Backward speechwriting: why writing the end of your speech may be the perfect start
So many speeches don’t (…dammit…) Whenever I find myself repeatedly writing, deleting and re-writing the first lines of s (…augh…) The Oxford English Dictionary defin (hell, no.) Ever find yourself staring at a blank screen, stymied at how to start a...
Rock star speechwriters: learn to hear the music in your speech
One of my favourite things about Facebook is that Jon Favreau’s community page lists him as “musician/band”. Not just because he’s kind of a rock star (in, you know, speechwriter terms). But because I’ve argued for a long time that...Hi, this is your passion. I’m not available right now, but if you’d like to leave a brief message…
The best 12 words of speaking advice I’ve seen in a long time came from this article: WRITE your speech from the heart. DELIVER your speech from your skill. Your passion is real—but it isn’t always available on command. To convey the passion behind your ideas every time you speak demands skill and practice. Filed … Continue reading →
That whole Barbie fooferaw
Instead of repeating what many others have said, and better than I could (holy crap, that book was sexist!) I have a few thoughts on BarbieBookGate that touch on Mattel’s response. I’ve posted them over at Medium; the gist of it is that “when Barbie...
What makes a speech’s call to action powerful? A theory of change.
Inspiring speeches don’t just persuade people of a point of view; they urge the audience to action, and show them how that action will produce meaningful progress toward a better world. Here’s an example. After I tweeted this column by the Vancouver Sun’s Daphne Bramham (“We need citizens, not just taxpayers and bookkeepers“), Ryan Merkley … Continue reading →
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.
