How to Write the Campaign Speech that Wins an Election -- Part One
Provide us your contact info as indicated below and we will respond immediately with professional, courteous service tailored for your business needs.
We will not give nor sell your information to third parties.
We will not give nor sell your information to third parties.
© Copyright 2008
Scribes Unlimited, LLC
Scribes Unlimited, LLC
Home
Business Plans
Marketing Plans
Grant Proposals
Research
Editing/Proofreading
Technical Writing
Advertising Writing
Scriptwriting
Ghost Writing
Write for Hire
Book Writing
Article Writing
Creative Writing
About Us
Informative Articles
Contact Us
Business Plans
Marketing Plans
Grant Proposals
Research
Editing/Proofreading
Technical Writing
Advertising Writing
Scriptwriting
Ghost Writing
Write for Hire
Book Writing
Article Writing
Creative Writing
About Us
Informative Articles
Contact Us
Home Business Plans Marketing Plans Grant Proposals Research Editing & Proofreading Technical Writing Advertising Writing Scriptwriting Ghost Writing Write for Hire Book Writing
Article Writing Creative Writing About Us Articles Contact Us
Article Writing Creative Writing About Us Articles Contact Us
business plans marketing plans business writing grant writing writing for business business writers writing and editing proof-reading documents specialized writing creative writing writing scripts script writing screen writing editing documents writing proposals grant writing writing grants ad writers writing for advertisers fact-finding technical writing writing for television business proposals writing business plans writing grant proposals writing marketing proposals writes business plans writes business proposals writes marketing plans writes marketing proposals writes grants writes grant proposals writes technical manuals writing technical manuals writing ad copy writing scripts business plan writers
business proposal writers
business proposal writers
Everyone has their own opinions about what to say. In fact, we thrive on opinions if you think about it. Our thoughts matter, from the casual observations to the deep-seeded research. Whether we want to advise someone on steering a hellacious 95 mph. curve-ball over homeplate, or we want to offer insight about the latest video game craze, it's not just what we say, it's how we express it. A man can stand in front of a crowd and talk until he is blue in the face, but still not reach his audience because of what? A lack of conviction? Integrity? Honesty?
The most popular speech-maker in the world was Abraham Lincoln. His words were pure gold. He stepped out of the guise of formality and the presidency to talk to the American people. And he did not talk down to them, nor did he speak up to them. He spoke to his audience as though he was their friend. Some may argue that it was probably Lincoln's delivery, his booming courtroom-style voice, that attracted the people. But it had to be a lot more than that. After all, even Lincoln didn't improvise. Take for example, a selected passage from a speech Abraham Lincoln gave when he was only 28 years old, on January 27th, 1838, in the small town of Springfield, Illinois, after a horrible racial mob attack in St. Louis:
"I know the American People are much attached to their Government;--I know they would suffer much for its sake;--I know they would endure evils long and patiently, before they would ever think of exchanging it for another. Yet, notwithstanding all this, if the laws be continually despised and disregarded, if their rights to be secure in their persons and property, are held by no better tenure than the caprice of a mob, the alienation of their affections from the Government is the natural consequence; and to that, sooner or later, it must come."
Mr. Lincoln clearly was sharpening his political teeth with this speech, but he did it with such style, such poetry, that the listeners had really no choice but to be enthralled. It conveyed feelings of anger and resentment, and brought out bitter emotions over racial inequities. If you read the passage again, read very closely and you'll swear Mr. Lincoln KNEW the Civil War was at hand, that it was going to happen and that it would change our world forever. Tremendous insight, don't you think?
That said, should a campaign speech be about insight, or some whacked expression of clairvoyance? What about the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who foresaw a future where all men were created equal, holding hands and praising God? The campaign speech doesn't necessarily try to commit the audience to believing in story-book endings, or forcing them to put on rose-colored glasses, but on the other hand, it doesn't frighten the audience or abandon them in despair and grief either. That's not life, is it? Life isn't about fairytales and doom.
There's a happy medium to take into consideration. Life is what you make it. So how can some people stand up before a crowd and say something like, "This country is in bad shape."? There's the gloom-and-doom approach. Or what about, "A vote for me is a vote for health-care for all Americans."? There's the fairytale. People don't want to hear that, because they know in both instances it isn't true. I don't think anyone in this country frankly thinks it's a bad place to live, and I also do not think people believe a person campaigning for president can guarantee anything. After all, George W. Bush guaranteed an end to corruption in Washington, D.C. when he spoke in 2000. Well, we know how THAT turned out.
