A speech is written to speak it out publicly in front of live audiences. It becomes imperative to maintain a positive relationship with the target so that you can hold their attention.
The key to how to write a speech is the gripping words and the way you present those words to keep the people in the auditorium hooked. It is about painting a mental likeness that people can connect and identify with.
A speech needs to have some style and flamboyance, for instance, some funny anecdotes, a quotation, or some local words if you are speaking in a different city or country to bridge the gap between you and the spectators and a good ending that will leave the listeners wanting for more.
Various types of speech
The different types of speeches that can make your task easier are-
1. Entertaining speech
The speech that is written to entertain your audience is referred to as entertaining speech. The topics might not be practical and instructional, but even such speeches have relevance and support a specific purpose.
The need to entertain the audience and keep them captivated is more than any other type of speech.
2. Persuasive speech
When the speaker tries to sway his audiences to his side of the story, then it is referred to as persuasive speech. The words are influential, no doubt, but the body language of the speaker is also convincing at its best.
It is the combination that works in favor of the speech. One of the prime examples of a persuasive speech can be at religious functions, where the religious leaders try to brainwash the listeners to their way of thinking.
Another example of a persuasive speech is when the teachers write a speech for the kids.
3. Informative speech
As the name suggests, an informative speech is instructive by nature. It will have words that will educate and inform its target audiences about a specific topic.
For instance, you are speaking at a conference where Blockchain in accounting is the topic of conversation then your speech writing format will be informative as you would want to integrate and build a viable bridge between the two subjects. Make sure to keep your informative speech of the correct length lest you start boring your audience.
The introduction should grab the attention of the listeners so that they can get involved and relate to the content. It should be followed by a statement that will define your topic and state the purpose and end with a conclusion that will reaffirm the facts.
4. Special occasion speech
Some speeches are meant for special occasions like a marriage ceremony where the best friends say few words to honor the bride and groom, at a convocation or graduation ceremony where their principal honors the students, the eulogy is spoken by friends and family members when someone close to them dies, etc.
The special occasion speeches are generally short and informative with direct relevance to the event.
Steps for writing a speech
Some simple steps while writing a speech are as follows-
1. Know your target audience
A speech is written with the mindset of reaching out to a specific target. Research your audience so that you can know and identify with them if you are looking for how to write a speech.
What the audience needs and what they want to hear are essential queries that the writer should consider before writing a speech outline.
If it is an intellectual audience at a formal event, you will have to keep your speech informative, whereas if it is a unique circumstance, then formal but specific to the occasion. When you recognize the target, it becomes easier to find words that will create a viable connection.
2. Select a topic
Until and unless you have a specific topic at your disposal, writing a speech is merely impossible. In most cases, the speaker is told about the event and the topic he will have to speak on beforehand.
This helps him to concentrate on the given topic. In the absence of a specific topic, you can find out about the event and discern the topic if you are looking for how to write a speech.
This will give you a fair idea of the topic so that creating the framework is no longer a hassle.
3. Know about your topic
Selecting the topic was the easier part, but knowing about it inside out is serious work. Research so that you can gather valuable information relevant to the content if you are looking for how to write a speech.
Do not stuff your speech with too much information as it will confuse and ultimately distract the audience. The idea is to hold their attention, not to overwhelm them with too much data. It is essential to get to the point in a few minutes so that people are interested in it from the onset.
Some people have a habit of taking it very slowly, and by the time they come to the main topic, they have already lost the audience. However, good the speech introduction was written later on; it becomes meaningless.
4. Determine the length of the speech
The audience is not going to sit and listen to your words the whole day. No matter how good a speech is, there is a time to wrap it up before the audience starts leaving the event.
Know about the time allotted to every speaker beforehand so that you can write a speech outline accordingly by keeping the time limit in mind. The length of the speech is dependent on the time you have been given.
Make sure to keep it a bit short than the actual time so that you have some minutes to yourself. Once a speech is written, it is better to speak up and clock it so that the timeline is maintained.
5. Keep the tone right
The audience keeps on changing at every event, but the fact remains that until you create a bond with them, the speech is of no use. Sometimes you see people in the audience talking to each other or busy with their mobile devices, whereas the speaker is continuing with his speech.
It looks insulting, but the problem lies with the speaker who was unable to keep his audience entertained. The best way of how to write a speech and delivering it for maximum impact is by making it conversational.
Take a tone that you are most likely to use in your speech. It can be instructive or conversational or persuasive. Do not treat your audience like a fool and keep the tone polite. Using inappropriate language, cursing, and using swear words is also strictly no, so pay attention to the tone.
6. Determine the body of your speech
Just like the length and tone, the body of the speech is equally important if you are looking for how to write a speech. There are various ways to organize the body of a speech, which, to a great deal, is dependent on the topic you are writing.
In the casual approach, the speechwriter will have to use the cause and effect pattern. In contrast, in the topical approach, the information related to a subject is presented one at a time.
The spatial approach will give the audience a general idea of the physical design, and the most commonly used chronological approach will follow the events in time. Organize it beforehand for the maximum impact if you are looking for how to write a speech.
7. Write your speech
All the steps mentioned above are the groundwork so that you can write a speech that will prove useful in front of its target. If you are writing a speech for the first time, then think of the speech as an essay that will have the introduction at the onset to lay the groundwork, the body with the main points in the middle, and a mind-blowing conclusion at the end.
The primary point of differentiation between the two is that an essay is read, whereas the speech will be heard at an event at a specific time. Remember some necessary steps while writing the speech. Keep your thoughts organized and start with a speech outline.
Now think about the tone you want to use while speaking so that your speech can be written in the same format to avoid confusion. Use speaker notes as it will make your job easier. Using short and simple sentences in the speech is recommended as they are easy to write, remember, listen to, and understand.
Better be specific as facts and figures help to bond with the audience. When you are generalizing, it seems vague, and people often are not convinced. Repeat crucial keywords and buzzwords that have the power to connect with the audience.
8. Keep an eye on the conclusion
The conclusion is often the most difficult as well as the essential part of the speech. How to conclude so that the listener is hooked and sees it as food for future thoughts should be your primary concern when writing a speech.
Restate the main points and end it with a bang to create the most significant effect if you are looking for how to write a speech.
9. Go through the speech carefully
Once you have written your speech, it is time to read and revisit it thoroughly. Check that all the major points have been mentioned and are in the correct order.
Go through the length and tone to determine its suitability amongst the spectators if you are looking for how to write a speech.
10. Add a presentation tool
This is the modern world where the visual impact is more significant than the words that you are speaking. To make your speech powerful, you can add a presentation tool, for instance, Google Slides or PowerPoint, so that it can be a blessing in making your point convincingly. The visual and audio additions will enhance your speech and keep the spectators engaged.
11. Practice
Memorize the speech and practice innumerable times. This will help the speaker to look into the eyes of the audience and connect with them one-to-one.
12. Give out handouts
If you are interested in creating maximum impact give out handouts. The audience can take them home and reconnect with you once again. It is also your contact information and can help you with further networking.
Conclusion
The reason why some speeches are successful and some are not is because people have taken the time to go through all the essential steps of speech writing to make the experience memorable.
Remember, the speech which manages to link together every syllable is the one that leaves a positive impression on the mindset of its audience.
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