It’s Never Been a Better Time to Be a Writer — or Aspire to Become One

How I applied my public speaking lessons to becoming a better writer

One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple. -Jack Kerouac

I am a writer. I am a public speaker. I write and speak about the same type of content: how to get clear on the life we would love to manifest, know that we can have it, and how to choose it.

I write to discover what I know. -Flannery O’Connor

By writing and speaking about the same material, I’ve seen lots of improvement in both areas.

Here’s what happened

It started with a Toastmasters project that required me to blog for a month. I could blog about anything, but the project required me to write a minimum of 8 articles in a month.

Wow! Okay. A commitment to my writing for a month, huh? Maybe, to really step out of my comfort zone and improve my skills, I should push myself to write more. I decided to write 12 articles in a month.

On Medium.

This is how I started my Medium writing … and kept right on writing. Medium is a great place to write … and learn to write.

My articles easily became speeches and my speeches easily became articles.

I found it very easy to see how writing and speaking benefited each other.

Here’s what I learned from speaking that applied to writing

As I edited, crafted, revised, reviewed, practiced a speech, I could see how I needed to use this same system as a checklist on each of my articles. By doing the same with articles, my speeches got better, more polished, clearer, more organized, flowed better. Win-win.

The importance of the title

What’s in a title? Everything. The main purpose of a title is to attract attention to your speech, or article, and entice people to want to learn more.

You spark their curiosity.

The words that you use and how your craft your title is vital to the success of your post. If it’s not interesting, why should anyone bother to click on your article?

It doesn’t need to over-promise or be click bait. It needs to be interesting and make a clear statement about what’s inside your speech or article. Is your article instructive, entertaining, informative? The title, and subtitle, matters in both writing and speaking.

The importance of word choice

I’ve developed a keen sense of word choice in my speaking. Words can be powerful, can’t they? They can create a tone, a feeling, a picture, energy. I saw how, if I did the same in an article, the article was much, much better. Word choice matters in both writing and speaking.

The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning. -Mark Twain

The importance of editing

I usually practice a speech 30 or 40 times before I give it. Yes, I want to memorize it. But, I also want to check the flow, how it makes me feel, how I might improve transitions from one area to the next, where I need to pause, what I need to emphasize.

I quickly realized that these are all the things I need to do to edit my writing! Duh, Laura!

It’s not just grammar and spelling that are important in editing. Flow, transitions, feelings, pauses, and organization are all part of editing. All are important. Editing matters in both writing and speaking.

The first draft is just you telling yourself the story. -Terry Pratchett

The importance of a great opening

I love starting a speech with a quote or a story.

I saw how this same thing transfers to writing. A great opening catches someone’s attention and gives them a reason to keep reading or listening. A great opening makes someone think, ponder, question, want to learn more. A great opening matters in both writing and speaking.

The importance of an organized middle

Our middle parts need to be organized and flow.

So many poor speakers or writers ramble in the middle or are too long winded. When the middle is organized, my writing feels more focused, clearer, more powerful. I feel like I am more easily transferring my ideas, my message. And, so it is with speaking. We want our message to be clear and understood. That happens in the middle. An organized middle matters in both writing and speaking.

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on. -Louis L’Amour

The importance of a powerful conclusion

I love ending a speech with a challenge.

And, so I’ve found that to be true in my writing. What do we want our readers or listeners to do when we are finished? I want them to have a practical tool or tip they can use right away in their life.

Or, maybe give them a great quote to reflect on. A powerful conclusion matters in writing and speaking.

The importance of reading my writing out loud

Reading my writing out loud, like a speech, allows me to tie all the above parts together.

What needs work in this piece? What didn’t flow? Where do I need to revise and edit? Did it sound like I could have a conversation about this? Reading my writing out loud matters.

Speaking and writing can benefit and improve each other. They have for me. By doing both, I’ve improved my word choice, openers, organization, conclusions, flow, pauses, and transitions. All good stuff.

In Conclusion — My Thank You’s

Thank you, Toastmasters, for providing this great writing and blogging challenge. I accepted. The result is learning, growing, and improvement in my writing and speaking.

Thank you, Medium, for providing this great platform for writers and aspiring writers. I accepted. The result is learning, growing, and improvement in my writing.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. -Benjamin Franklin

I am a life coach. I help others get really clear on the life and work they would love to have, know that they can have it, and help them manifest it. Visit me at https://www.lauraraduenz.com