How to Write a Speech
A good speech is one idea, told with a few true stories, in words you can say out loud. This guide shows the method in seven plain steps.
Most people freeze at the blank page because they are trying to write a good speech all at once. The trick is to stop writing for a while. Gather material first, decide what you want people to remember, and only then put sentences in order.
This method works for a toast, a wedding speech, a graduation address or a retirement party. The occasion changes the tone, not the process. A short speech that is clear and true will always beat a long one that tries to say everything.
You are not writing an essay. You are writing something a room of people will hear once, at your speed, with no chance to reread. That means short sentences, plain words and one clear idea. If you can say your main point in a single sentence before you start, you are already most of the way there.
Follow the seven steps below, then read the two before-and-after rewrites and the day-of checklist. If you want examples for a specific occasion, we have full speeches for a best man, a graduation and a retirement.
The seven steps to writing a speech
Do them in order. Each step is short, and the whole process takes an evening or two.
- Gather stories and details. Before you write a sentence, jot down every memory, quality and small detail you can think of about the person or the occasion. Aim for six to ten notes. You will use only one or two, but the rest keep you from writing something generic.
- Pick one idea. Look at your notes and finish this sentence: "The one thing I want people to remember is..." Everything in the speech should support that sentence. If a story doesn't, cut it, even if it is a good story.
- Build a simple outline. Use four parts: a short opening, one story, what the story shows, and a closing line or wish. Write each as a single sentence first. A 3-minute speech needs about 400 words, and an outline keeps you from wandering.
- Write for the ear. Use short sentences and everyday words, and write the way you talk. Read each line aloud as you go. If you stumble or run out of breath, shorten it. Repeating a key phrase once helps listeners follow.
- Time it. Speak at a calm pace of about 130 words per minute. Read the draft aloud with a timer. If it runs long, cut a whole story or paragraph, not words from every sentence. Leave room for laughs and pauses.
- Rehearse out loud. Practice at least three times standing up, ideally once for a friend or in front of a mirror. Mark places to pause. Aim to know the opening and closing lines by heart, and keep the rest on one page or small cards.
- Handle nerves. Nerves are normal and mostly invisible. Breathe out slowly before you start, plant your feet, and speak a little slower than feels natural. Look at one friendly face at a time. If you lose your place, pause and glance at your page.
Write your own
Add the names, one story and your time limit, and the speech builder will turn the steps below into a first draft.
Your draft appears here
Answer a few questions and press Build my speech. A 1 to 2 minute draft is free and shown in full. You can edit every paragraph, shuffle any section and copy the result.
Do
- Start with a real story, not a quote or a dictionary definition.
- Say the name of the person you are speaking about early and often.
- Aim for the whole room, so that a stranger would follow every line.
- Leave out a good line if it doesn't serve your one idea.
- End on a clear last sentence, such as a thank you or a toast, then stop.
Don’t
- Don't open with "I'm not good at speeches" or a long apology.
- Don't read a script word for word with your head down.
- Don't tell inside jokes that only a few people understand.
- Don't try to include every memory. One story told well is enough.
- Don't run over time. People forgive a short speech but not a long one.
Before and after: two quick rewrites
Small changes make a draft sound like speech. Here are two invented examples.
Before: "Dana is a person of tremendous dedication who has consistently demonstrated an outstanding commitment to everyone around her."
After: "When my car broke down in the rain, Dana drove forty minutes to pick me up. She didn't mention it again. That's Dana."
The first version tells us what to think. The second shows us, and the audience reaches the same conclusion on their own.
Before: "I would like to take this opportunity to say that it has been a great pleasure to have worked with Owen over the course of many years."
After: "I've worked beside Owen for six years. He's the one I still call when something goes wrong."
Cut the throat-clearing, use the small, plain fact, and say it the way you would say it to a friend. For occasion-specific examples, see our wedding toast and commencement speech pages.
Day-of checklist
- Print the speech in a large font, double spaced, or write key lines on cards. Number the pages.
- Bring a spare copy, and keep a copy on your phone.
- Know where you will stand and whether there is a microphone. Check it if you can.
- Eat something light and drink water. Skip anything you wouldn't normally have.
- Run through the opening and closing lines once, quietly, an hour before.
- Stand up straight, take one slow breath, and smile before the first word.
- If a joke doesn't land, keep going at the same pace. The next line will.
If you want a head start, the speech builder can turn your names and stories into a draft, and you can adjust it by hand. Longer drafts, printing and reading cards are part of the paid plans, listed on our pricing page.
Free and paid
Build and read a draft for your how to write a speech before you decide anything.
A 1 to 2 minute draft is free; longer drafts, printing and reading cards are paid. See pricing.
Questions
How do I start writing a speech?
Don't start with sentences. Start by jotting down six to ten stories, qualities and details about the person or occasion. Then choose one main idea and build a short outline around it before you write full lines.
How long should a speech be?
For most toasts and tribute speeches, two to three minutes is right, which is roughly 280 to 400 words. Graduation and keynote talks run longer. Whatever the slot, shorter and clear beats longer and rambling.
How many words are in a 5-minute speech?
At a calm speaking pace of about 130 words per minute, a 5-minute speech is roughly 600 to 650 words. Leave room for pauses and reactions, so it is safer to write slightly under that number.
How do I stop being nervous when giving a speech?
Rehearse out loud at least three times, breathe out slowly before you begin, and speak slower than feels natural. Look at friendly faces. Nerves are rarely as visible as they feel to you.
Should I memorize my speech or read it?
Memorize the opening and closing lines, and keep the rest in large print or on cards. That way you can look up at people at the start and the end, and you won't lose your place in the middle.