How to Write a Speech

- step-by-step speech writing help

Learning how to write a speech needn't be a nail biting experience!

Unsure? Don't be.

You may have lived with the idea you were never good with words for a long time.

Or perhaps writing speeches at school brought you out in cold sweats but this is different.

Learning to write a speech is straight forward when you learn to write out loud.

And that's what you are going to do now: step by step.

To learn quickly, go slow

If this is your first speech, take all the time you need. There are 7 steps, each building on the next. Walk, rather than run, your way through all of them. Don't be tempted to rush. Familiarize yourself with the ideas. Try them out.

I know there are well-advertized short cuts and promises of 'write a speech in 5 minutes' but in reality they only truly work for somebody who already has the basic foundations of speech writing in place.

These 7 steps are the backbone of sound speech preparation. Learn them well at the outset and yes, given more experience and practice you could flick something together quickly. Like any skill, the more it's used the easier it gets. In the meantime ...

If you've done your background preparation you're set to go.

To begin you need your speech overview or outline

If you haven't got one, check these guidelines on how to prepare a speech outline .

Or click here for a simplified 'no frills' 4 step downloadable speech outline template

Before you go any further you need to know:

• WHO you are writing your speech for (the audience)
• WHAT your speech is going to be about (its topic)
  - the main points ranked in order of importance with supporting research
• HOW long it needs to be eg. 3 minutes, 5 minutes...

Having an overview or outline will reduce the time and possible stress involved in writing and preparing your speech. Believe me, they work!

How to Write a Speech: Construction

The basic speech format is simple. It consists of three parts:

1. an opening or introduction
2. the body where the bulk of the information is given
3. and an ending (or summary).

Think of it as a sandwich. The opening and ending are the slices of bread holding the filling (body) together.

You can build yourself a simple sandwich with one filling or you can go gourmet and add up to three or even five. The choice is yours.

But whatever you choose to serve, as a good cook, you need to consider who is going to eat it! And that's your audience.

So with them in mind, let's prepare the filling first.

How to Write a Speech: Step One

Begin with the most important idea/point on your outline.

Consider HOW you can explain (show, tell) that to your audience in the most effective way for them to easily understand it. A good speech is never written from the speaker's point of view.

(If you need to know more about why check out this page on building rapport.)

To help you write from an audience point of view, identify either a real person or the type of person who is most likely to be listening to you.

Make sure you select someone who represents the 'majority'. That is they are neither struggling to comprehend you at the bottom of your scale or light-years ahead at the top.

Now imagine they are sitting next to you eagerly waiting to hear what you're going to say. Give them a name, for example, Joe, to help make them real.

Ask yourself:

• How do I need to tailor my information to meet Joe's needs?
  For example, do you tell personal stories illustrating your main points?
  This is a very powerful technique. You can find out more about storytelling in speeches here.
• What type or level of language is right for Joe as well as my topic?

How to Write a Speech: Step Two

Write down what you'd say as if you were talking directly to them.

If it helps, say everything out loud before you write and/or use a recorder.
After you've finished, take notes.

You do not have to write absolutely everything you're going to say down* but you do need to write the sequence of ideas to ensure they are logical and easily followed.

Remember too, to explain or illustrate your point with examples from your research.

(*Tip: If this is your first speech the safety net of having everything written down could be just what you need. It's easier to recover from a patch of jitters when you have a full set of notes than if you have either none or a bare outline. Your call!)

How to Write a Speech: Step Three

Rework Step Two (your first main point) until you've made yourself clear.

Do not assume because you know what you're talking about the person (Joe) you've chosen to represent your audience will too. Joe is not a mind-reader.

• Check the 'tone' of your language.
  Is it right for the occasion, subject matter and your audience?
• Check the length of your sentences.
  If they're too long or complicated you risk losing your listeners.
• Have you chosen words everybody will understand?
  There are 5 cent words and $5.00 words. Why use a $5.00 one when a 5 cent one tells it better?
  Example: He 'spat' = 5 cents. He 'expectorated' = $5.00

  Check for jargon too. These are industry, activity or group exclusive words. If you're an outsider you won't know them and that's alienating.

• Read what you've written out loud.
  If it flows naturally continue the process with your next main idea. If it doesn't, rework.
• Remember you are writing 'oral language'.
  You are writing as if you were explaining, telling or showing something to someone. It doesn't have to be perfect sentences. We don't talk like that.

  We use whole sentences and part ones and we mix them up with asides or appeals e.g. 'Did you get that? Of course you did. Right...Let's move it along. I was saying ...'

Repeat How to Write a Speech Steps One, Two & Three for the remainder of your main ideas.
Because you've done the first block carefully, the rest should come fairly easily.

How to Write a Speech: Step Four: Linking or Transitions

Between each of your main ideas you need to provide a pathway. This links them for your listeners. The clearer the path, the easier it is to make the transition from one idea to the next. If your speech contains more than three main ideas and each is building on the last, then consider using a 'catch-up' or summary as part of your transitions.

A link can be as simple as:

'We've explored one scenario for the ending of Block Buster 111, but let's consider another. This time...' What follows is the introduction of Main Idea Two.

A summarizing link or transition example:

'We've ended Blockbuster 111 four ways so far. Everybody died, 1. Everybody died BUT their ghosts remained, 2. One villain died. His partner reformed and after a fight-out with the hero, they both strode off into the sunset, 3. 4,The hero dies in a major battle but is reborn sometime in the future. And now what about one more? What if nobody died? The fifth possibility...'

Go back through your main ideas checking the links. Remember Joe as you go. Try each transition or link out loud and listen to yourself. Write them down when they are clear and concise.

