How to Write a Speech

Whether you’re prepping for a motivational or informative speech, speakers have one goal in mind: Imparting a profound message to the audience. However, even the most articulate speakers have trouble putting all their thoughts into writing. This is the reason why they hire the services of a speechwriter. Read on to find out why speechwriting is difficult, why writers and speakers need constant communication and learn useful tips on how to write a speech. 

Challenges in the Speechwriting Process

It’s extremely difficult for some speakers to draft their thoughts into words, let alone speechwriters who are telling an angle from another person’s perspective. If you are prepping for an important speech or if you’re writing a speech for someone, hang on tight. It might be tough starting with a blank page yet doable if you learn the ropes. 

So why does speechwriting pose difficult challenges? Imagine yourself talking to a teenager versus talking to an adult. How you communicate with a teenager is undeniably different from an adult. That’s because both have various mentalities, perspectives, and experiences. The same applies to speechwriting. In speechwriting, you have to factor in the various audience profiles so you can choose your words carefully. 

Another reason why writing a speech is difficult is because everything is expressed in words. Before the speaker delivers the piece, you’ll have to rule out verbal emphasis and gesticulation. You have to organize your thoughts, combine them with powerful words, and create a logical structure to create a compelling piece.

Writing speeches that cover topics you’re passionate about can be a walk in the park. However, it can be an entirely different ballgame for an unfamiliar topic. In-depth research is futile without perennial collaboration with the speaker. That’s why it’s essential to communicate with the speaker so the speech comes out personal, coherent, and impactful. 

A keynote speech comprises the speaker’s personal experiences or anecdotes. However, it can be difficult for writers to fill in the blanks or put pieces of stories and information together. Telling a story for another person is a tough position to be in. Simply communicating with the speaker on the phone isn’t enough. Writers and speakers need a collaborative connection so the writer gets to know the speaker on a more personal level. This will also allow speakers to suggest edits, omissions, or rewrites while both are whipping up a beautiful speech.

How to Write a Speech: Elements of Speechwriting

Speechwriting can be broken down into five different parts. These parts are all interwoven and will almost always never work without one or the other. By putting all these elements together, the speech will have a logical structure that is clear and engaging. 

• Opening remarks. The moment the speaker walks on stage, all eyes will be on him. Ensure that you hook the audience in the first few seconds of the speech by creating an attention-grabbing opening. You may start with a joke, a quote from other keynote speakers, literary passages, personal stories, opinions on current events, or an audience’s pain point.
• Subject or Argument. Ensure that you clarify what the speech is about by stating it from the get-go. You don’t want listeners to sit through the speaker’s dialogue only disappointing them in the end with an irrelevant topic.
• Message or Explanation. A coherent message is crucial, especially in a persuasive or debate speech. Keep your message short but sufficient enough to express your stand on the matter at hand.
• Structure. The structure is crucial in speechwriting. This creates a dramatic flow and seamless transition for speakers to state the matter or issues, then present solutions. Typically, speeches present a “problem-solution” format. However, other structures can also cover some steps or chronological comparison. 
• Call to action. A speaker may ace the speech’s delivery. However, without a call to action, the message will go in vain. In most cases, the closing remark is what listeners will remember the speakers by. Therefore, you should make the closing impactful by using powerful words that you’ve consistently repeated throughout the speech.

Tips on How to Write a Speech

The sad part about being the writer behind a speech is that the speaker mostly gets all the credit. However, as speechwriters, mastering this written art is gratifying. Ensure that you write an extraordinary speech that people remember. Here are a few tips on how to write a speech:

1. Make the opening enthralling

Keep your audience riveted right from the beginning of your speech. You can either tell them a jaw-dropping fact backed by statistic or concrete data. Other speakers also start with a funny story that’s somehow relevant to the matter. While others enchant the audience with their personal experiences. Nonetheless, a compelling opening remark transfixes the audience and is a way of saying, “there’s more, listen until the end.”

2. Write like you talk

Writing for the sake of writing might strip your piece of an engaging, and lively tone. That’s why Scholastic says, “write like you talk.” There’s nothing duller than listening to someone who talks like a robot. Write in a conversational style so your words transcend the speaker-listener barrier. 

3. Maintain the right tone from start to finish

Although delivery is entirely up to the speaker, the right use of words and structure will emanate the tone you want to achieve verbally. Are you writing a speech to entertain or motivate? Are you aiming to persuade the audience or challenge them? 

4. Stick to a few main ideas

Barraging the audience with more than a handful of ideas will only confuse them. Worse, they’ll probably never remember all of them! Ultimately, it’s vital to stick to one or two ideas so it emphasizes how essential those ideas are. You can always cover other issues and concerns on the next speechwriting assignment. 

5. Use transitions

One way to also emphasize a point or argument is by using transition words. Not only are these helpful in keeping your piece’s flow systematic, but it also snaps disengaged audiences back to the matter. 

6. Keep it short and concise

Reading a long yet excellent piece hooks audiences. However, listening to a long speech is another story. Aside from maintaining an enthusiastic tone throughout the piece, be sensitive to the listeners as well. Keep the speech short and concise but still covering the main ideas. 

7. End with a bang

One way to make listeners remember your speech is by imparting words that will stick with them no matter what. Your closing is as important as your opening. Make it count and say something your listeners will never forget.