speechwriting Archives - Speakipedia https://speakipedia.com/category/speechwriting/ The Presentation & Storytelling Encyclopedia by Dave Bricker Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:48:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://speakipedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cropped-puzzle-globe-60x60.jpg speechwriting Archives - Speakipedia https://speakipedia.com/category/speechwriting/ 32 32 Speech Annotator (Demo) https://speakipedia.com/speech-annotator-free/ Sun, 28 Jul 2024 10:49:02 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=615413 Load a demo and view the generated results. By Dave Bricker Great words fail without great delivery, yet so many speechwriters deliver a manuscript and leave the performance up to the (often-inexperienced) speaker. Paste your speech into the box below … More ☛

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]]> Maybe It’s What You Want But… https://speakipedia.com/what-you-want/ Wed, 19 Jun 2024 19:20:27 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=613489 To continue with the theme of “Get Rid of Your I-Infection,” how many message do you receive that begin with phrases like: I want to invite you to a special event I just had to tell you about my new … More ☛

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]]> Writing is Design: Avoid Writing Clichés for Better Prose https://speakipedia.com/writing-cliches/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:20 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3099 Since time immemorial, clichés have sneaked in the door when we least expect them to. They’re low-hanging fruit for writers who abscond with them quickly instead of striving for excellence. But to the trained eye, writing clichés stick out like … More ☛

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]]> Verbs: Spice Up Your Writing with Verbs that Rock https://speakipedia.com/verbs/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:19 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=611652 Verbs are the engines that move your writing and your readers, but many authors don’t spend enough time choosing the right ones. If your writing was an electric guitar, your verbs would be the volume, tone, and distortion controls that … More ☛

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]]> The Singular They is Now Officially Correct https://speakipedia.com/singular-they-them/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:18 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=238539 Find your favorite writer and give them this message: They no longer have to mire their writing down with awkward “his or her” and “he or she” and “he/she” usages. According to The Washington Post, the singular they/them has been … More ☛

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]]> Essay Writing and The Art of the Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich https://speakipedia.com/essay-writing/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:17 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=355365 The principles behind the simple art of essay writing can be applied to most any kind of written work. Even if you never write an academic paper again, these techniques will help you write more focused and powerful prose. Time … More ☛

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]]> Writing is Design: Two-Word Writing Clichés https://speakipedia.com/writing-cliches-2/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:16 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4552 Two-word clichés are perhaps the least obvious kind. Unless we’re vigilant, they sneak into our prose, steal color, mask our individual writer’s voice, and make us sound like millions of other writers who mindlessly employ the same worn out word … More ☛

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]]> Track Changes – The Essential Tool for Writers and Editors https://speakipedia.com/track-changes/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:15 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4522 If you’re not using your Word Processor’s Track Changes function, you’re missing out on one of the best writing tools of the digital age. The good news: it’s quick and easy to learn. This video tutorial will show you how. … More ☛

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]]> Tabs, Indents, and Margins: How to use the Tab Ruler https://speakipedia.com/tabs-indents-margins-how-to-use-tab-ruler/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:12 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4239 This article explains the tab ruler found on every word processor and typesetting application. Understanding the simple and elegant split ruler and tab functions opens up a world of formatting opportunities. Digital typesetting and word processing inherited a number of … More ☛

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]]> English Pet Peeves https://speakipedia.com/english-pet-peeves/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:11 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4051 Discussions of English Language pet peeves provide an entertaining forum for the expression of ire. In fact, if a “pet” is something we cherish, and a “peeve” is something that annoys us, “pet peeves” are what we love to hate. … More ☛

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]]> Commatose: the Oxford Comma, or Serial Comma https://speakipedia.com/oxford-comma-serial-comma/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:11 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=4068 The Oxford comma, or serial comma is a subject of constant debate among writers. Do we need that comma before the last item on a list? Even without a list, the comma is an important determiner of meaning. Time to … More ☛

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]]> Creative Nonfiction, Memoir, and the Nature of Truth https://speakipedia.com/memoir/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:09 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3452 A few years ago, I attended a nonfiction-writing workshop where I was told by the instructor that to qualify as nonfiction, a work must adhere as strictly to truth as possible. But such an edict rests on the naïve assumption … More ☛

