Pro Rhetoric

09/01/2025

REGISTER NOW for this overwhelmingly edifying and entertaining course. (PSA members get 25% off)

AboutAgendaInstructorDetailsRegister Are your speeches getting things done? Are your video scripts connecting your leader to key constituencies, gettin ...

20/12/2024

A HAPPY HOLIDAY PROJECT, and a gift to give yourself: Make yourself a nice toddy, gather your best work from 2024 and enter it into the 2025 Cicero Speechwriting Awards. (Early-bird deadline January 31.)

https://prorhetoric.com/cicero-awards/

17/12/2024

"RATHER THAN WORRYING ABOUT DELIVERING THE PERFECT TALK, I concentrate on delivering a perfect phrase or sentence. A few well-delivered words can make a whole speech work." So advises the rhetoric writer Jay Heinrichs, today at Pro Rhetoric.

Some years ago, my wonderful young editor and publicist at Penguin UK managed to slot me into a lavish event that the publisher held in the London Palladium ...

17/12/2024

SPEECHWRITER, GET BETTER (AND HAVE FUN DOING IT).

This webinar has supercharged hundreds of speechwriting careers, and reinvigorated hundreds more.

Don't let another year pass without learning how to think more clearly, write more powerfully and persuade more reliably—from the beloved speechwriting teacher, Mike Long.

AboutAgendaInstructorDetailsRegister Are your speeches getting things done? Are your video scripts connecting your leader to key constituencies, gettin ...

21/11/2024

NOW AVAILABLE ON DEMAND ...
.. one of most well-attended and deeply appreciated sessions we've ever offered. Just a few of the many enthusiastic responses to Jeff Davenport's webinar:

"With the three principals my office supports, the training allowed me to identify why my interactions felt subtly but consistently off. What is blowing my mind is how quickly the relationships are straightening out as I apply the suggestions you and Jeff made."

"There's this idea that executive presence is innate--you have it or you don't. Like any tradecraft, or any aspect of Exec Comms tradecraft, it's something that can be learned and coached, no matter if you've
been on the job for 5 minutes or 50 years."

"Since I’ve consistently started applying tips from the training, my boss has started to relax and invest more."

"I only wish it would have been available at an earlier stage in my career, as it could have saved me from making some rookie mistakes that haunt me to this day."

"I’ve never entered a boardroom with more confidence. The difference was especially stark as I watched other committee members fidget and shrink--just as I would have (or been tempted to) a few months ago."

Yes, executive presence can be taught--and learned!

Get access to Executive Presence for Exec Comms Pros, at the Executive Communication Council's Professional Development Academy ON DEMAND.

https://prorhetoric.com/video-library/

19/11/2024

REGISTRATION IS OPEN for the most popular speechwriting course of all time.

In a teaching style described by a typically tickled participant as “cogent, insightful and hilarious,” the PSA’s resident writing coach Mike Long shows speechwriters and exec comms pros at every level how to work around the daily difficulties of this work, to achieve its greatest rewards.

Many hundreds of writers have happily passed through “Strategic Speechwriting” in the decade Mike’s been teaching it. Join them—in professional enlightenment, and delight.

“I think much more critically and analytically when it comes to my writing.”

“He allowed me to ask questions, find humor in mistakes, and he armed me well professionally.”

“The confidence I gained has been drawn on time and time again.”

“Seriously, a genius. Friggin’ amazing.”

Register now.

AboutAgendaInstructorDetailsRegister Are your speeches getting things done? Are your video scripts connecting your leader to key constituencies, gettin ...

15/11/2024

“INDEPENDENT SPEECHWRITERS: How Do You Charge, What Do You Get, and How Do You Feel About It?”

Download a free executive summary of the results of a new survey by the Professional Speechwriters Association, conducted in conjunction with independent speechwriter Jean Card. Some basic economic reality here, and lots of advice from working freelancers.

https://prorhetoric.com/psa-resources/

31/10/2024

YOU DON'T KNOW THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS.

Faced with an impossible rhetorical problem, Abraham Lincoln brought "great and terrible" persuasive powers to bear.

In his locknote lecture at the 2024 World Conference of the Professional Speechwriters Association, legendary writing professor Larry McEnenerny makes you see the Gettysburg Address again, for the first time.

