| The amount of preparation time you put into writing | | | | to craft this section so you can leave the audience |
| a speech can make the difference between giving a | | | | with something to think about. |
| good speech and giving a great speech. During the | | | | Practicing Your Speech |
| preparation phase, you will have to decide on a | | | | After refining your speech to the point where you |
| theme, develop points that support your theme and | | | | think it's ready, rehearse it so you can become more |
| choose a writing style that bests suits your | | | | comfortable with how it sounds and how it feels. You |
| personality. You can also choose to include quotes, | | | | may need to refine the speech a bit more if you |
| jokes or stories from your own experiences to | | | | notice awkward pauses or realize your theme is not |
| further your theme. | | | | repeated throughout. Some people rework their |
| Tips for Writing the Perfect Speech | | | | speech until the moment before they give it, so don't |
| Deciding on a theme for your speech is the first step | | | | feel you have to create the perfect speech after |
| toward writing the perfect speech. The theme should | | | | the first try. |
| be related to the event you're attending. Whether | | | | You should not stop revising and editing even though |
| you're receiving an award or introducing a new | | | | you've moved on to the rehearsal stage. Practicing |
| product at a business conference, your speech | | | | your speech in front of others who will give you |
| should fit the occasion. | | | | honest feedback is a great idea, especially if you're a |
| After choosing a theme, the next step is to create | | | | little nervous. When giving your speech, maintain a |
| an outline that includes all the points you want to | | | | relaxed posture, speak slowly and clearly, and try to |
| make. These points should lead back to the main | | | | make eye contact whenever possible. This will make |
| theme of the speech so the audience doesn't forget | | | | you seem comfortable in front of others. |
| it. | | | | Memorizing your speech is not recommended as it |
| Writing down each point and expanding on it is the | | | | can make you appear wooden or fake. Memorize the |
| best way to create a first draft. Many people | | | | main points in your speech and rehearse the speech |
| number their points so they're easy to follow during | | | | many times so you can talk to the audience rather |
| the writing stage. | | | | than spout back memorized information. You want to |
| Refining the first draft by clarifying certain points, | | | | appear as calm and relaxed as possible during your |
| adding personal anecdotes and cleaning up sloppy | | | | speech. If you forget a point during your speech, |
| language or omitting points that do not lead back to | | | | refer to your note cards so you can get back on |
| the theme is a necessary part of speech writing and | | | | track. |
| should not be overlooked. It is through editing and | | | | Keep in mind that even the most perfect speeches |
| reworking each section that your speech will become | | | | are not really perfect - the person giving the speech |
| more focused and poignant. How you end the | | | | was simply prepared enough to avoid disaster while |
| speech is the most important part, so take the time | | | | keeping the audience engaged at the same time. |