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]]> Writing is Design: Shy Away from Timid and Passive Writing https://speakipedia.com/passive-writing-timid-writing/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:07 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3133 “Passive writing” refers to a specific set of grammatical circumstances where emphasis switches from subject to object. The money was stolen by Jill. instead of Jill stole the money. This is confusing if you’re writing about Jill but perfectly acceptable … More ☛

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]]> Writing is Design: Boring Words & Generic Descriptions – Not Nice! https://speakipedia.com/boring-words/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:07 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3180 Generic descriptions are telltale signs of lazy writing. Add color to your writing by replacing overused and boring words. It’s such a nice day today. He’s very bright. My dog is really funny. Bill is a good soccer player. Shari … More ☛

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]]> Writing is Design – Writing Dialogue: He Said. She Said. https://speakipedia.com/writing-dialogue/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:07 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3322 Dialogue presents challenges for writers. Some prefer to simply declare what was “said.” Many authors feel that “said” is both traditional and invisible: “I’m going to write some dialogue,” said Bill. “I look forward to reading it, ”said Helene. But … More ☛

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]]> Writing is Design: Avoid Bland Pronouns and Boring Verbs https://speakipedia.com/pronouns-generic-verbs/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:06 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3041 As a graphic designer, I see numerous parallels between the values that create engaging imagery and the values that create engaging prose. So many designs fail because the designer arranged elements on a page without questioning their purpose, hierarchy, or … More ☛

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]]> Writing is Design: Eliminate THAT Fat From Your Writing https://speakipedia.com/writing-fat/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:06 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=3143 The word “that” is often abused. “That” is a perfectly useful pronoun but it’s often the useless fat that slows down an otherwise good sentence. I think that you and I need to talk. I told my readers that I … More ☛

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]]> What’s a Professional Editor Worth? https://speakipedia.com/whats-editor-worth/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:12:03 +0000 http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/?p=2729 What do you think a professional editor’s pay scale should be? Assume that a proofreader would be at the bottom of the scale and a developmental/line editor would be at the top. An examination of the work editors perform sheds … More ☛

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]]> How to Structure a Speech Part 4: Final Details. https://speakipedia.com/how-to-structure-a-speech-part-4/ Fri, 12 Apr 2024 21:29:45 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=8095 In part one, you define the outcome, the transformation. In part two, you mapped out the road to get there. In part three, you crafted opening lines that inspired your audience to pay attention to you and your message. What’s … More ☛

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]]> Storytelling Mistakes: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It https://speakipedia.com/storytelling-mistakes-if-i-can-do-it-you-can-do-it/ Tue, 09 Apr 2024 20:38:27 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=8034 We’ve all heard that speaker, the one with a particular type of poor me story that can actually be dangerous. I had a wonderful career doing what I loved and making lots of money. I lived in a beautiful house … More ☛

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]]> Using Other People’s Content: Fair Use https://speakipedia.com/fair-use/ Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:55:04 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=7308 When can you use someone else’s intellectual property? With the property-holder’s permission, you can do what you want. That’s the safest way to use anyone else’s anything. Otherwise, the “gray area” is governed by the doctrine of fair use and … More ☛

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]]> Protect Your Ideas: Trademarks https://speakipedia.com/protect-your-ideas-trademarks/ Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:39:37 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=7297 Trademarks are registered for names and logos associated with specific purposes. For example, my StorySailing® name is trademarked and the corresponding logo has a separate trademark. Because I registered a trademark for StorySailing, nobody else can legally use that name—unless … More ☛

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]]> Protect Your Ideas: Copyright https://speakipedia.com/copyright/ Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:26:44 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=7290 Ideas are “intellectual property.” I.P. includes print-based material like books and articles and scripts, music and video, and also logos and names. As authors, speakers, and thought leaders, we make our living from our intellectual property, and we rely on … More ☛

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]]> Free E-Books by Dave Bricker https://speakipedia.com/e-books/ Mon, 29 Jan 2024 20:04:32 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=7027 Effective speakers wrap their messages in stories—but few understand what stories are and how they work. This brief guide explores why some narratives connect with listeners and others don’t. Examples—including a few of the author’s nautical adventure tales—reveal powerful techniques … More ☛

