Challenge, call, recipe, reward: How to write the conclusion of your speech
Conclusions are one of the hardest parts of a speech to write. Here’s an approach to bringing any speech to a graceful end with an inspiring call to action.
Writing to be heard: a key to speechwriting
Wil Wheaton recently posted something to Medium, and it’s well worth reading on its own merits. But one passage jumped out at me in particular, and it’s one crucial key to speechwriting: Please note that I wrote this to be spoken/performed, and it may not...
The Pigeon of Dorian Gray, and why you should throw it off the fire escape
Early in my speechwriting career, I was writing for a political candidate. It began with a few weeks of straight-up euphoria. Great news coverage. Enthusiastic volunteers. Support and donations rolling in. (And I got to use state-of-the-art technology: a Compaq...
How long will that speech take to write?
A questioner on Quora asked a while ago how long it takes to write a speech, and what factors affect it. Here’s my answer: I’ve smashed out seven-minute speeches during an election campaign while the plane was landing for statements the speaker gave as soon as...On murdering one’s darlings, dahling
Having reviewed my posts over the last several years, I’ve realized that they’re almost entirely made up of darlings. In fact, if you check the source code, you’ll see I make liberal use of the little-known <darling> tag. (By the way, a lot of...
Why, yes — I’d LOVE to speak at your event
Public speaking and speechwriting: the essential guides
Looking for advice on public speaking, speechwriting and leadership communications? Here are some of my most comprehensive posts, on topics that people ask me about most often.
