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Speech writing

How to write a speech that lands

Start from the line you want people to repeat, then build the outline that leads there. Write it out to think, then deliver from notes.

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Start at the end

Most people start with the opening line. Start with the last one instead: decide the one sentence you want the audience to leave repeating, and build everything else to set it up.

Outline before you write

An outline is a written summary of your key ideas, organized logically (AmberWillo). Outline five things before you draft. The general purpose is one of three: to inform, to persuade or to entertain (Stand Up, Speak Out).

Topic
What the talk is about, in a few words.
General purpose
To inform, to persuade or to entertain.
Specific purpose
What this audience should know or do afterwards.
Central idea
Your message in one sentence.
Main points
The few steps that carry the central idea.

Before any of this, find out who will be listening. Their needs shape your topic, your level of detail and your examples (Stand Up, Speak Out).

Open and close strong

Skip "Today I'm going to talk about X". Open with a startling statement, a short story or a quotation, and keep it short: the whole introduction should be only 10 to 15 percent of the speech. Close by restating your central idea, reviewing your main points and ending on a line people remember (Stand Up, Speak Out). The structure guide shows how the parts fit: how to structure a speech.

Write it out, then speak from notes

Writing a full draft helps you think. On the day, speak from brief notes in a conversational way. That is extemporaneous delivery, the style used in the great majority of public speaking situations (Saylor). Read the glossary entry for how it compares with a manuscript or memorized speech.

Questions readers ask

Should I write the speech out word for word?

Write it out to think clearly, then deliver it from notecards with key words and phrases. Notes like that keep you from reading to your audience (Stand Up, Speak Out).

How do I make a speech memorable?

Give it one central idea, open with something that grabs attention and finish by reviewing your main points with one strong closing line (Stand Up, Speak Out). Repetition helps too: see anaphora.

Say your draft out loud

A draft only works once it is spoken. Confidently takes the full speech, up to 30 minutes, and counts your ums.

Practise out loud for free

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Sources

  1. Specific Purposes, Stand Up, Speak Out (Saylor Academy open textbook)
  2. Why Conduct an Audience Analysis?, Stand Up, Speak Out (Saylor Academy open textbook)
  3. The Attention-Getter: The First Step of an Introduction, Stand Up, Speak Out (Saylor Academy open textbook)
  4. Steps of a Conclusion, Stand Up, Speak Out (Saylor Academy open textbook)
  5. Using Notes Effectively, Stand Up, Speak Out (Saylor Academy open textbook)
  6. Four Methods of Delivery, in Stand Up, Speak Out: The Practice and Ethics of Public Speaking, Saylor Academy open textbook
  7. How to Create an Effective Public Speaking Outline, AmberWillo

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