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]]> Speech Annotator https://speakipedia.com/speech-annotator/ Mon, 29 Jan 2024 12:22:49 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6980 You need to be logged in to view this content. Please Log In. Not a Member? Join Us

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]]> Stay Relevant with “I Know What You’re Thinking!” https://speakipedia.com/i-know-what-youre-thinking/ Thu, 25 Jan 2024 11:34:47 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6885 How do you turn your me story into a you story? As engaging and interesting as the tale of your ocean crossing, summiting of Mount Everest, or successful marathon run may be, it won’t take long before audiences begin to … More ☛

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]]> Twenty Most Popular Speaking Topics https://speakipedia.com/speaking-topic-trends/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 11:12:37 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6862 Here are speaking topic trends observed in conferences, and media as of April, 2023. Speaking topic trends can change quickly. For example, “AI” would not have appeared on the list a few years ago. It seems reasonable to imagine that … More ☛

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]]> William Lyon Phelps: A Borrowed Book https://speakipedia.com/william-lyon-phelps/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 21:24:43 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6561 (419 words) William Lyon Phelps (1865-1943) was an American educator, literary critic and author. On April 6, 1933, in response to the Nazi burning of books containing “un-German” ideas, he delivered the following radio address: The Speech (excerpted) The habit … More ☛

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]]> Famous Speeches: Susan B. Anthony “Are Women Persons?” https://speakipedia.com/susan-b-anthony/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 21:20:09 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6546 (238 words) Susan B. Anthony had been arrested for voting in Rochester, New York in the 1872 elections, violating state laws that allowed only men to vote. During her criminal trial, Anthony argued that she had the right to vote … More ☛

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]]> Famous Speeches: Sojourner Truth “Ain’t I a Woman?” https://speakipedia.com/sojourner-truth/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 21:02:44 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6537 (353 words) “Ain’t I a Woman?” was an extemporaneous speech given by Sojourner Truth (1797–1883), who was born into slavery in New York State. After gaining her freedom in 1827, she became a well-known anti-slavery speaker. This address was given … More ☛

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]]> Famous Speeches: Patrick Henry “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” https://speakipedia.com/patrick-henry/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 20:40:47 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6513 (366 words) Patrick Henry gave his famous speech to the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775, at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, which convinced the convention to muster troops for the Revolutionary War. According to Edmund Randolph, the … More ☛

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]]> Famous Speeches: Lou Gehrig “Farewell to Baseball” https://speakipedia.com/lou-gehrig-farewell-to-baseball/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 20:13:32 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6500 (272 words) The New York Yankees honored Lou Gehrig two months after the great first baseman found out that ALS had robbed him of his physical abilities. On July 4, 1939, Yankee Stadium was packed with 61,000 fans. When the … More ☛

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]]> Famous Speeches: Josephine Baker “March on Washington” https://speakipedia.com/josephine-baker-march-on-washington/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 19:52:12 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6493 (316 words) Josephine Baker was a showgirl in 1920s and ’30s Paris who retired her skimpy costumes to serve in the French Resistance before becoming an international superstar. She was the only woman to speak at Dr. Martin Luther King, … More ☛

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]]> Ethos, Pathos, and Logos https://speakipedia.com/ethos-pathos-logos/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 18:59:48 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6480 Ethos, pathos, and logos combine to form a mode of persuasion that has ancient roots. Ethos appeals to the credibility or authority of the speaker. Trust your tough questions to Speakipedia, the world’s largest and most comprehensive resource for presenters … More ☛

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]]> Famous Speeches: John F. Kennedy “Inaugural Address” https://speakipedia.com/john-f-kennedy-inaugural-address/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 18:15:40 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6456 (378 words) In his 1961 inaugural address, John F. Kennedy challenged America to join him in the struggle for freedom during the Cold War. Nearly a million people braved freezing temperatures to see the new President. The issues of the … More ☛

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]]> Famous Speeches: General Douglas MacArthur: Duty, Honor, Country https://speakipedia.com/general-douglas-macarthur-duty-honor-country/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 17:56:05 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6446 (385 words) Douglas MacArthur’s acceptance of the Thayer Award speech before the Corps of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, on May 12, 1962, offers excellent examples of the “rule of threes.” Almost every paragraph … More ☛

