Writing for the ear vs. writing for the page: Distinguish your speeches and harness the power of the spoken word

Speeches and the written word are both powerful ways to connect with your audience—but a speech must be more than merely a letter read aloud. Audiences can’t go back and reread your speech. The first time they hear it will likely be the only time. Listeners often walk away from a speech not necessarily remembering what you said, but how your words made them feel. In this session, you’ll learn how to use the power of the spoken word to tap into those feelings, how to grab and hold your listeners’ attention and how to ensure they follow your arguments and root for you to deliver a masterful performance.

Key Highlights:

  • Simplify your sentences to make them shorter, clearer, active and more memorable
  • Trim the fat in your paragraphs and your arguments to make them easier to follow
  • Leave a trail of “breadcrumbs” as you go so your listeners don’t get lost
  • Inject powerful personal narratives to get your audience emotionally invested in your words–even if your principal is reluctant to get personal
  • Justin Jones
    Executive speechwriter
    American Hospital Association