How To Be a Great Speechwriter,

Dr. Lindsay Hayes

Dr. Lindsay Hayes shares some insight and tips
on political speech writing

Issue, Date

By: Jeremy Steinman

The dreaded blank white screen
can be difficult to overcome for the
common writer. Dr. Lindsay Hayes
solution is simple: take a shower.

Dr. Lindsay Hayes, above, speaks at the first NCA

undergraduate honors conference in May of 2013 (Photo Credit:
NCA)

Who is Dr. Lindsay Hayes?

Hayes, who has been involved in
Hayes first experience in speech writing was with the White Houses office of Speech writing in 2002.
Hayes time at the White House proved to be worthwhile. The jobs that followed included writing for th
speech writing for multiple presidential
and vice presidential campaigns,
recently shared some insight with
students at the University of Maryland on
her process and tips she uses to write a
great speech. What she shared may
surprise the common writer.

Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov.

Sarah Palin, speaks during the Republican National
Convention in St. Paul, Minn. in September of 2008
(Photo Credit: Associated Press)

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-- and working as a part of Sarah Palins speech writing team during her 2008 vice presidential campa
She
was engaged,
considerate
and
well
and creative
Hayes normally
denies interview
requests, but
wasdelivered
willing to takeathe
timefocused
to talk to students
at the U

-Elizabeth King, recent

University of Maryland
graduate

The family of Elizabeth King, a communications major who graduated in May, was extremely impresse
Hayes describes her ultimate goal of writing a great speech,
Mittas
Romney,
trying
above,
tospeaks
determine
to the media during
the his
best way to ca
presidential campaign in 2012. (Photo Credit: Win
McNamee/Getty Images)

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Research Stage
Hayes goes through an extensive research and planning
to ensure
effectively capture
Sarahphase
Palins
Lostshe
Speech
Before Hayes even takes the time to sit down with her client, she will have conducted thorough resear
Win orbut
Loseit's
Sarah
Palin had
a speech
So much of what she does is based on not writing the words,
getting
a feel
for somebody and
prepared to deliver in 2008. She never
gave that speech.

With the help of Dr. Lindsay

Hayes, Sarah Palin had prepared a
concession speech to deliver she
won or lost on Election Day in 2008.
Palin lost the election, but was
barred from delivering the speech
by Senator John McCain who was
fearful for the repercussions of
delivering such a speech. This
speech is now known as Sarah
Palins Lost speech.
Here are some of its best experts:

If [Obama] governs America with

the skill and grace we have often
seen in him, and the greatness of
which he is capable, were gonna be
just fine.
Now it is time for us go our way,
neither bitter nor vanquished, but
instead confident in the knowledge
that there will be another day.
It would be a happier night if
elections were a test of valor and
merit alone, but that is not for us to
question now.

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I told my husband Todd to look

at the upside: Now, at least, he
can clear his schedule, and get
ready for championship title
number five in the Iron Dog snow
machine race!

For more information, check out the link

at the end of the article.

When working with Sarah Palin, Hayes knew that Palin had a unique style. Palin was hip, knew a lot a

Hayes deems the research process as one of the most important aspects
of speech writing, as well as a problem area for college students and common
writers. A problem Hayes addresses specifically is the credibility of the wide
range of sources available on the Internet.

You have to be really careful

about where you get your research from, said Hayes. When a fact is wrong it
detracts from the whole message of the speech. If you dont have good
research and fact checking skills, you wont make it in speech writing.
To avoid this problem, Hayes emphasizes the need to double and triple
checks the facts. It doesnt matter how beautiful the writing is, if you get
The
and effort
Hayes
puts
dinged
on time
something
stupid,
thats
it into
forever. Hayes said.
her research is a main reason she is so
successful. Despite her thorough research
process, she struggles to put the pen to
paper just like so many writers. What
separates Hayes from everyone else is
her ability to be effective during this
period of struggle.
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Dr. Lindsay Hayes, above, is working on a speech with her

team of speechwriters near by. (Photo credit: Dr. Lindsay
Hayes)

Writing Stage
The first thing I do is eat, then I do the laundry, then I vacuum and then I do whatever else I can do
Hayes used to believe she was a procrastinator, but she later figured out that this white space as sh
After drying off, Hayes finds her nearest notebook and jots down all of her thoughts. This way, when
Hayes, who taught speech writing to college students once, identifies a college students tendency to
Hayes ability to transition from the blank page to writing is because of the preparation she does prior

The first thing I do is eat, then I do the

laundry, then I vacuum and then I do
whatever else I can do to put it off. - Dr.
Lindsay Hayes

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Hayes will read her speech to her husband, members of her speech writing team, and her client to ge
-- create
a general
structure
her people. Hayes said. This is because so often other peo
Some of my
best material
comes
fromfor
other
Whats Next?
writing.
She acknowledges
thatworking
there on a book that examines womens role in politics. Pe
Whats next
for Lindsay?
She is currently
will be gaps in this structure, but at
least she will have a general idea of a
sense of flow.
Once Hayes determines her
structure and sense of flow, she
begins filling in her gaps until she has
a complete first draft written. Her path
to perfection includes reading the

speech aloud for her husband over

and over again.
In order to write a good speech,
you must read it aloud. Hayes said.
Something may seem genius on
paper, but then you read it out loud
and your like wow, this so boring.
Editing Stage
When it comes to editing, You
have to be ruthless, Hayes said. You
must be your own biggest critic.
Cut stuff out, throw it on the floor and
move on. This is an issue for the

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LETS RECAP!
If you want to write a great
speech follow Dr. Lindsay
Hayes speechwriting tips!
1.) Extensive Research and
Planning

Conduct background research

before meeting with a client
Double and Triple check your
facts!

2.) Make Proper Use of your Time

of White Space

Always brainstorm about your

writing before you sit down to
write
Have a notebook handy to write
down thoughts while
brainstorming
Start way in advance of
assignments due date

3.) Read Your Speech Out Loud

Dr. Lindsay Hayes, above, needs a large cup of coffee as she works on a
speech. (photo credit: Dr. Lindsay Hayes)

Seek multiple perspectives

Dont be afraid to take criticism
Be ruthless in your editing

For More Information on Dr. Lindsay Hayes

Check Out These Links!
The Woman Behind Romney's Voice
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/the-woman-behind-romneys-voice/

Sarah Palins Lost Speech

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/11/03/sarah-palins-lost-victory-speech.html

Lindsay Hayes: The Romney Campaigns Secret Weapon

http://inkwellstrategies.com/lindsay-hayes-the-romney-campaigns-secret-weapon/

NCAs First Undergraduate Honors Conference

http://ncablog.org/2013/05/22/ncas-first-undergraduate-honors-conference/