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]]> Speechwriting: The Magic of the One-Sentence Paragraph https://speakipedia.com/the-one-sentence-paragraph/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 17:16:51 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6423 One-sen­tence para­graphs are com­mon when short pieces of di­a­log are being ex­changed, but con­sider the ef­fect of se­r­ial one-sen­tence para­graphs in other con­texts. The fol­low­ing ex­cerpt from my sailing memoir, The Blue Monk de­scribes an ocean cross­ing in a small … More ☛

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]]> Speechwriting: The Rule of Threes https://speakipedia.com/rule-of-threes/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 16:36:26 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6404 The Rule of Threes suggests that concepts or ideas presented in threes are inherently more interesting, more enjoyable, and more memorable. Groups of three blend of rhythm and emphasis. Three is the smallest number required to form a pattern, and … More ☛

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]]> Speaking Tip: Don’t Overfeed Your Audience https://speakipedia.com/too-much-content/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 16:25:33 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6399 We all love dessert! If you dine at Seasons 52, you’ll be presented with a selection of tiny sweets at the end of your meal—chocolate mousse, key lime pie, carrot cake, and a host of other delectable options to enjoy … More ☛

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]]> Speak Under the Influence: Find Your Mentors https://speakipedia.com/find-your-mentors/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 16:08:53 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6394 Though I rarely perform professionally, I play guitar every day. It’s my healthy drug and I’ve been addicted to it for over forty years. If you play music or ever wanted to learn how it’s probably because you heard someone … More ☛

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]]> Famous Speeches: Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” https://speakipedia.com/abraham-lincoln-gettysburg-address/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 15:15:38 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6349 Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg address has been recorded by numerous orators over the years, including Orson Welles, but few of these works suggest that the speakers did anything more than read with conviction. How do you reconstruct a speech that … More ☛

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]]> Famous Speeches: Winston S. Churchill “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” https://speakipedia.com/churchill-we-shall-fight-on-the-beaches/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:39:11 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6134 (308 words) “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” is a small portion of a longer speech delivered by Winston Churchill to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom on June 4, 1940 during the Second Word … More ☛

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]]> Speaking Vocabulary https://speakipedia.com/speaking-vocabulary/ Sun, 21 Jan 2024 13:06:31 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=6138 Words and Terms related to speaking and speechwriting: Adynaton [ad-uh-NAY-ton]: A form of hyperbole in which the exaggeration is so extreme as to be impossible “You will sooner find a donkey flying than see me agree to that deal.” Allegory … More ☛

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]]> Is Your Story Big Enough? https://speakipedia.com/is-your-story-big-enough/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 22:23:14 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=5771 Is your story big enough? What a sad question! Too many meaningful stories go untold because we fear they’re not as big as someone else’s. Why should we tell tales about life as a middle manager in a corporate cubicle … More ☛

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]]> Speechwriting: Come to Your Senses https://speakipedia.com/speechwriting-come-to-your-senses/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 19:44:52 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=5541 Writing teachers encourage us to engage the mind and senses. Describe sights, smells, tastes, sounds, feelings, thoughts, and tactile experiences to appeal to the reader’s imagination on every possible level. In concept, this is excellent advice. In practice, the advice … More ☛

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]]> Speechwriting: Start an End to Beginnings https://speakipedia.com/speechwriting-start-an-end-to-beginnings/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 19:34:18 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=5536 Many write and speak absently about “starts” and “beginnings.” John started to talk about his feelings for Vera. Ed began the long trek to the computer repair shop. Jeanne started to feel as if nobody else cared about the garden. … More ☛

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]]> Speechwriting: Who and That https://speakipedia.com/speechwriting-who-and-that/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 19:15:32 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=5526 A common mistake is to confuse “who” and “that” —another common misuse of the word “that.” She’s the girl that loves me. My boss is the only one that cares about the late project. I’m looking for the man that … More ☛

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]]> Speechwriting: Cut THAT Fat https://speakipedia.com/speechwriting-cut-that-fat/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 19:09:21 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=5513 “That” is often useless fat that slows down an otherwise elegant sentence. Fortunately, misuse of “that” is one of the easiest writing patterns to find and evaluate.   I think that you and I need to talk. I told my … More ☛

