If you are looking to become a public speaker or to improve your public speaking skills then you've come to the correct place. When you are asked to create a presentation or make a speech, the first self question that is usually asked, after making the personal observation of why the heck did I say yes, is, where do I start?

In the words of Mark Twain, ‘It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.'  The message here is that your speech commences long before you stand up in front of your audience to speak.  Public speaking, done well, is one of the most effective and powerful ways to communicate and gain support for your message.  Done badly, not only will your audience dislike you, it can also damage your cause.

So then, how can you increase your chances of making sure that you can bring the crowd to life and leave them hanging on your every word?  It is all in the preparation and a major part of your preparation is in the writing of your speech .

As with any task, there is only one place to start when planning a speech and that is in setting out a plan.  In planning a speech you discover what it is that should go in your speech and what to leave out while giving you confidence as you progress to the speech making moment.

While it is acknowledged that writing a speech is different to delivering a speech , it is important to remember that a speech must be written to be heard and not read.  With this in mind, there is no right way to write a speech but there is a general construction that will assist you to write a good speech thus making it harder for you to be a disaster when you are called upon to deliver it.  Some key elements to get you started are:

Familiarisation – What will be the environment in which you will be making your speech?  What is the event, the makeup and size of the audience, the venue, time of day?  Will there be food and alcohol involved? Are there any audio visual aids available?

Research – Be clear on the theme of the event and what you are being asked to speak on.  Gain a clear understanding of your subject by finding out as much as you can about it.

Structure – Working out how all the information you have researched connects with the elements of speech writing to make a coherent story can be informative, entertaining and/or challenging. Organise your key messages, what you want people to take away with them.  Try not going beyond three main points as more than this may lead to confusion and loss of interest by your audience.  The basic construct of an introduction – what you will be talking about or why you are here; main body – the three key details to your message; and conclusion – the message or challenge you want to leave with the audience; is a sound, tried and true formula.  Remember to introduce yourself early and make the opening stimulating, interesting and to the point.  Use clear, short sentences without complicated words or jargon and consider appropriate use of humour, creating tension, gestures and the effective use of silence.

Involving the audience – Consider techniques to help keep your listeners interested, including asking questions, posing rhetorical questions, taking them on a journey or even asking them to make a contribution or solve problems.

Audio visual assistance – Is there any audio visual equipment that will assist you in your presentation – whiteboard, projector & screen, music, etc.

Written layout – use large and easy to read font, sentences should be spaced a minimum of 1.5 line-spacing, do not have sentences split over two pages, every page to be numbered.  This is helpful for learning and practicing your speech or if you have to read your speech or require the confidence of having the written word close by.

The more you do it the better skilled you will become. Remember, the writing of effective speeches requires a continuous awareness of the difference between the written and the spoken word so learn to write out loud.

When you have been given your public speaking task you now have a place to start and some key elements to assist you in the planning and preparation of your presentation.

When it is time to make your speech, speak with confidence and power, use a confident, loud and engaging voice, motivate and inspire your audience.