Frequently Asked Questions

What does Victoria Wellman do?

Victoria Wellman is a speechwriter, narrative strategist, and author based in New York. She works with executives, public figures, and organizations to craft speeches, scripts, and strategic narratives for high-stakes moments. Her work has been delivered on stages including TED, the United Nations, US Congress, the Super Bowl, MoMA, and the Tony Awards. She is also the author of Before You Say Anything: The Untold Stories and Failproof Strategies of a Very Discreet Speechwriter, published by St. Martin's Press.

What is the difference between speechwriting, scriptwriting, and narrative strategy?

Speechwriting is the craft of preparing a talk for a specific speaker at a specific moment — a keynote, an awards acceptance, a commencement address. Scriptwriting and content strategy extends that craft across formats: live events, immersive experiences, documentary, video, and brand campaigns. Narrative strategy operates at a higher level — it's the architecture of how a person or organization tells their story across every context, from internal communications to public positioning. Victoria works across all three, and many engagements involve more than one.

Who does Victoria Wellman work with?

Victoria's clients include C-suite executives, Fortune 500 companies, Olympic athletes, NFL players, NASA astronauts, Broadway performers, documentary filmmakers, political advocates, global brands, and international non-profits. She works with both individuals preparing for a single high-stakes moment and organizations building narrative frameworks that hold across audiences, formats, and time.

What is Victoria Wellman's process for writing a speech?

Victoria uses a proprietary creative process that begins with a deep exploratory conversation — not a questionnaire or a brief. She works as both writer and coach, guiding each speaker through an exploration of their material while centering the audience, the context, and the goal of the talk. The process includes delivery coaching, because a great speech delivered badly is still a missed opportunity.

What is Before You Say Anything about?

Before You Say Anything: The Untold Stories and Failproof Strategies of a Very Discreet Speechwriter is Victoria Wellman's first book, published by St. Martin's Press in 2022. It offers a rare look inside the creative process of a veteran speechwriter — how to identify your most compelling material, what to do with it when you find it, and how to lead with originality, intentionality, and respect for the audience. It's written for anyone who has ever had to stand up and say something that matters, not just professional speakers.

Where can I buy Before You Say Anything?

The book is available through Amazon and Greenlight Bookstore, and was published by St. Martin's Press.

Does Victoria Wellman offer delivery coaching?

Yes. Every speechwriting engagement includes coaching on delivery. Victoria's background in drama and performance — she trained at drama school before becoming a writer — gives her an understanding of what it feels like to be on stage that most speechwriters don't have. She works with speakers on pacing, presence, and how a line lands in a body before it lands in an audience.

Does Victoria work with organizations as well as individuals?

Yes. Victoria works with brands, agencies, production companies, and non-profits on event content strategy, brand narrative, documentary scripting, and executive communications. She can plug into a project at any stage — from narrative architecture to final script — and frequently works alongside internal marketing and communications teams.

What is The Oratory Laboratory?

The Oratory Laboratory is a boutique creative agency co-founded by Victoria Wellman and her late husband Nathan Phillips in 2008. It has been the practice through which Victoria has worked with over 500 clients across 18 years. Victoria Wellman LLC is the current business entity, with The Oratory Laboratory as a DBA.

How do I get in touch with Victoria Wellman?

Visit the contact page at victoriawellman.com/contact. Victoria works on a bespoke basis — rates and scope are discussed after an initial conversation about the project.