How to Write a Speech: Step Five: The Ending

The ideal ending is highly memorable. You want it to live on in the minds of your listeners. Often it combines a call to action with a summary of major points.

Example:
The desired outcome of a speech persuading people to vote for you in an upcoming election is that they do so. You can help that outcome along by calling them to register their support by signing a prepared pledge statement as they leave.

Example:
The desired outcome is increased sales figures. The call to action is made urgent with the introduction of time specific incentives.

'You have three weeks from the time you leave this hall to make that dream family holiday in New Zealand yours. Can you do it? Will you do it? The kids will love it. Your wife will love it. Do it now!'

NB. A clue for working out what the most appropriate call to action might be, is to go back to the original purpose for giving the speech.

• Was it to motivate or inspire?
• Was it to persuade to a particular point of view?
• Was it to share specialist information?
• Was it to celebrate a person, a place, time or event?

Ask yourself what you want people to do as a result of having listened to your speech.

(You can find out more here about how to end a speech effectively. You'll find two additional types of endings with examples.)

Write your ending and test it out loud.

How to Write a Speech: Step Six: The Introduction

Once you've got the filling (main ideas) the linking and the ending in place, it's time to focus on the introduction.

The introduction comes last as it's the most important part of your speech. This is the bit that either has people sitting up alert or slumped and waiting for you to end.

What makes a great opening?
You want one that makes listening to you the only thing the 'Joes' in the audience want to do. You want them to forget they're hungry or that their chair is hard or that the bills need paying.

The answer is to capture their interest straight away. You do this with a 'hook'.

Hooks come in as many forms as there are speeches and audiences. Your task is work out what the specific hook is to catch your audience.

Go back to the purpose. Why are you giving this speech? Once you have your answer, consider your call to action. What do you want the audience to do as a result of listening to you? Next think about the imaginary or real person you wrote for when you were focusing on your main ideas.

Ask yourself, if I were him/her what would appeal?

• Is it humor?
• Would shock tactics work?
• Is it formality or informality?
• Is it an outline of what you're going to cover, including the call to action?
• Or is it a mix of all these elements?

Here's an example from a fictional political speech. The speaker is lobbying for votes. His audience are predominately workers whose future's are not secure.

'How's your imagination this morning? Good? ( Pause for response from audience) Great, I'm glad. Because we're going to put it to work starting right now. I want you to see your future. What does it look like? Are you happy? Is everything as you want it to be? No? Let's change that. We could do it. And we could do it today. At the end of this speech you're going to be given the opportunity to change your world, for a better one ... No, I'm not a magician or a simpleton with big ideas and precious little commonsense. I'm an ordinary man, just like you.'

And then our speaker is off into his main points supported by examples. The end, which he has already foreshadowed in his opening, is the call to vote for him.

Experiment with several openings until you've found the one that serves your audience, subject matter and purpose best.

Writing your speech is very nearly done. There's just one more step to go!

How to Write a Speech: Step Seven: Checking

This 'how to write a speech' step pulls everything together.
Go through your speech several times carefully.

On the first read through check you've got your main points in their correct order with supporting material plus an effective introduction and ending.

On the second read through check the linking passages or transitions making sure they are clear and easily followed.

On the third reading check your sentence structure, language use and tone.

Now go though once more.

This time read it aloud slowly and time yourself. If it's too long make the necessary cuts. Start by looking at your examples rather than the main ideas themselves. If you've used several to illustrate one, cut the least important out. Also look to see if you've repeated yourself unnecessarily or gone off track. If it's not relevant, cut it.

Repeat the process, condensing until your speech fits just under the time allowance.

And NOW you are finished with 'how to write a speech', and are ready for REHEARSAL.

Please don't be tempted to skip this step. The 'not-so-secret' secret of successful speeches combines good writing with practice, practice and then practicing some more.

PS. As an interesting extra read this excellent article by professional key-note speaker, Avish Parashar. He's called it: 'Walk Your Talk'.

In it he explains what happened to him when he forgot to apply the good advice on how to write a speech he readily dishes out to others at his seminars. He was preparing a major speech and knew the 'x' factor was missing. You'll find it illuminating. Read here how he solved his problem.

Are you preparing a motivational speech?
If so professional motivational speaker Kevin Biggar talks about how he prepares in a special interview. He set a record rowing the Atlantic, has walked to the South Pole and these days uses his experiences to inspire others. As Kevin says, there is life beyond the couch!

The Quick How to Write a Speech Checklist Before you begin writing your speech you need: Your speech OUTLINE with your main ideas ranked in the order you're going to present them. If you haven't done one complete this 4 step sample speech outline. It will make the writing process much easier. Your RESEARCH You also need to know WHO you're speaking to, the PURPOSE of the speech and HOW long you're speaking for Basic Speech Construction Your speech will have three parts: an opening or introduction, the body where you present your main ideas and an ending. Split your time allowance so that you spend approximately 70% on the body and 15% each on the introduction and ending. How to write a speech Write your main ideas out incorporating your examples and research Link them together making sure each flows in a smooth, logical progression Write your ending, summarizing your main ideas briefly and end with a call for action Write your introduction considering the 'hook' you're going to use to get your audience listening An often quoted saying to explain the process is: Tell them what you're going to tell them (Introduction) Tell them (Body of your speech - the main ideas plus examples) Tell them what you told them (The ending) TEST before presenting. Read aloud several times to check the flow of material, the suitability of language and the timing.

Listed on: Dmegs Web Directory
Grateful thanks to Margan Zajdowicz for use of her 'creativity' image.

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