Political Speech Writing

September 30, 2009 11:03 AM

How to break into speech-writing, specifically political speech-writing?

My boyfriend, who is a staff person for a state senator, is interested in writing more speeches. But how to break into such a thing? While he writes some remarks for his current boss, his job is mostly administrative. He is, of course, keeping an open eye at the capitol and making contacts, but is there anything else he could be doing to make more opportunities for himself? He is a great writer so if anyone has any tips on getting into this field, they would be much appreciated it!

posted by roxie5 to work & money (4 comments total)

Get a job in campaigning, public relations or staff administration for a candidate. There's no real way to "break in" to speech-writing, cold, without having this experience, or significant contacts with this experience (e.g. having a journalism job covering politics ... but then the first thing you'll do is work on someone's campaign).
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:14 AM on September 30

My sister used to be a speechwriter. She got into it by interning during college for a gubernatorial candidate's Press Secretary. The candidate won, and she got a full-time job as a speechwriter when she graduated from college.
posted by phoenixy at 11:20 AM on September 30

(That is, as a speechwriter at the office she had previously interned for, of course.)
posted by phoenixy at 11:20 AM on September 30

Your boyfriend should just mention to his boss that he would like to do more speechwriting.

It's unclear who his direct supervisor is - is it the senator him or herself. Your boyfriend needs to be sure to respect the chain of command.

He can also phone up the press secretary of wherever he wants to work, and ask what the best career path is.

There are generally two kinds of political speechwriting - the speechwriting intended to support government policy (if the senator's party is in power), and speechwriting intended to communicate partisan policy.

There is more work in the former, while in the latter case that kind of speechwriting is actually quite specialized, and is usually done by experienced pols or whizz kids who are well liked and who have lots of ideas.
posted by KokuRyu at 12:54 PM on September 30