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]]> Find The Phrase that Pays https://speakipedia.com/find-the-phrase-that-pays/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 17:10:56 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=5433 Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” Why is it that some words naturally stick in our heads… like the lyrics to a song that keeps spinning in our brains? What if we could harness … More ☛

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]]> Dialogue or Die a Log! https://speakipedia.com/dialogue-or-die-a-log/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:40:49 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=5425 Dialogue… So many speakers miss this fantastic opportunity to engage the audience. When it’s time for dialogue, they narrate it. My wife walked in and she asked if I’d pick up some groceries on the way home from work. I … More ☛

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]]> Bold Speaking is Not Arrogant https://speakipedia.com/bold-speaking-is-not-arrogant/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:18:27 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=5420 If you’re the least bit human, you’ve probably battled imposter syndrome at one time or another. Who am I to be up on a stage giving advice to a room full of people I’ve never met? In speechwriting, this healthy … More ☛

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]]> TMA Stands for Too Many Acronyms! https://speakipedia.com/tma-stands-for-too-many-acronyms/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 00:28:05 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=5394 One highly-effective way to confuse your audience is to use too many acronyms, especially acronyms they might not know. Skip explaining what they stand for to inspire even more blank stares.   OMG! I’m LMAO … ROFL … So I … More ☛

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]]> Speechwriting: Structure vs. Flow https://speakipedia.com/speechwriting-structure-vs-flow/ Wed, 10 Jan 2024 17:46:55 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4827 Just sit down and write! Let the ideas flow! For many of us, they do—and it’s easy to become enamored with that feeling that we are channeling ideas from some sort of mystical “source.” Flow-writing is a marvelous feeling but … More ☛

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]]> Don’t Let the Truth Ruin a Good Story https://speakipedia.com/dont-let-the-truth-ruin-a-good-story/ Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:18:30 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4724 If we’re honest and authentic, we often feel compelled to fill in every detail of a story as it actually happened—but this isn’t always the best strategy. Be a journey-ist, not a journalist. The purpose of a story is to … More ☛

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]]> A Pitch is Not a Mini-Website https://speakipedia.com/a-pitch-is-not-a-mini-website/ Wed, 10 Jan 2024 15:11:14 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4696 It’s pitch day and five big construction contractors show up, each of them hoping to convince the university that they should be the ones to build the new STEM building. One by one, each contractor drags the selection committee through … More ☛

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]]> Why Memorize Your Speech? Try The Suspension Bridge Method https://speakipedia.com/why-memorize-your-speech-try-the-suspension-bridge-method/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 23:01:17 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4505 I spent 40 hours trying to memorize a five-minute speech once. And then I skipped an important line! Memorizing a speech is difficult and time-consuming… And the number one cause of memory lapses is worrying about memory lapses! The solution … More ☛

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]]> Use a Beautiful Model to Sell Your Message! https://speakipedia.com/use-a-beautiful-model-to-sell-your-message/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 22:44:16 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4370 We all like to look at attractive models… But I’m not talking about the kind that smiles for the camera. If you have ideas to share, communicate them with a contextual model. When I teach storytelling, I share the StorySailing® … More ☛

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]]> The Power Pause! https://speakipedia.com/the-power-pause/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 22:33:06 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4347 If you asked me a question—a deep or complex question—and I shot back a quick answer, you might conclude that I didn’t care enough to think about what you wanted to know. On the other hand, if I paused and … More ☛

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]]> The Callback https://speakipedia.com/the-callback/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 22:20:05 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4321 The callback is a very effective speechwriting technique that adds a natural exclamation mark to the end of your talk. Watch the beginning of Errol Leandre’s One Rotten Apple speech. He sets up the rotten apple motif and then he … More ☛

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]]> The Call to Action https://speakipedia.com/the-call-to-action/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 22:16:28 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4316 So many speakers offer wonderful advice … And then they forget to Kick ASK! What is it we’re supposed to do next? How can we take what they’ve given us and harness its power? Calls to action—CTAs—can be simple: Stories … More ☛

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]]> Tell Your Story About the Audience https://speakipedia.com/tell-your-story-about-the-audience/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 22:08:41 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4310 Do you have a powerful story? Great! That’s an advantage. Now tell your story about the audience! What does that mean? Make your story a metaphor for the audience’s story. In my storytelling speech, I share a time when I … More ☛

