Speechwriting: How to Craft a Captivating Speech in Minutes
Danny Riley
4 min read
What you’ll learn:
- Unlocking ideas through playful planning
- Building your own ‘story library’ for effortless public speaking
- Framing your speech as problems and solutions
Speechwriting Doesn’t Need to Be a Slog
Let’s make speechwriting fun, fast, and effective.
Whether you’re prepping for a best man’s speech, a business pitch, or a conference talk, this guide will show you how to write a speech that feels polished and natural in record time.
No more staring at a blank page, cursing writer’s block. Here’s how to channel your inner wordsmith and deliver a speech that wows – without months of rehearsals.
Every speaker, from novices to pros, has muttered, “Where do I even start?” Procrastination is a sneaky beast, but as Dorothy Parker quipped, it’s time to “put the ass in the seat.”
So, where do you begin? Relax – I’ve been there, and I’ve got you covered with five practical tips to nail your public speaking opportunity.
Kick Off Your Speechwriting with Playful Planning
Speechwriting should start with a spark, not a struggle.
If you’re like me, a blank page feels like a taunt, daring your muse to show up. Spoiler: muses are fickle, like cats – they appear when you’re not desperate for them. As Paulo Coelho wisely said, “Treat a muse like a fairy.” Don’t chase it; lure it.
How do we lure the must? Start by getting playful.
Crank up your favourite tunes, doodle, or read something uplifting. The goal? Loosen up. Shift your focus from the stress of getting this done, to the enjoyment of your speech going well.
Picture your audience laughing, clapping, or hanging on your every word. Visualise the standing ovation. This positive mindset invites your muse to play ball.
Forget the tortured writer stereotype, banging your head on the desk won’t help. Great speechwriting begins in your imagination.
When you’re feeling in the zone, move on to the next tip.
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Riff Before You Write
Ever watched a musician jam? They don’t start with sheet music – they strum, tap, and tinker until a melody emerges.
This “riffing” process is pure magic for speechwriting too. A speech wrote word-for-word feels robotic and flat. Audiences crave something organic, from the heart.
Here’s how to riff your way to a killer speech:
- Think about the vibe you want – funny, inspiring, persuasive?
- Speak your ideas aloud, off the cuff, using whatever words pop into your head.
- Reflect, tweak, and try again. Each round sharpens your flow.
- Once it feels right, jot it down, noting prompts for delivery (check out this speech structure for a streamlined framework).
Riffing is like rehearsing before you’ve even written a word. It works so well, because our brains often come up with ideas more easily when we’re speaking out loud, and off the cuff, vs. when we’re trying to type out the words.
By the time you finally come to deliver your speech, it’ll sound so natural, people will swear you’ve been practising for months. Ditch endless rewrites – riffing is the shortcut to finding your best ideas.
Build Your Speechwriting Story Library
I once saw a speaker captivate a room with no notes, no slides – just stories. He wove tales from his life, sprinkled with lessons, and had the audience spellbound.
The best part? He was a last-minute stand-in, asked to speak that morning. Yet, he earned a standing ovation. How?
A “story library.”
He explained: “I keep a mental library of stories I can pull out anytime. I deliver 80% of the story as is, then add 20% tailored to the event or audience.”
Sounds simple, right? It is.
Here’s how to create your own speechwriting story library:
- Grab a notebook (or word doc) and label pages A to Z.
- Jot down stories from your life or ones you’ve heard — birthday mishaps, graduation triumphs, or quirky travel tales. Categorise them by letter.
- Practise telling these stories to friends or colleagues. Note their reactions: Did they laugh? Ask questions? Stay engaged?
- Refine your delivery based on feedback.
The magic isn’t in the story itself – it’s in how you tell it. Stories connect logic and emotion, firing up your audience’s brains (there’s neuroscience behind this). A well-practised story fits any speech like Lego bricks. Build your library now, and you’ll always be ready to shine in public speaking.
Nail Your Speech Timing
Timing is the backbone of speechwriting. A good speaking pace is (roughly) 125–150 words per minute. Whether you’ve got 10 minutes for a toast or 45 for a keynote, you need a clear structure. Here’s a dead-simple way to map it out.
Say you have 10 minutes. List the minutes as bullet points:
… up to 10.
Now, allocate:
- 10% (1 minute) for an introduction.
- 10% (1 minute) for a summary.
- 60% (6 minutes) for three main points, split into 2-minute chunks.
- 20% (2 minutes) for transitions (30 seconds each) between points.
When you break down your speech into minutes-per-section, it’s far less daunting.
Rather than getting bogged down in the details, you can work on each 1-2 minute segment, then put them all together.
For more details, read our article on the signature speech structure.
- Point 2: 2 minutes
- Point 3: 2 minutes
- Summary: 1 minutes
If you’ve started your story library, this is a great time to ask: what stories do I already have, that could work in this speech? The more you can use, the more of your work is already done.
Once you’ve got a rough outline, record yourself to check your pace — note that nerves can make you speed up. For extra polish, practise with a friend or invest in public speaking coaching.
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Frame Your Speech as Problem-Solution
The easiest way to structure a speech is to solve a problem. Whether motivating a team to boost productivity or rallying a community to clean up litter, every speech has a purpose.
Identify it.
Years ago, as a door-to-door salesman, I learned this the hard way. I’d pitch solutions—“Save money on your bills!”—and get doors slammed in my face.
Why? I hadn’t shown the problem first. Once I started asking questions to uncover their pain (high bills, dodgy service), I could offer a solution that resonated.
In speechwriting, start by painting the problem vividly. For a business talk, highlight how a clunky system wastes time and money. For a climate change speech, show the local impact — flooded high streets, scorching summers.
Use stories, stats, or examples to make it relatable. Then, present your solution: a new process, a community initiative, or a fresh perspective.
Curiosity is key. Ask yourself: What’s the audience’s problem? How can I solve it? Over time, you’ll instinctively spot their needs, making your public speaking irresistible.
Put These Speechwriting Tips into Action
With these speechwriting hacks, you can plan, write, and deliver a cracking speech in no time. Don’t wait for an invitation to “say a few words.” Start today:
- Get playful and visualise success.
- Riff your ideas aloud.
- Build a story library.
- Structure your speech with timing in mind.
- Frame it as problem-solution.
Next time someone gripes, “You’ll never guess what happened to me!” listen closely. Their problem could spark your next speech idea.
Grab a pen, have fun, and speed-write a speech that’ll leave your audience buzzing.
Got a big talk coming up? Get in touch — we can help you get it planned, prepared, and delivered with absolute confidence.
To your speechwriting success,
Dan