A gift, from the Professional Speechwriters Association.

https://prorhetoric.com/the-gettysburg-address-as-youve-never-considered-it-before/

30/10/2024

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK'S PSA WORLD CONFERENCE? Or did you make the conference, but already miss being there!? This photoessay by me and Lauren Mueller will take you there.

Last week professional speechwriters for government officials, university presidents, corporate CEOs and nonprofit heads from around the world flocked toget ...

27/09/2024

OCTOBER 11 IS THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE for Speechapolooza—the PSA World Conference and Speechwriting School. This year of all years, don't fail to participate in the biggest and best annual gathering of global leadership communication professionals.

AboutAgendaSpeakersSponsorsLocationFAQRegister The 2024 World Conference of the Professional Speechwriters Association will take place in Washington, D.C., ...

19/09/2024

REGISTER FOR THE PSA WORLD CONFERENCE TO LEARN FROM TERRY SZUPLAT ...

The Obama White House Speechwriter Terry Szuplat is all over the media this week doing interviews on his new book, "Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience."

Szuplat is participating in the PSA World Conference next month, teaching a pre-conference workshop and joining a keynote panel.

*** Every conference participant receives a copy of "Say It Well." And we'd bet more than a few folks will get their books signed, while they're at it. ***

Register for the conference today, to secure your seat.

https://prorhetoric.com/event/psa-world-conference/

18/09/2024

IF YOU DO INDEPENDENT SPEECHWRITING and you haven't taken the PSA survey, please do so by the FRIDAY DEADLINE to make the data as useful and inclusive as it can be.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RSD6C7D?fbclid=IwY2xjawFX26dleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWxapiJN9DSiKpJdhrmXy5DN-R_yjpM32oRZUCknNQKCotHh8ECHPrrnpQ_aem_H6yHxX4IhZ-vCa-wYRF7rQ

05/09/2024

INDEPENDENT SPEECHWRITER, WE NEED TO KNOW: How do you charge, what do you get, and how do you feel about it?

For an important survey on the economics of independent speechwriting, the Professional Speechwriters Association needs to hear from independent speechwriters (and anyone for whom independent speechwriting is a part of your work).

The survey is quick to take, the information it gleans could change the industry.

Results will be revealed at the 2024 PSA World Conference next month ... and soon after, shared with the speechwriting world--and the broader communication business, too.

Please contribute your data ... and forward to anyone else who ought to weigh in.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RSD6C7D

26/08/2024

WHY EXEC COMMS PROS NEED TO "GET BIGGER" to win the confidence they need, from the powerful leaders they serve.

The term “executive presence” didn’t exist three decades ago when I first became acquainted with the joys and sorrows of corporate executive communication p ...

19/08/2024

IF YOU DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THIS FREE NEWSLETTER, YOU MISSED THESE STORIES, just this morning:

• Palantir CEO explains why he's voting Democrat this November.

• Columbia University president resigns because of "a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community."

• Former University of Florida President defends spending that others call "exorbitant."

• Why new Starbucks' CEO Brian Niccol won't move from California to the retailer's Seattle HQ; remote work is written into his contract.

• Registration is open for the inaugural Speechwriters of Color Conference, slated for Sept. 10 in D.C.

That's not all of it ... and that's just today!

So sign up now ... and get into the loop.

Executive Communication Report News, analysis and resources for those who help leaders communicate. Executive Communication - Searchable Get the Executive C ...

14/08/2024

BUILD A FOUNDATION BENEATH YOUR SPEECHWRITING CAREER.

Over the last decade, our beloved faculty has helped hundreds of speechwriters refine their craft.

Join us!

AboutAgendaSpeakersLocationRegister BECOME A SPEECHWRITER IN A DAY Leadership requires effective and inspiring communication, often in public. It's a v ...

12/08/2024

NOW AVAILABLE ON DEMAND.

If you missed this important event, you can now catch up at your convenience:

• Get briefed on how to prepare your execs for the election season, the evolution of AI, the backlash against DEI and ESG.

• Learn bleeding-edge best practices in exec comms in 2024.

• Receive deeply wise exec comms career advice from some the happiest warriors in the biz: How to provide max value to your organization, and receive max reward.

Now available on demand.

https://prorhetoric.com/videos/2024-executive-communication-summit/