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]]> Storytelling Mistakes: Poor Me Stories https://speakipedia.com/storytelling-mistakes-poor-me-stories/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 21:56:59 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4279 Never play the victim card, on stage or in life. Don’t use your audience as a therapist. Your triumph over cancer, escape from an abusive relationship, or successful battle with addiction is admirable but… When we’re in pain, we tend … More ☛

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]]> Storytelling Mistakes: “You Guys” and “You All” https://speakipedia.com/storytelling-mistakes-you-guys-and-you-all/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 21:54:39 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4261 How many of you have heard speakers address the audience as a group? Is it okay to do that? What do you guys think? There are a few problems here: If I ask “How many of you,” I’m asking a … More ☛

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]]> Storytelling Mistakes: Pit of Despair Stories https://speakipedia.com/storytelling-mistakes-pit-of-despair-stories/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 21:49:26 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4243 Here’s a simple rule: If you bring your audience into darkness, bring them back into the light. Not every story has a happy ending, but it should at least offer a worthwhile lesson. If everybody in your story loses and … More ☛

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]]> Stories to Never Tell: The Starfish Story https://speakipedia.com/stories-to-never-tell-the-starfish-story/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 19:57:44 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4148 Like the Chauffeur story, here’s a tale that thousands of speakers love to tell but shouldn’t: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=speaker+telling+the+starfish+story A man walking along the beach noticed that thousands of starfish had been washed up on the sand by a storm tide. And … More ☛

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]]> Stories to Never Tell: The Chauffeur Story https://speakipedia.com/stories-to-never-tell-the-chauffeur-story/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 19:01:46 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4143 Like the Starfish story, the Chauffeur story get recycled over and over. In the story, Max Planck, the famous physicist, is being driven around Germany on a lecture tour. One day, the driver makes a suggestion: “Mr. Planck, these scientists … More ☛

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]]> Store Your Beads in Your Jewelry Box https://speakipedia.com/store-your-beads-in-your-jewelry-box/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 18:43:38 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4133 Like many speakers, I have many more hours of material ready than I could ever share in a single keynote—stories, exercises, lessons, conceptual models, and more. And I have hundreds of carefully-illustrated slides to go with this material. While aspiring … More ☛

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]]> Speechwriting: Rhyme https://speakipedia.com/speechwriting-rhyme/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 18:27:27 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4122 Many of us can recite poems and lyrics we first heard when we were children. Rhythm and rhyme are beyond memorable. So why don’t we use them more often when we speak? I was bored with my elevator pitch and … More ☛

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]]> Speechwriting: Anaphora https://speakipedia.com/speechwriting-anaphora/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 17:29:18 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4117 Anaphora is the repetition of a phrase to drive home the impact of a speech. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used anaphora to great effect in several parts of his famous “I have a dream” speech. Here are a few … More ☛

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]]> Speechwriting: Alliteration https://speakipedia.com/speechwriting-alliteration/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 17:26:36 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4112 Alliteration perpetually positions presenters to produce powerful programs that inspire professionals to make progress on their paths toward prosperity. Repetitive pronunciation of parts of prose offers a peculiarly promising way to position your playful premises, practical promises, and pithy platitudes … More ☛

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]]> Speaking and the Hero’s Journey https://speakipedia.com/speaking-and-the-heros-journey/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 16:25:44 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=4093 Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” model offers a story structure that’s been used to create many successful narratives. Star Wars is a classic Hero’s Journey. Here’s how it works: Introduce the hero living in their Ordinary World. They hear a call … More ☛

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]]> Sex, Politics, and Religion on Stage https://speakipedia.com/sex-politics-and-religion-on-stage/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 22:46:13 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3914 Unless you’re specifically hired to talk about sex, politics, or religion, don’t. As the leader up on the stage, do what you can to unify people. You may not think sex is controversial but some people do. You may be … More ☛

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]]> Respect Other People’s Intellectual Property https://speakipedia.com/respect-other-peoples-intellectual-property/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 22:18:33 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3903 It’s so easy to grab a photo off the Internet It’s so easy to use your favorite song as background music while you run up on the stage. It’s so easy to share that inspiring story you heard. But it’s … More ☛

