Good speechwriters know all about structuring a speech in advance, shaping it to the needs and interests of a particular audience on a particular occasion.
But what about delivery? Can speechwriters really understand what it’s like to stand in front of that audience and deal with surprises?
It requires a constant reading of the room, and a willingness to adjust – which means improvising.
If you’re a speechwriter, you may not think this applies to you, only to the person who delivers your speech.
But I suspect you will be an even better speechwriter if you know what it feels like.
This week, at the Speechwriters Conference in Cambridge, I’ll be running a session on impro techniques. I hope if you’re there you will join me.