How To Write A Speech That Matters

13th Sep 2008 @ 4.58pm

We’re proud to support the celebrated writers’ group 26 for their inaugural annual speech, which will take place at the magnificent British Library at on 16 October 2008. 

Here’s a word on the evening from 26 member Ezri Carlebach:

“I have a friend who is fond of neologisms.  Here’s one she made up earlier – wetoric.  It’s what you call weedy and unconvincing speech.  So here’s another – whetoric, meaning that which gets you excited about, or whets your appetite for, a great speech.

We all know that a great speech has certain characteristics,  like memorable hooks – ‘I have a dream’, ‘ask not what your country can do for you’ and ‘we shall fight them on the beaches’.  There seem to be fewer in more recent memory, but how about ‘education, education, education?’  That one worked.  And Philip Collins, the author of that one and many more, for Tony Blair (among others), wants to tell you more about what works and what doesn’t when you are writing a speech and you want it to matter.

After all, what finer skill does anyone have than the power of persuasion, or the ability to move an audience?  He’ll show you how to fit the speech to the speaker and tell you why a speech is more like acting than writing.”

Tickets for the event can be purchased at http://26.eventbrite.com/

We hope to see you there!

posted by Alison Esse
filed under News