Recently, I had the honor and chore of writing a speech as the Best Man in my BFF's wedding. It stressed me out. A lot. But it really doesn't have to.
I am clearly no expert on public speaking, and as such, I think I can give out some advice that I gained along the way that others might find useful. I got some simple tips from friends and a few realizations along the way that helped a lot.
Writing your Speech:
1. YOU ARE WRITING A SPEECH.
Duh, right? But remember it. It's different than writing an essay. Don't use big flowery words if you don't usually say them. Keep your sentences short.
2. KEEP IT STRUCTURED
It really helped me to come up with an overall structure beyond "intro", "middle", "end". There are a few you can use, and you can mix/match them. This isn't a strict requirement, but it really helped me turn my ideas into a coherent speech. I roughly used chronology to keep my flow. You could bullet-point attributes, and expand on each. Or something else.
3. MAKE IT PERSONAL, KEEP IT ACCESSIBLE
There's a balance you should try and hit here. You want to tell stories that are personal, but you should keep in mind that the married couple are two of many people in the room. Make sure you tell stories and anecdotes in a way that other people can follow.
4. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
Saying it out loud is very different than reading it on paper. Practice to yourself. Practice to someone else. Time it, and make sure it's a good length. No one wants a 15 minute speech.
5. TAKE CRITICISM
When you practice with other people, remember that they are better representative of the audience than yourself. So trust what they say.
Delivering your Speech:
1. BREATH. MANY TIMES.
Make notes in your speech. Remember to breath, and slow yourself down.
2. READ IT, BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE TO
Don't stress out about memorizing it. If you can, that is hugely great. But if it's going to stress you out and mess you up, don't worry. And if you are reading it, do it with some emotion and presence. You're not reading a novel; it's still a speech.
You should, though, at least give an on-the-fly introduction. It will help you settle in and adjust to your speaking persona. Thank the appropriate people, congratulate the appropriate people. But secretly use this time to settle yourself in.
3. BE PRESENT
If the audience is laughing, pause and let them laugh. If you get a bit emotional in your speech, great, let that happen. Just keep yourself in the moment.
That's it. Like I said, I'm no pro, but hopefully something here will help you write your killer speech.