So what do you do? How do you win the people's hearts and minds? How do you influence the voters to see you as the stand-out, the solution to problems, the answer to all prayers? You start by introducing yourself. If you're visiting a small town, for example, where your name is not well known, or your exploits are few, start from the beginning:
"I know not many of you have heard of me. Maybe we should begin by introducing ourselves. My name is _________ and your name is the people of the United States of America."
Right away, the audience feels a sense of pride, and you have instilled that pride into them. You have come off as cordial, friendly, a good man (or woman) that enjoys stimulating conversation. In one sentence, you have shown your audience how important they are, not just to your campaign, but to the future of the country. You've sat in on your share of lectures and sermons, right? How were you made to feel? Did the teacher stand up and say, "I know this lecture is going to be pretty boring, but I promise you, what you're going to hear is going to change your life for the better."? Did the pastor say, "This is going to be a long sermon, but I hope everyone listens, because there is an amazing lesson to be learned."?
So take every opportunity to remind your listeners what they are here for, and what your words will mean to them. Don't come off as pompous or superior either. You may love the words you wrote, but remember that everyone is a critic. Be insightful, show intelligence, show eloquence, and show a mastery of the language.
But remember to be just like everyone else.
To be continued...
The most popular speech-maker in the world was Abraham Lincoln. His words were pure gold. He stepped out of the guise of formality and the presidency to talk to the American people. And he did not talk down to them, nor did he speak up to them. He spoke to his audience as though he was their friend. Some may argue that it was probably Lincoln's delivery, his booming courtroom-style voice, that attracted the people. But it had to be a lot more than that. After all, even Lincoln didn't improvise. Take for example, a selected passage from a speech Abraham Lincoln gave when he was only 28 years old, on January 27th, 1838, in the small town of Springfield, Illinois, after a horrible racial mob attack in St. Louis:
"I know the American People are much attached to their Government;--I know they would suffer much for its sake;--I know they would endure evils long and patiently, before they would ever think of exchanging it for another. Yet, notwithstanding all this, if the laws be continually despised and disregarded, if their rights to be secure in their persons and property, are held by no better tenure than the caprice of a mob, the alienation of their affections from the Government is the natural consequence; and to that, sooner or later, it must come."
Mr. Lincoln clearly was sharpening his political teeth with this speech, but he did it with such style, such poetry, that the listeners had really no choice but to be enthralled. It conveyed feelings of anger and resentment, and brought out bitter emotions over racial inequities. If you read the passage again, read very closely and you'll swear Mr. Lincoln KNEW the Civil War was at hand, that it was going to happen and that it would change our world forever. Tremendous insight, don't you think?
That said, should a campaign speech be about insight, or some whacked expression of clairvoyance? What about the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who foresaw a future where all men were created equal, holding hands and praising God? The campaign speech doesn't necessarily try to commit the audience to believing in story-book endings, or forcing them to put on rose-colored glasses, but on the other hand, it doesn't frighten the audience or abandon them in despair and grief either. That's not life, is it? Life isn't about fairytales and doom.
There's a happy medium to take into consideration. Life is what you make it. So how can some people stand up before a crowd and say something like, "This country is in bad shape."? There's the gloom-and-doom approach. Or what about, "A vote for me is a vote for health-care for all Americans."? There's the fairytale. People don't want to hear that, because they know in both instances it isn't true. I don't think anyone in this country frankly thinks it's a bad place to live, and I also do not think people believe a person campaigning for president can guarantee anything. After all, George W. Bush guaranteed an end to corruption in Washington, D.C. when he spoke in 2000. Well, we know how THAT turned out.
So what do you do? How do you win the people's hearts and minds? How do you influence the voters to see you as the stand-out, the solution to problems, the answer to all prayers? You start by introducing yourself. If you're visiting a small town, for example, where your name is not well known, or your exploits are few, start from the beginning:
"I know not many of you have heard of me. Maybe we should begin by introducing ourselves. My name is _________ and your name is the people of the United States of America."
Right away, the audience feels a sense of pride, and you have instilled that pride into them. You have come off as cordial, friendly, a good man (or woman) that enjoys stimulating conversation. In one sentence, you have shown your audience how important they are, not just to your campaign, but to the future of the country. You've sat in on your share of lectures and sermons, right? How were you made to feel? Did the teacher stand up and say, "I know this lecture is going to be pretty boring, but I promise you, what you're going to hear is going to change your life for the better."? Did the pastor say, "This is going to be a long sermon, but I hope everyone listens, because there is an amazing lesson to be learned."?
So take every opportunity to remind your listeners what they are here for, and what your words will mean to them. Don't come off as pompous or superior either. You may love the words you wrote, but remember that everyone is a critic. Be insightful, show intelligence, show eloquence, and show a mastery of the language.
But remember to be just like everyone else.
To be continued...
