Sometimes you have to speak about a subject you consider boring or about which you know little or nothing. That is a real challenge. So if that is the case you should try to take the topic from an unusual angle. For instance if you have to write about finance perhaps you could take the topic from the angle that we used bartering as a payment long before coinage and that shells were one of the items used before coins were invented. Alternatively, you might find out who or what is shown on coins throughout the world and that should be a history lesson in itself and could be very interesting.

The next step is to research and find out as much as you can about your subject. This is essential. . You may think you know everything, but it is surprising what you can find out through inquiry. For many types of speeches, you need to find out facts. You will include some of these facts in the speech, making note of your references. After all, in a business or public setting, somebody might ask a question from the audience and you want to be able to show you know what you are talking about. In a social setting having the facts at hand shows that you have bothered to do your homework and people will be impressed.

Those facts will be the framework of the speech. They will back up and underline what you are trying to say or explain. If you know nothing about your subject, it is time to get informed. Collect your facts and interesting “tit bits�, keep them in a notebook or file. Ask people what they think about your subject and you will be amazed at their different opinions. It will also give you an indication of how wide your speech must be to capture the imagination of an audience of perhaps hundreds. Now it is time to write your first draft.

In my next blog I will tell you how to start actually writing your speech.

Check out our sample speeches