How to Write a Perfect Speech from Scratch that Hits the High Notes

At one point or another, most people are faced with writing, and then delivering a speech to an audience. Everyone’s greatest fear is having that speech flop and losing the audience in the process. So how can you go about writing a perfect speech? Well, there are actually some easy-to-follow steps and tips that make the process a whole lot less stressful, ensuring that the speech will be a big hit.

Step One - Get Specific with Your Topic

The very first step in writing a great speech is to choose a specific topic. If you pick something that is too vague, it’s not going to connect with the audience. Think about what the goal of your speech is, what you hope to achieve. This will help you narrow down your idea to a main thought. At the same time, you will want to think about the supporting ideas. What is the “evidence” you will be using to prove your point? It may be helpful to create a rough outline.

While you’re thinking about your main point and supporting evidence, it’s always important to keep in mind that your speech is going to be limited to a specific amount of time. Packing too much or too little into a speech will definitely take away from its impact on the audience.

Step Two - Piece the Information Together

Before you start the writing process, it’s a good idea to piece the information together in a manner that makes sense and flows. Jumping from one idea to another will make it very hard for your audience to follow. Each idea should naturally flow into the next one without it feeling disjointed.

There is a basic speech outline that can be followed, which is:

• An introduction or opening: This is one of the most important parts of the speech because this is when you first will grab or lose your audience. Make sure it is punchy, to the point, and engaging. Action words can help.
• The body of the speech: Here is where you provide the meat of the speech - meaning all the evidence, proof, facts, and figures. Keep things to the point and try not to stray off the main focus.
• The Conclusion or ending: Here is where you will be able to tie everything together, so it’s a good idea to refer back to the introduction.

Step Three - Watch Your Language

Far too many people make the mistake of using words in their speech that they would never use in real life. The most effective speeches are those that sound natural and true, meaning it sounds just like how you talk. This helps to give the speech credibility as you seem believable as you deliver the content. Using language that resembles everyday conversations will capture the audience and help to hold their attention.

Step Four - Find a Practice Audience

Here’s a tip that many people are aware of, and it really can’t be stressed enough. You never want your first read of your speech to be in front of the audience. Instead, find someone to do practice read-through with. You will be able to gauge their reaction, you will start to memorize your words, and it will give you a chance to pick up on potential issues and fix them.

Another big bonus to practicing is that it helps where nerves are concerned. The majority of people will feel some kind of stress or nerves before delivering a speech, but this can be drastically reduced if you’ve practiced and feel confident in yourself and your speech.

Be sure that when you do your practice reading that someone is timing the speech. It may be necessary to cut or add content depending on how long it takes to deliver it.

Always Remember Your Audience

In the end, it’s important to always keep your audience in mind as you write that perfect speech. Write with them in mind and you’re sure to succeed!