Its a holiday. I wake up at 3:36 in the morning as usual and look at my cellphone for any updates from the office.
A text message pops up. Its from the secretary of the regional director of my agency.
I usually expect the same request every other week : Can I draft an opening or closing message for this seminar or that conference ? Or can I write a speech or presentation for a certain official ?
But this text message seemed to be different. The secretary told me to wait for a phone call. A few hours later, I receive a call from the director instructing me to cobble together a speech on the launching of three national initiatives enabled by the partnership between two governments. The speech is for the department head.
“I know that this particular task is not suppose to be your responsibility but they want something quick and need it 2 days from now. And, by the way, I want to see the draft tomorrow.” And she proceeds to inform me that she already emailed to me the program and briefer on the initiatives.
UNTANGLING THE SPEECH PUZZLE
Contrary to what most people think, speech writing is not a straightforward process. Sometimes I wish it was as simple as making my favorite beverage. Unfortunately, it is more complicated than that.
Speech writing to me is more like detective work. Most of the time, they only provide me with the title of the speech and the activity program. I have to dig through mounds of information on the internet to find pieces of information that I can place in the speech. That is why search engine Google is a very useful tool to me.
Not only do I have to work under time constraint, I need to have a good grasp of the subject matter in the short period of time given me, and also make sure to arrange ideas logically in a torrent of words.
There is also the corporate image that needs to be maintained. The whole speech has to have the illusion of having been well thought by a responsible and methodical person.
NIRVANA OF WORDS
The whole writing process has a sort of hypnotic effect on me, so I don’t mind not having coffee (not good for my nerves) or snacks (distracts me) to keep me going.
I write what comes to my mind while sitting, standing, leaning on the wall, lying on the bed, eating, walking. Most of the time, I prefer writing while lying in bed. I guess the bed is the most comfortable place for my brain.
I may not have been given enough time to do the job, but that’s fine by me. Surprisingly, that sort of thing doesn’t wear me out. What exhausts me is when everyone around me gets emotional about anything. Emotion short circuits my brain. I only welcome emotions in situations where I don’t need to think.
I like writing because of the good feeling of ‘getting into the flow’ wherein I am unaware of the passage of time. This is what the Wikipedia describes as the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity.
Everytime I am given a writing task under time pressure, I enter that “bliss zone” or meditative state. This is one of the reasons why I like the C3 Challenge. It is familiar territory.
A PATH LESS TRAVELED
I dabbled in speechwriting during a point in my life when I was willing to try something new. I was unconcerned whether I’d be successful at it or not. I wasn’t emotionally invested in it. Besides, somebody paid me to give it a go.
This nonchalant attitude I have towards how people take the way I write probably stem from the fact that I never asked to be anyone’s speech writer. I also didn’t train to become one; nor aspired to be one.
At that time, I was undecided about what I wanted in life and just cruised through every job given me; not really giving it my all. Until, one day, as I was tinkering with my cellphone after office hours, the new director’s secretary sidled up to me and gave me a copy of an invitation for the director to give a speech on a particular topic. Since the topic wasn’t that difficult nor controversial, he instructed me to draft a speech for him to see what I could do. That is what he usually does to all new employees who can write. I made one for the boss, gave it to him and mentioned names of officemates who I believed could do the job in case I didn’t pass his standards.
I figured that if people find value in what I can offer, they will keep coming to me. I have learned early on that a speechwriter doesn’t need to have perfect grammar or very good command of the English language. What officials basically look for in those they hire include writing style, logical thinking and ability to move people with words.
I just happen to be lucky , I guess . Out of hundreds within the bureaucracy, why would they get me to write speeches for high profile personalities unless I can deliver?
This means that when a superior says to me they can’t find anyone else who can produce the speech they want, it is not to stroke my ego, they actually mean it. These people are too busy to have time for flattery; especially in an unpredictable situation where the stakes are high. It’s either you can do the job or they get someone else.
From my experience working in this department, speed in writing a speech or press release is also an asset especially in an emergency situation like the pandemic in 2020 where people demand quick answers.
There are few in the bureaucracy who can write speeches and rare at the speed that I can deliver. I am not talking about producing the perfect speech. It doesn’t exist.
(description below of the photo above)
“I forgot their names, nor do I recall what I wrote. But what stuck in my memory was the experience. I remember the early morning walks by the beach, lunch at the resort balcony, candlit dinner beside the sea shore with guitar music in the background (last day) . We were a bunch of writers tasked to produce in 3 days the agency’s transition report for the next administration. If an agency is willing to pay for my roundtrip plane fare, pick me up at the Makati office to bring me to a beach resort in Batangas, pay for the food and accommodation, this convinces me that I am trusted in accomplishing the writing assignment. No amount of flattery can top that.”
In real life, there is no proper time nor the ideal situation to be in the mood to write. Neither can you expect all the support you need; not even from the same people who requested your service. Obviously, I am not a literary artist. I am not in love with words. I use words to sell an idea, convince you to take action or prevent conflict. It happens to be this same kind of thinking that most influential people look for in a speechwriter. Add to that is consistency in delivery of the requested material at the agreed schedule.
I attribute this speed of delivery and consistency to my previous boss. Her expectations on work deliverables may be unrealistic or unsustainable but it made me more resourceful and creative in problem solving. Her tantrums, emotional outbursts and disinterest in my well-being made me sharpen my focus on accomplishing the job at hand.
I believe in the saying that sometimes one individual’s imperfections can polish another person’s latent talents.
As my boss would say, if it were all left to me, I would be happily tapping on my laptop keys in my small nook at the far end of the office oblivious to the world outside. I could have been just another anonymous employee writing the customary press releases and corporate communications; being the stereotypical office nerd with the thick eyeglasses who would rather blend in the background rather than socialize.
CHAMELEON
Yes, I am painfully shy. I have to psyche myself up to interact with people. Everyday is a theatrical performance for me. I have to keep telling myself that i am someone who is confident, charming, eloquent, friendly to get through the day. My play acting must have been convincing because aside from speechwriting, my boss is giving me the job of hosting business seminars and conferences.
However, the character shift from speechwriter to host and back to writer can be a bit of shock for most people. An officemate describes it like someone being possessed by another entity. I can understand why she looks at it that way. After talking a lot on stage or onscreen for webinars, I no longer have the energy for chit-chat and revert back to introversion.
My work day usually ends at around 6:00 in the evening. By this time, I already have a draft or flow for the whole speech. I just need to tighten things here and there; add or delete a few words.
I sleep early with or without a work deadline. That means before 8:00 in the evening. I don’t believe in burning the midnight oil to finish a speech. Besides, I get my best ideas early in the morning between 3:30 -5:30 AM. To save time, I write it down on my cellphone app Samsung Notes.
Come to think of it, I have written all the posts for my blog, this one included, on my Samsung Notes.
TIPS FOR SPEECH WRITERS
For aspiring speech writers, here are a few tips:
*Writing for the spoken word is written to be heard, not read.
*Speeches are better cast in simple, direct, and often short sentences that can be easily understood by listeners.
*It is important for speechwriters to analyze audiences according to factors such as age; gender; culture; profession; size of audience; and purpose of the speech.
*After researching a topic, they should strive to maintain a clear theme throughout the speech.
*The general accepted style of public address is natural and conversational. This puts listeners at ease.
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