Tips For Writing a Speech

This week's tip comes from Tifany Curtiss, our VP of Membership.
Thanks, Tifany!

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The July issue of 'Toastmaster' included articles on improving your speechwriting. Here, I'd like to share my steps for speechwriting. It's a Toastmaster Speechwriting Bonanza!

First of all, let me clarify: I don't actually write my speeches out completely. I usually work with an outline, which is my opening statement, at least three main points, my closing statement, and any other specific phrases that add "punch" to my speech. So my final draft is five or six (usually incomplete) sentences. I've found that if there are fewer notes to refer to, I don't rely on them as much, which means fewer opportunities for long pauses while I search a sheet of paper to find where I left off. This also means that I seldom give the same version of the speech twice. I get a thrill out of going to the podium without a script; even I don't know which variation of my presentation will come out of my mouth! If this kind of excitement is not your bag, this method of speechwriting is probably not for you.

A crucial part of writing speeches is selecting a topic. I choose an extremely familiar subject for two reasons: I don't have to refer to notes often, and it's easier for me to be comfortable in the spotlight. I also choose a subject that allows for three distinct points to talk about. If I have trouble stretching it to three points, or narrowing it down to four, I scrap the idea and look for another topic. The last thing you want to do is force a theme to work. It adds tension to an already tense situation. If you are rushing to get all your information in, or if you are stalling to meet your time requirement, it will show, and maybe distract your audience from your point.

Finally, I rehearse. (Thanks for the tip, Mark!) I try to include five phrases that have "punch" whether it be humor, alliteration, a quote, a vivid image, a startling fact, etc. This gives my introduction, my three points, and my conclusion more impact and therefore makes them more memorable to the audience. However, these punches will fall flat if they are not delivered well. When I nail that first phrase, and I get the audience response that I've anticipated, the rest of the speech just flows. If I am running out of time to practice my speech, I try to at least get these five or six sentences perfected. It may not be my best performance, but at least I can keep the momentum of my speech.

My techniques may not work for everyone, but you may find using another person's approach beneficial. I've applied others' suggestions and tips occasionally, and it has helped me develop my own style to arrive at a way of speaking that is distinctively 'me.' I hope some of my methods help you speak like a better 'you'!

--- Tifany Curtiss

A Twist on Table Topics

Do you panic when called to speak on a subject before a group without any preparation? Do you have trouble coming up with good, I mean really good answers to interview questions? There are dozens of techniques for handling these situations, and I'll discuss one such technique: telling a story you know well.

You have many stories and experiences in your life which you know well. The technique or trick of this approach is to "twist" the question you've been asked to fit the story you already know well. Then you just tell your story, making small adaptations as you tell it to fit the question.

Let me give you an example. I have a story about going with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece to Six Flags amusement park. During that trip, my niece, who's 12, was excited to ride many of the rides that I couldn't stomach, many of which involved "falling" in some way. Since my sister wasn't riding much either, she and I spent the time talking and catching up while my brother-in-law and niece were waiting in the lines. My brother-in-law got really sick on one of the easier rides (the Sombrero) -- apparently he has problems going backwards.

How can this story be "twisted" to the question?

If asked about closeness with my family, I can tell this story, emphasizing the quality time I spent with my sister and her family. If asked about dealing with people, I tell the same story, except this time it's about not making fun of my brother-in-law while he was feeling sick, and trying to fill in for him with my niece on some of the rides I otherwise would have skipped. If asked about accepting change, it's the same story, and how moving backwards just leaves a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, too. If I want to add some self-deprecating humor, I can play up that my 12 year old niece can leap over a building in a single bound (the Superman ride), when the best I can manage is eating 2 scoops of ice cream sitting on a bench.

Can this help you at times other than Table Topics? Absolutely!!!

Suppose you have a success story about how you handled a very upset customer whose business you were about to lose. You're being interviewed for a new job and the interviewer says, "Tell me about a time that your actions turned a bad situation around". You've already got your story (answer), just emphasize how you regained the customer's trust. Or maybe the interviewer says, "Describe a recent success that you've had." Same story, emphasize the business impact. Or maybe the interviewer's question is completely open, such as, "Tell me about your ideal job", or "Tell me about your typical day". These are almost useless as interview questions, but they open the door wide for you to relate your biggest successes! You tell the same story, talking about how your ideal job would present opportunities to make a difference like this every day, or how solving tough customer problems is what energizes and invigorates you every day you come to work!

To ace an interview, prepare about 10 of your success stories beforehand, and match up each story with a question during the interview to get "your story" told. What's more, being able to twist interview questions like this puts you in control of the interview, and lets you talk about your successes, even when the interviewer isn't particularly competent. That can give you a tremendous leg up against the other people competing for the same position.

We all have stories and experiences -- of all types -- that can be twisted by focusing on particular aspects of each story as they relate to a new question that's being asked. Being able to pair a question with a related story is a memory association technique that gets better with practice, and Table Topics is a tremendous way to perfect this important communicaton and leadership skill.

--- Mark Schroeder

Practice, Practice, Practice? No Way!

We often hear that "Practice makes perfect", and think that the same rule applies to speaking. Well, not quite...

"Practice" can include going through the text of your speech in the shower, while driving to work, while exercising, or in many other environments that are not at all like those in which you will be delivering your speech. A better method is:

"Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse!"

The difference between practicing and rehearsing is that when rehearsing you are presenting your speech exactly as if in front of a real audience -- with a full voice, complete inflection, varying speed and pitch, broad gestures, and full use of the space.

Rehearsing is the best way to perfect the timing between the words you are saying and the gestures which emphasize them so that they look natural. It's also the best way to make the full use of the stage flow smoothly as you speak, so that you don't have to figure out where to stand "on the fly" and lose your place in your speech while you're thinking about it.

I recommend finding a quiet room at home or perhaps an empty conference room at work in which to rehearse your speech several times before delivering it before a real audience. Yes, I've given several "speeches" to empty conference rooms where I work. With flipcharts, no less... I've found it especially helpful for any speech involving props, even props as simple as flipcharts. (You can figure out what to do with the paper sheets as you tear them off in rehearsal, or you can be told in your evaluation that throwing them all over the floor was "distracting". Your choice!)

Try rehearsing your speech a few times and you'll be amazed at how much difference a few rehearsals will make!

-- Mark Schroeder

A Great Start for the New Year!

Our first meeting of the new Toastmasters year was held on 7/10/2008. Our Toastmaster, Susie, chose "Summer Means SUNSHINE" for the theme, and related facts and tips on sunscreen. We had three speeches: an icebreaker from our new member Eddie Vinson, the second speech, on aromatherapy, delivered by Vonda Walker, and an advanced speech on allergic reactions by Lee King.

Ribbons were awarded to:

• Denise Cothern (Area Governor) for Table Topics
• Eddie Vinson for Best Speaker
• Tifany Curtiss for Best Evaluator
• Susie Campbell for Best of the Big 3

Our new slate of officers were inducted by Denise Cothern at this meeting.

Changes to our meeting schedule: We currently plan to meet at an alternate location (to be determined) on August 21st. This is the only exception to our meeting schedule that we know of at this time.