There’s a great story over on The Moth in which Karen Duffin recounts an episode from her time as a speechwriter.
It’s very funny, and well worth 6-minutes of your time. Karen’s account of the speechwriter’s extra-curricula responsibilities caught my attention.
Beyond providing scripts, Karen says, the speechwriter is a “professional best friend” of the speaker.
And through that professional friendliness, Karen adds, the speechwriter becomes something like a teacher. They must hold their charge’s hand and bolster their confidence.
So very true, though few speakers will admit as much!