story

Speechwriting: Rhyme

Many of us can recite poems and lyrics we first heard when we were children. Rhythm and rhyme are beyond…

12 months ago

Speaking and the Hero’s Journey

Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” model offers a story structure that’s been used to create many successful narratives. Star Wars is…

12 months ago

Pump Up Your Presentation with Sound Effects

Sound Effects The human voice is an amazingly versatile instrument. It can not only speak, it can sing, and imitate…

12 months ago

Running Overtime is a Rookie Mistake

No big deal if you run over, right? That’s just more value the audience will get for the same fee.…

12 months ago

Respect Other People’s Intellectual Property

It’s so easy to grab a photo off the Internet It’s so easy to use your favorite song as background…

12 months ago

Public Speaking Dymamics: Vary Your Tempo

Tempo is speed, and it’s an important element of dynamic speaking. On a basic level, be aware of whether you’re…

12 months ago

Public Speaking Dymamics: Vary Your Emotional Intensity

Dynamics—change—is the hallmark of an engaging speech. One variable that’s often overlooked is emotional intensity. Changes in intensity offer a…

12 months ago

Public Speaking: Dialogue or Die a Log

So many speakers miss out on a huge opportunity to engage audiences when they narrate dialogue in past tense. He…

12 months ago

Open Your Speech With a Story

I said goodbye to my traveling companion, rowed back to my anchored sailboat, sat in the cockpit, and looked around…

12 months ago

In Public Speaking, Being Theatrical is Authentic!

So many speakers—even professional ones—are afraid to be “theatrical.” They worry that will be inauthentic or phony. A speaker I…

12 months ago

I, We, and You

We talked about the I-infection—about people who talk incessantly about themselves. I did this and I did that. That gets…

12 months ago

How to Structure a Speech Part 3: Create the Opening

In part 1 we defined the transformation. By knowing how we want our audience to think, feel, or act differently…

12 months ago

How to Evaluate a Speech

If you want to become a great musician listen to great music. If you want to become a great speaker…

12 months ago

How Stories Work in Your Mind

Many speakers talk about cortisol and oxytocin and how your brain reacts to stories. That’s all rather sophisticated sounding except…

12 months ago

How Stories Work: The 4 Elements of Story

Start with the golden rule of storytelling: Stories are always about people. And in a story, that person or group…

12 months ago

Beginnings and Endings

The two most important parts of a speech are the beginning and the ending. We need to engage the audience…

12 months ago

Engage and Educate with Interactivity

Over the years I’ve spent speaking, I’ve developed special ways to explain a variety of concepts. I’ve written books, created…

12 months ago

Break Up Your Speech with Dynamic Ramps

What is a “dynamic ramp?” In your speech, perhaps you share a story from many years ago and then you…

12 months ago

Bombing on Stage is a Rite of Passage!

As a sailor, I ran aground more than once. I even spent a few uncomfortable nights with my keel stuck…

12 months ago

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