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How To Write A Speech In Under 30 Minutes

Writing a speech is much like any other form of writing. To write a speech in under thirty minutes, you need to have a plan, write from experience, and be invested in what you are writing. Take some time to follow these steps, and writing a speech quickly will be no problem.

Write what you know
If there is any aspect to the speech's subject that you know well, write about it. If you're writing a speech about how to design boats and you have designed several canoes, speak about canoe design. People can tell when you are speaking or writing from experience. Writing a speech with direct reference to something you have done will enrich it greatly and keep you writing quickly.

Write what's interesting
Ideally, the topic you'll be covering in a speech is one you know well. If you're lucky, you could probably write a five-page paper on the subject. While it is good to have a lot of content to pull from, you want to focus the speech on what is most appropriate. To write quickly, focus on what is most interesting to you at that moment. It will be what is at the top of your head. You can get bogged down when trying to write a speech quickly if you try and fit all the information you know into the speech. Instead, write only the three or four points that jump out at you right away.

Write an outline
Now that you know what to write, the next step is to write an outline. A good outline probably starts with a bulleted list of topics you want to cover in your speech. After you've written a list of topics, go through and write at least one sentence for each topic. Change the order until you've got the bones of the speech you want to write. Finally, write a good opening paragraph and a good closing paragraph. The writing will flow quickly from there.

Write it quickly
This may sound like an obvious step, but it is easy to lose speed while writing if you get distracted, if you try to make the writing too perfect, or if you are writing to a particularly critical audience. When you write the first draft of anything, write for yourself. This means writing what you would want to hear, and it also means putting all the critics to bed while you pound out that first draft. The critics, both internal and external, will get their say later. For the first draft of writing your speech, write quickly and from the top of your head. You'll be surprised at the quality of material that will fall from your pen if you are writing without thinking to hard about it. You've already done the planning in your outline. Now, write faster than your inner critic can keep up with. You'll have a really good first draft to work with in no time.

Read it out loud before you revise
Now that you've got a good draft of the speech you're writing, the next step is to read it out loud. There can be a big difference between how something sounds in your head while you're reading it and how it sounds when you're actually speaking the words. Record your read-through and replay it. Make notes on changes you need to make. Go back through and make those changes, and then put the speech away for a few minutes. Get a drink, go for a short walk, do anything that will get your brain off the speech for a little while. Then, come back and do the final revision. Clearing your brain first will make any mistakes you've made pop out at you, and the final revision will likely catch most typos and other mistakes. Once you've revised, you're ready to make your speech.

By: mishaanatolia

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Misha Anatolia is a relationship and bridal writer. To see some bridal shower wording ideas or for more bridal shower info, go to bridal-showers.org. Note: You can reprint this article in your ezine, blog, or website as long as the credits remain intact and hyperlinks remain active and do follow.

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