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)

Hayes, who has been involved in speech

writing for multiple presidential and vice

Who is Dr. Lindsay Hayes?

presidential campaigns, recently shared some

insight with students at the University of

writing was with the White Houses office of

Maryland on her process and tips she uses to

Speech writing in 2002. While there, Hayes

write a great speech. What she shared may

would use the opportunity to gain

surprise the common writer.

experience with the inner workings of

Hayes first experience in speech

politics and speech writing.

Hayes time at the White House

proved to be worthwhile. The jobs that

followed included writing for the
Republican National Convention in 2008,
working with the late, Sen. Ted Stevens,
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
campaign. Hayes was apart of the team who
helped write Palins famous Lost Speech. In
2012 she served as director of speech writing for

-Elizabeth King, recent University of

Maryland graduate

Mitt Romneys presidential campaign.

Hayes normally denies interview requests,

but was willing to take the time to talk to students

at the University of Maryland due to her
relationship with the university. Hayes received
her Ph.D in rhetoric and political culture, taught
speech writing classes at the university and she
The family of Elizabeth King, a
communications major who graduated in May, was

Mitt Romney, above, speaks to the m edia during his presidential

campaign in 2012. (Photo Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

extremely impressed with Hayes commencement speech. Out of the three graduations and
countless commencement speeches my family has attended, Ms. Hayes was by far the best
speaker theyve listened to. King said. She was engaged, considerate and delivered a well
focused and creative speech. It was truly an honor to listen to her.
Hayes describes her ultimate goal of writing a great speech, as trying to determine the
best way to capture the clients voice. In order to achieve that goal, Hayes goes through what
she calls a messy process.

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Research Stage

Sarah Palins Lost Speech

Hayes goes through an extensive

research and planning phase to ensure she

Win or Lose Sarah Palin h ad a speech prepared to

deliver in 2008. She never gave that speech.

their family background, political beliefs and any

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.

past speeches they may have given.

Here are some of its best experts:

effectively captures her clients voice. As a part of

her research stage, Hayes takes time to
familiarize herself with the client. She researches

Before Hayes even takes the time to sit

down with her client, she will have conducted
thorough research and will already know a great
deal about the clients personality and
tendencies. Based on her research, when Hayes
does meet with her client face-to-face, she will
have a general idea for the best style and
message for her clients speech.

So much of what she does is based on not

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.

writing the words, but it's getting a feel for

somebody and what they want to say and how
they want to get there," said former Hayes
colleague Andy Davis.
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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 about pop culture and was
willing to take risks. Hayes said. I realized the
best style for Palins speeches would be to use
many short one-liners with a punch.
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 dinged on something stupid,
thats it forever. Hayes said.
The time and effort Hayes puts into 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 to put it off. said Hayes on step one of her writing process.

Hayes used to believe she was a procrastinator, but she later figured out that this white

space as she calls it, is essential to determining the best plan of attack. Although she may not
have written anything just yet, this time period of white space allows her to brainstorm
new ways to capture her clients voice. Hayes likes to brainstorm while she does her errands
and chores around the
house, but her most effective
brainstorming is done in the
shower.

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

After drying off, Hayes finds her nearest notebook and jots down all of her thoughts.
This way, when I begin to write the white space is not paralyzing because its not a blank page,
I already have thoughts. said Hayes.
Hayes, who taught speech writing to college students once, identifies a college students
tendency to wait to begin writing until the night before an assignment is due as a key deterrent
to a successful speech. Hayes finds that when a writer begins their writing process well in
advance of a due date, whether it be just jotting down notes or thinking in the shower, is critical
to successful writing.
Hayes ability to transition from the blank page to writing is because of the preparation
she does prior to her due date. The brainstorming and research Hayes conducts allows her to --
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-- create a general structure for her writing.

Hayes will read her speech to her

She acknowledges that there will be gaps in

husband, members of her speech writing

this structure, but at least she will have a

team, and her client to get different

general idea of a sense of flow.

perspectives. Hayes often will receive

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

criticism on her work, but emphasizes that

the need to be able to handle this feedback is
crucial to the editing process and successful
writing.
Some of my best material comes from

reading the speech aloud for her husband

over and over again.

other people. Hayes said. This is because so

often other people can bring a different

In order to write a good speech, you

must read it aloud. Hayes said. Something

perspective to the table that I may not have

seen.

may seem genius on paper, but then you read

it out loud and your like wow, this so
boring.

Whats Next?

Whats next for Lindsay? She is

currently working on a book that examines

Editing Stage
When it comes to editing, You have to
be ruthless, Hayes said. You must be your

womens role in politics. Perhaps we shall see

Lindsay as a part of the upcoming presidential
election campaigns. In the meantime, its

own biggest critic. Cut stuff out, throw it on important to remember if youre struggling to
the floor and move on. This is an issue for

start writing, the solution is simple: take a

the college students and most writers,

shower.

according to Hayes.

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LETS RECAP!
If y ou w ant t o w rite a g reat
speech f ollow D r. L indsay H ayes
speechwriting t ips!
1.) Extensive Research and Planning

Conduct background research before

meeting with a client
Double and Triple check your facts!

2.) Make P roper Use of your Time o f

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

Seek multiple perspectives

Dont be afraid to take criticism
Be ruthless in your editing

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

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

ht tp: // www. thedai lybeast. com/ art icl es/2009/ 11/03/ sarah-pali ns-lost -vict ory -speech.ht ml

Lindsay Hayes: The Romney Campaigns Secret Weapon

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

NCAs First Undergraduate Honors Conference

ht tp: // ncabl og.org/ 2013/ 05/ 22/ncas-f irst -undergraduat e-honors-conference/