Introduction

Do you want to know my top five writing and speaking tips? Do you want a step-by-step guide to improving your presentations? Read Matt’s book Create a Better Presentation Quickly.

Below are the articles in the How to Create the Best-Speech-of-Your-Life series. Deliver a wedding speech, a job pitch, or a keynote people will never forget. If you’re deep into speechcraft, these articles are for you. If not, read the book.

Best Speech Articles

Click the links below for each article. The text after the link is a brief description of what you’ll learn. These articles are part of an in-depth series on How to Create the Best-Speech-of-Your-Life. If you want quicker speech upgrades, read the book.

First Draft – just write, audience identification, writing habit

Second Draft – purpose, theme, structure, editing

Edit – cut from one page to one paragraph to one sentence

Upgrades – engaging intro, ask questions, memorable, storytelling, humor, powerful conclusion

Evolve – example of a speech changing over time

Get Feedback – finding a mentor, mindset, process

Act – eye contact, movement, gestures, vocal variety

Practice – record audio/video, empty room rehearsal, schedule

Perform * – variables, nerves, adapting, flow

* Articles without links will be posted later once available.

Speechcraft Videos

These videos will cover topics in the articles above and the book. Most are five to twenty-minutes long. Videos contain multiple topics. Watch a five-minute chunk if you’re time-constrained to pick up one way to upgrade your presentation.

Learn how to quickly communicate using sticky notes or how to edit down with progressive cuts. I gave this seven-minute education to a group at SAP to help them upgrade their presentation skills. Do you want people to listen closely to what you have to say? Then clarify your writing and speaking, please.

Resources

This list contains the best book, articles, or other materials I’ve found for learning to become a better public speaker. Not all are directly about speech, but when applied they will grow your skills in producing memorable messages.

Books

  • Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
  • The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
  • The Creative Habit by Twyla Twarp
  • Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
  • The Writer’s Journey: Mythical Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler
  • On Writing by Stephen King
  • Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
  • Contagious by Jonah Berger
  • Deep Work by Cal Newport
  • Perennial Seller by Ryan Holiday
  • Draft No. 4 by John McPhee

Articles

Videos

Tools