Writing Services

Writing

 

We will edit your important report or submission.  Our document will be clear, interesting to read, and will be focused on its purpose and value to you.

 

Our consultants are qualified and experienced writers.  Richenda Rudman holds a Graduate Diploma in Writing and Speech from Latrobe University, and has taught, authored and edited widely around Australia.  She has her own speechwriting consultancy named Speech Creators.

 

The principal consultant is Roger Fry. Roger is a former A Plus journalist who worked in newspapers, radio and television before becoming a ministerial assistant in Canberra. In that capacity he edited cabinet submissions, and wrote and edited ministerial speeches.

 

More recently he has planned, and prepared reports and submissions for both the government and private sectors.

 

We believe clarity is achieved in a number of ways.

• Planning the sequence so that a reader is less likely to get confused.
• Using logical layout, with headings, charts and tables to assist.
• Always watching the Flesch-Kincaid indicators – short words, short sentences.
• Mixing sensory language preferences to give a ‘native tongue’ effect.

 

The end result is a document which meets its purpose, and is a pleasure to read.

Speechwriting

 

We will write or edit your speeches.

 

Of all the writing tasks, the speech can be the trickiest. It is going to be read aloud and heard – often by someone who is not an experienced reader. It needs to sound authentic – as if the speaker is making it up, rather than regurgitating what someone else has written.

 

Imagine reading a speech, and basking in the applause and some intelligent questioning. It’s easy to achieve this if you get the speech right.

 

Here’s how:

 

• Briefing the writer. What do you want the speech to do? What would happen if it wasn’t given? Who is in the audience? Can they deliver the objective? Do you need a summary for the media (usually a good idea)?
• Decide on the duration. Speeches longer than 15-20 minutes can send audiences to sleep.
• Establish the approval process and drafting schedule before you start.
• Appoint one or two technical experts for the writer to consult.
• Give the writer details about the function at which the speech will be delivered – names of contacts, other speakers etc.
• Provide as much information as you can. Research costs time and money.

 

Once you approach us, we will give an estimate of how long the project will take, and how much it will cost. As a rough guide, a 15 minute speech for a conference, where you have supplied background and had a one hour chat with the writer could take three days to draft.