Giving a speech can be daunting, especially if public speaking causes anxiety or you lack writing skills. That’s why hiring a professional speechwriter can help ensure your presentation is polished and impactful. A ghostwritten speech also runs the risk of not sounding authentic, so it’s important to work closely with your writer. Here are some best practices for those wanting help yet still wanting their own voice to shine through:
Develop a Clear Vision and Theme
The starting point for any successful speech is clarity on the key message and purpose. Provide your writer with as much context as possible about the audience, event theme, your position or expertise, and the desired end result. What do you want the audience to remember or take away? Thinking through a high-level vision and core theme allows the writer to draft content that effectively supports your goals.
Research Thoroughly Together
Great speeches are backed by compelling facts, examples, and stories. Schedule time with your writer for joint research so they understand your industry or field of knowledge thoroughly. Brainstorm interesting angles to explore together based on your theme. The writer can suggest sources and examples to consider that bring your topic to life for listeners in a fresh, memorable way. Discuss ideas frankly so your speech authentically reflects your views and priorities.
Outline the Flow and Structure
Once research is complete, outline the speech structure with your writer. Where will the introduction start to draw people in? How will the body build the case or narrative in a logical flow? What conclusion will cement takeaways and prompt action? Discuss the ideal timeframe and number of main points too. The writer can then draft an outline for your review and input before diving into a full first draft. This collaborative prep work ensures the resulting speech reflects your goals and natural style.
Provide Ongoing Feedback on Drafts
As drafts are completed, thoroughly review each with an eye toward voice, message and authentic delivery. Discuss any sections that don’t quite sound like your own words or capture your perspective accurately. Suggest changes directly in written comments or by recording audio feedback. The more input provided early, the more polished subsequent drafts will become in representing your views and voice. Request rewrites as needed until fully comfortable with the content in your own words.
Practice Delivery Together
Once a final draft is approved, schedule practice sessions with your writer. Reading through the full speech allows them to tune the cadence and anticipate any challenging sections. Their guidance during rehearsal helps smooth your delivery and build confidence. Discuss ways to better engage the audience through techniques like maintaining eye contact, adjusting pace or inflection for effect. Practice answering potential questions too. Rehearse until you own the material and feel ready for a strong performance on the big day.
Customize for Final Touches
Even with thorough collaboration, every speech benefits from personalization. Go through the final draft adding any touches that make it truly yours. Tweak certain phrasing, insert your favorite quotes or stories, or modify a section or two for continuity’s sake. The writer’s role at this stage is to offer support versus dictation so the speech100% represents your authentic voice and perspective. Incorporating personalization ensures lively, off-the-cuff delivery you feel great about.
In the end, a speechwriter’s goal is enabling your success, not to stand in the spotlight themselves. By working closely together through outline, multiple draft reviews and practice, you can deliver a polished and memorable speech that stays true to your message, expertise and personality. Through collaboration you gain tremendous benefit of professional speechwriting support without sacrificing voice or authenticity. With proper guidance, even anxious public speakers can shine confidently on stage.
Hiring a ghostwriter may feel less personally valuable than self-authoring. But a skilled professional can streamline your vision, strengthen its framing and impact through their expertise. Their guiding support allows focus on key priorities versus trivial details – freeing bandwidth to own the content through iterative feedback. Done right, it becomes a true partnership maximizing strengths on both sides. So whether for a high-stakes presentation or important conference keynote, partnering with a writer need not compromise message or authenticity. With mutual effort and understanding, it can yield powerful results showcasing your knowledge and perspective at their very best.