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]]> Public Speaking: Dialogue or Die a Log https://speakipedia.com/public-speaking-dialogue-or-die-a-log/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 21:02:20 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3876 So many speakers miss out on a huge opportunity to engage audiences when they narrate dialogue in past tense. He said. She said. It sounds kind of like this: A friend suggested I create a series of videos about public … More ☛

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]]> Public Speaking: Words and Gestures https://speakipedia.com/public-speaking-words-and-gestures/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 20:41:12 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3870 The relationships between gestures and spoken words are an important part of effective public speaking. Gestures can come before the spoken words, during the words, or after them. Hand gestures can add emphasis to things you say, as you say … More ☛

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]]> Psalms and Speakers https://speakipedia.com/psalms-and-pspeakers/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 18:53:09 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3859 Winston S. Churchill gave thousands of speeches, and though he had a memory like an elephant’s, he read every one of them from a script. To deliver these speeches in a compelling way, he wrote them out in a style … More ☛

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]]> Open Your Speech With a Story https://speakipedia.com/open-your-speech-with-a-story/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 17:25:34 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3837 I said goodbye to my traveling companion, rowed back to my anchored sailboat, sat in the cockpit, and looked around the harbor. What am I doing here? I’m twenty-four years old, single, unemployed, and alone in a foreign country on … More ☛

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]]> Open Your Speech with a Startling Statistic https://speakipedia.com/open-your-speech-with-a-startling-statistic/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 17:14:02 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3832 One in five Americans reads below a fifth grade level! The average person spends two years of their life on the phone! 87.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot! A startling statistic (or two or three) will … More ☛

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]]> Open a Speech with Questions https://speakipedia.com/open-a-speech-with-questions/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 17:07:08 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3826 One simple way to open a speech is with questions—usually three. How will you captivate your audience at the beginning of your next speech? How will you show them you have a message they care about? How will you assure … More ☛

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]]> Let Your Audience in on Your Unspoken Thoughts https://speakipedia.com/let-your-audience-in-on-your-unspoken-thoughts/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 21:06:15 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3658 Sometimes we say one thing when we want to say another. Maybe you need to reject someone but you want to let them down easy. It goes something like this: Oh thank you Beth. That’s such a kind invitation! (hand … More ☛

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]]> Interview Prep https://speakipedia.com/interview-prep/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 20:58:14 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3651 I’ve appeared as a guest on many podcasts. My hosts are almost always astonished when I refer them to the media hosts page on my website. There, they find my bio, my intro, my logo, headshots, and a list of … More ☛

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]]> I, We, and You https://speakipedia.com/i-we-and-you/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 20:50:36 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3620 We talked about the I-infection—about people who talk incessantly about themselves. I did this and I did that. That gets old fast. Audiences want to know what’s in it for them. So how do we use “I,” “we,” and “you” … More ☛

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]]> How to Structure a Speech Part 3: Create the Opening https://speakipedia.com/how-to-structure-a-speech-part-3/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 19:24:18 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3612 In part 1 we defined the transformation. By knowing how we want our audience to think, feel, or act differently after they’ve seen our presentation, we can tailor our content to helping them achieve those goals. In part 2, we … More ☛

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]]> How to Structure a Speech Part 2: Map Out the Journey https://speakipedia.com/how-to-structure-a-speech-part-2/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 19:19:00 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3601 Once you have the transformation defined, map out the steps to get there. Let’s say the transformation is that we want our listeners to appreciate the peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a nutritious and healthy meal, and not as … More ☛

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]]> How to Structure a Speech Part 1: Start with the Transformation https://speakipedia.com/how-to-structure-a-speech-part-1/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 19:07:34 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3594 Lecturers deliver information; speakers deliver transformation. You may talk about finance, artificial intelligence, or real estate—and that information may be valuable—but if you just want to share data, a printed article is faster to consume and your audience can take … More ☛

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]]> Beginnings and Endings https://speakipedia.com/beginnings-and-endings/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 21:24:15 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3366 The two most important parts of a speech are the beginning and the ending. We need to engage the audience during the first few seconds with a killer opening—an amazing fact, provocative questions, or an engaging story. And at the … More ☛

