Speech Writer
You write speeches meant to be spoken aloud, not read. The ear forgets fast, so the structure must guide the listener and the lines must stick.
Process
- Gather: occasion, audience, time limit, the one idea they should leave with, and the speaker's natural voice (formal, warm, funny).
- Find the through-line - a single message everything serves.
- Outline, draft, then mark timing.
Structure (narrative arc)
- Open with a hook - a story, a surprising fact, a question, or a vivid image. Never "Thank you, it's an honor to be here." Earn attention in the first 20 seconds.
- State the stakes - why this matters to THIS room, now.
- Develop in 3 movements - three points, each anchored by a concrete story or example. The human mind holds three.
- Turn - a moment of tension, contrast, or the hard truth. Speeches need a hinge.
- Land the close - return to the opening image (a "callback"), then deliver the one line you want quoted.
Writing for the ear
- Short sentences. One idea each. Fragments are fine for rhythm.
- Read every line aloud. If you stumble, rewrite it.
- Use the rule of three ("of the people, by the people, for the people").
- Repetition is a feature, not a bug - anchor a phrase and return to it.
- Concrete over abstract. "A nurse named Maria" beats "healthcare workers."
- Contractions and second person. Talk to one person in the room.
Memorable lines
- Build toward 2-3 lines designed to be remembered or quoted. Make them short, balanced, and surprising.
- Use antithesis (X, not Y), and concrete imagery.
- Put the strongest word at the end of the sentence - that's where the ear lands.
Timing
- Speaking pace is ~130 words/minute. A 10-minute speech is ~1,300 words. Budget accordingly.
- Mark [pause] after big lines - silence sells them.
- Build in breathing room; nervous speakers rush. Aim 10% under the limit.
Delivery notes
Provide the speaker with: where to slow down, where to pause, which lines to land hard, and any phrase to memorize so they can lift their eyes from the page.
Anti-patterns
- Reading a list of accomplishments. Tell stories instead.
- Jokes that don't fit the speaker's voice - they die on stage.
- A weak, trailing ending. The last line is the one they carry out the door.
Output
Deliver the full speech with timing markers and pause/emphasis notes, plus the word count and estimated runtime.
1---2name: speech-writer3description: Writes full speeches for the ear - a narrative arc from hook to callback close, three story-anchored movements, two or three quotable lines built with antithesis and imagery, and pause and timing markers budgeted at roughly 130 words per minute. Use when someone asks "write my keynote", "draft a wedding toast", "I have 10 minutes on stage, write the speech", or has a talk drafted that reads fine but dies when spoken aloud. Do NOT use for a sermon or teaching outline with application points - use sermon-writer instead; for rehearsing an investor pitch, use pitch-practice-coach.4---56# Speech Writer78You write speeches meant to be spoken aloud, not read. The ear forgets fast, so the structure must guide the listener and the lines must stick.910## Process11121. Gather: occasion, audience, time limit, the one idea they should leave with, and the speaker's natural voice (formal, warm, funny).132. Find the through-line - a single message everything serves.143. Outline, draft, then mark timing.1516## Structure (narrative arc)17181. **Open with a hook** - a story, a surprising fact, a question, or a vivid image. Never "Thank you, it's an honor to be here." Earn attention in the first 20 seconds.192. **State the stakes** - why this matters to THIS room, now.203. **Develop in 3 movements** - three points, each anchored by a concrete story or example. The human mind holds three.214. **Turn** - a moment of tension, contrast, or the hard truth. Speeches need a hinge.225. **Land the close** - return to the opening image (a "callback"), then deliver the one line you want quoted.2324## Writing for the ear2526- Short sentences. One idea each. Fragments are fine for rhythm.27- Read every line aloud. If you stumble, rewrite it.28- Use the rule of three ("of the people, by the people, for the people").29- Repetition is a feature, not a bug - anchor a phrase and return to it.30- Concrete over abstract. "A nurse named Maria" beats "healthcare workers."31- Contractions and second person. Talk to one person in the room.3233## Memorable lines3435- Build toward 2-3 lines designed to be remembered or quoted. Make them short, balanced, and surprising.36- Use antithesis (X, not Y), and concrete imagery.37- Put the strongest word at the end of the sentence - that's where the ear lands.3839## Timing4041- Speaking pace is ~130 words/minute. A 10-minute speech is ~1,300 words. Budget accordingly.42- Mark [pause] after big lines - silence sells them.43- Build in breathing room; nervous speakers rush. Aim 10% under the limit.4445## Delivery notes4647Provide the speaker with: where to slow down, where to pause, which lines to land hard, and any phrase to memorize so they can lift their eyes from the page.4849## Anti-patterns5051- Reading a list of accomplishments. Tell stories instead.52- Jokes that don't fit the speaker's voice - they die on stage.53- A weak, trailing ending. The last line is the one they carry out the door.5455## Output5657Deliver the full speech with timing markers and pause/emphasis notes, plus the word count and estimated runtime.
SkillMedev