever encountered on these fields. We will definitely consider working with him again in the future.

Pau Castellvi Canet – European Liberal Forum

Guy’s workshop gave my team a strong platform from which to improve our speeches. The workshop was well delivered and covered an impressive combination of both practical advice and theoretical knowledge which we now use to underpin our speech development.

Guy also wrote a speech for me which I delivered in a number of countries including Pakistan, China and India – his speech hit the nail on the head and completely captured the tone that I was going for. As well as being a brilliant writer and trainer, Guy is also himself a very well-practiced and experienced speaker. He is a pleasure to work with.

Janet Morris – Cambridge International Assessment