Greetings, Loyal Reader!
I was recently profiled in Vital Speeches of the Day, as part of their “The Speechwriter’s Life” series. Here is the link:
The Speechwriter’s Life—Dan McGirt
From mid-2002 to mid-2013 my day job was working as a speechwriter for various executives. It was a different kind of writing than composing novels, with its own set of challenges and rewards. I enjoyed being a speechwriter (usually…). I enjoyed helping leaders I admired communicate their goals and ideas effectively. I liked the hunt for the right facts, the best examples, the right quote or anecdote to bring a speech together. I enjoyed picking the brains of really smart people, experts in various topics, and trying to translate their ideas for different audiences.
A couple of months ago, I was contacted by Neil Hrab, an editor for VSOTD, who asked if he could interview me for a profile. We had a good, wide-ranging phone conversation about my speechwriting days and various aspects of the job. He asked good questions which made me think about my speechwriting experiences for lessons learned.
I haven’t written a speech in the last couple of years and I’m not itching to do one now, but I appreciated the opportunity to chat with Neil and I hope you’ll take a look at his article.
Best regards,
Dan McGirt