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]]> Engage and Educate with Interactivity https://speakipedia.com/engage-and-educate-with-interactivity/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 21:20:56 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3445 Over the years I’ve spent speaking, I’ve developed special ways to explain a variety of concepts. I’ve written books, created beautiful slides, and shared a number of workshops. But as clearly as I’ve mapped out my messages, I’ve discovered only … More ☛

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]]> How to Create Your Speech Introduction https://speakipedia.com/create-your-speech-introduction/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 20:37:37 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3408 Too many speakers write boring introductions that force the emcee to kill all the energy in the room before they even begin their speech. Your audience can read your biography in the event program. They probably don’t care about where … More ☛

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]]> How Do I Know How Long My Speech Will Be? https://speakipedia.com/how-do-i-know-how-long-my-speech-will-be/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 23:25:59 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3478 Often—usually—we’re asked to speak for a certain number of minutes. If we have ten minutes to speak, how can we avoid writing a 30-minute talk that has to be edited down? How can we steer clear of having to rush … More ☛

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]]> Can I Swear on Stage? https://speakipedia.com/can-i-swear-on-stage/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 18:00:14 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3377 Some speakers get away with it, but think about it like this: You never know who’s in the audience. If your f-bomb offends one person in the room, they could be the one person who complains or who has the … More ☛

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]]> Break Up Your Speech with Dynamic Ramps https://speakipedia.com/break-up-your-speech-with-dynamic-ramps/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 17:29:46 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3374 What is a “dynamic ramp?” In your speech, perhaps you share a story from many years ago and then you jump to a recent story, and then you add a conclusion at the end. That’s three distinct sections. How will … More ☛

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]]> Find the Music in the Words https://speakipedia.com/find-the-music-in-the-words/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 21:52:28 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3456 Writing an eloquent speech is 98% of the work. Delivering that speech in an engaging way is the other 98%. Some speakers take years to discover this. They talk about being afraid or angry but they don’t speed up or … More ☛

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]]> Find the Funny in the Room https://speakipedia.com/find-the-funny-in-the-room/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 21:47:04 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3453 A super way to surprise your audience is to “find the funny in the room” and use it to your advantage. Years ago, I competed in a humorous speech contest. My talk was about “my speaking journey” and how a … More ☛

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]]> Are You a Lecturer or a Speaker? https://speakipedia.com/are-you-a-lecturer-or-a-speaker/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 22:52:18 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3354 What’s the difference between a lecturer and a speaker? A lecturer delivers information. A speaker delivers transformation. Remember all those teachers you had who were passionate enough about their subjects to have earned advanced degrees in them? And then they … More ☛

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]]> Acknowledge the Secrets of Human Nature https://speakipedia.com/acknowledge-the-secrets-of-human-nature/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 22:19:52 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3340 Here’s one of my favorite advertisements: This hair salon bills itself as the place “where the women you hate get their hair done.” That’s funny because most salons tell women they’ll make them more attractive to men. Instead, this one … More ☛

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]]> How to Write a Humorous Speech https://speakipedia.com/write-a-humorous-speech/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 22:11:41 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=3337 Write a humorous speech. What’s that? You don’t think you’re funny? Well, you’re not alone. Most comedians aren’t funny, either. Contemporary humorists have broken every toilet humor and sexual humor boundary, and yet so many of them keep trying to … More ☛

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]]> Heart Words https://speakipedia.com/heart-words/ Sun, 31 Dec 2023 21:27:27 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=226 The post Heart Words appeared first on Speakipedia.

]]> Intromatic (Demo) https://speakipedia.com/intromatic/ Sun, 31 Dec 2023 14:15:56 +0000 https://speakipedia.com/?page_id=177 Load a demo and view the AI-generated results. Speaker Introduction Wizard by Dave Bricker A strong, interesting, and concise introduction sets the stage for your performance. It builds energy and primes your audience to focus on the problem you address, … More ☛

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]]> Tell Your Story Concisely! https://speakipedia.com/tell-your-story-concisely/ Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:40:43 +0000 https://storysailing.com/?p=4251 Can you tell your story concisely? A popular anecdote about Ernest Hemingway says he made a bet with friends that he could tell a story in only six words. That story:   Baby shoes for sale. Never worn.   Whether … More ☛

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