Before You Say Anything: The Untold Stories and Failproof Strategies of a Very Discreet Speechwriter

By Victoria Wellman

The convention-breaking creative process of New York's busiest speechwriter, offering a holistic approach to crafting every kind of speech.

The ability to express yourself in words has become both a rite of passage and an essential skill for anyone who wants to make a difference within their family, community, workplace, or beyond. And yet, strategies for engaging a new generation of media and tech-savvy audiences have failed to keep up with the times, leaving speakers wondering how to articulate a resonant message that bristles with detail, authenticity, and emotional truth. While we can't all expect to captivate and inspire millions as Barack Obama and Greta Thunberg have, every speaker--regardless of their experience--can follow a road map to elevate a narrative from serviceable to unforgettable. This is true whether you're roasting a colleague at an office party, delivering a keynote industry address, accepting an award, or eulogizing a loved one.

In Before You Say Anything, Victoria Wellman--the founder and president of Manhattan-based speechwriting company The Oratory Laboratory--shares her unique methodology for researching, reimagining, crafting, and delivering an outstanding speech by focusing on three core objectives: respect for the audience, the restless pursuit of originality, and intentionality behind every word. Full of hilarious anecdotes and examples from Wellman's extensive experience as the go-to speechwriter for power players and everyday people from around the world, Before You Say Anything is an irresistible antidote to the age-old doctrine of what a speech must include. Instead, it will leave readers with an enlightened and refreshing way of thinking about their sources, ideas, and material, and give them a strategy for putting it all to use.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250274028
• ISBN13: 9781250274021
• Release Date: April 2022
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.6"