How to Write a Speech that Inspires (With Examples)

• Aug 25, 2025
• 5 min read

• Tags: Writing Tips

Do you have an important occasion coming up, but are unsure as to how to begin writing your speech? Or do you just want to learn to write the perfect speech anyway—just in case it comes in handy someday?

Well, you’re in the right place—our comprehensive guide will teach you (with examples) how to write the perfect speech that inspires your audience.

Why writing a good speech matters 

Writing a good speech is all about predicting and delivering the right impact to your audience. In order to do this effectively, you will need to keep the following factors in mind:

1. Purpose: Why have you been called upon to deliver a speech? What are the key points or arguments you are expected to make? Keeping these in mind will help you flesh out your speech effectively.
2. Audience profile: A good orator knows how to adapt their language, tone, and content to suit their audience. You cannot speak to children the same way you do to adults, or to teens the way you would at a business conclave. It is important to keep the profile of your audience in mind when writing your speech.
3. Nature of the event: You cannot deliver jokes at a speech meant to be made at a funeral, nor can you bring a sombre mood to a wedding. It is important to tailor your speech to suit the nature of the event.
4. Duration: Are there other people going to be making speeches, too? Is the event running on a tight schedule? It would not do to overshoot your time limit, so keep that in mind when preparing your speech.

When you take care of the above points, you will craft a speech that could help you influence young minds, bring cheer to a special occasion, or make a poignant point on an important day. A good speech is like a cherry on the icing of an event—it brings everything together, and remains a lasting memory.

Now that these essential points are in place, let us dive into the mechanics of how to write an impactful speech!

How to write a speech

Know your audience

As mentioned above, it is very important to get the profile of your audience right before you begin writing your speech. This will influence the kind of language you use, your tone, the kind of humour you use, and whether or not the speech should get political. For example, a speech aimed towards educating teens about career options should be practical, yet upbeat and motivational, while providing useful tips in bite-sized chunks that do not drain their attention span. On the other hand, a speech at a wedding can be sentimental, humorous, and can have a more personal tone, including anecdotes that involve the bride and groom.

Define the purpose of your speech

Is your speech meant to rouse patriotism in the hearts of the listeners and motivate them to march out to battle? Or is it meant as a pre-match pep talk for a basketball team? Clearly defining the purpose of your speech influences the way you structure it and helps you further outline what points you wish to make. It would also help to create an outline of your key points so that both you and your audience are prepared for what is to come.

Research your topic thoroughly

This might seem like a no-brainer, but when you give a speech, it is important to sound like you know what you’re talking about. 

If your topic is about a person/people, eg, a wedding or birthday toast, ensure you have all the necessary information about the person, including fun anecdotes in place. On the other hand, if you are going to speak on a more technical topic, you might have to do some in-depth research into it. It would help to keep the main points in bullet form to refer to, so that you don’t forget.

Structure your speech for maximum impact

It is important to deliver your points effectively while keeping your audience’s interest. The best way to do this is to allocate a certain structure to your speech.

1. Introduction: As the name suggests, this involves introducing your topic effectively—whether with a quote, a joke, or an anecdote. A good build-up helps you to plunge into the main points seamlessly.
2. Body: The body of the speech is where you will elaborate on your main argument. Ensure it follows a logical structure and avoid rambling or going off-track—keep in mind your key points and elaborate on them.
3. Conclusion: This part of your speech should sum up your argument, tie up loose ends, and give the listener a sense of closure.

Write for the ear, not just the page

Ensure that your language and tone are pleasant and easily comprehensible to the audience. Additionally, avoid using coarse and abrasive language that could potentially turn against you. Employ methods such as alliteration and imagery to paint a vivid mental picture for the audience and keep them engaged.

Personalise your speech 

While it is all very well to state facts, bringing in a personal touch makes your speech more memorable to the audience. Speak about your experiences, get vulnerable (if you are comfortable doing so), or share a funny anecdote that will help the audience connect with you as a person talking to them, and not just someone talking at them.

The final touches

In order to ensure your speech is truly flawless, it would be advisable to edit and refine it. You can either do this yourself or hire the services of a professional editor—a fresh perspective will help you catch any errors and fix your grammar to ensure your speech is glitch-free.

Practice makes perfect

Giving a speech can be a scary business, but it is important to remember that practice makes perfect. Memorise your speech if possible, or note down the key points for reference, and recite it out loud as many times as possible, focusing on your tone, inflections, and expressions. You can also look into a mirror to observe yourself as you speak, or ask a friend or family member to serve as a dummy audience.

Use public speaking techniques

Using public speaking techniques will help you pack a punch when you deliver your speech—they will help you come across as confident and collected, and as someone with a strong grip on their topic. Here are some public speaking techniques to consider:

1. Make eye contact, but don’t stare fixedly at one person—allow your eyes to occasionally connect with various audience members, as this will help them feel more connected with your speech.
2. Get your audience to interact with you—ask them questions, invite them to ask you questions at the end of your speech—this will help them warm up to you and make your speech a more memorable experience for them.
3. Voice modulation is very important, as it ensures you sound pleasant and easy to understand—the audience should neither have to strain to hear you, nor should your voice be gratingly loud.
4. Using hand gestures can also help people better relate to what you’re saying as they create a wider range of expression for you, and help you put across your point more emphatically.

End your speech with a memorable closing

As mentioned earlier in this article, an effective conclusion is the ideal way to wrap up your points. Summarise your points briefly to help your audience remember them, and end on an upbeat/positive/poignant note (depending on the occasion) that will stay with them forever.

Speech Examples

Example 1: Graduation speech

“The Power of Unfinished Stories”

Three years ago, I stood at the entrance of this university with a half-empty suitcase and a head full of doubts. Today, I realize we all arrived with the same fears—and we’re leaving with something far more valuable than answers. We’re leaving with better questions.

Every failed experiment taught us persistence. Every all-nighter taught us dedication. Every group project—even the disastrous ones—taught us that success is rarely a solo journey.

But here’s the truth about graduation: you’re not finishing your story today. You’re simply picking up the pen to write the next chapter. Maria is heading to teach in rural communities. James is launching a clean water startup. These aren’t endings—they’re bold beginnings.

Class of 2025, our stories are unfinished, our pages are blank, and our pens are full of ink. Let’s write stories that inspire the next generation to imagine what’s possible.

Congratulations, graduates. Now go write something extraordinary.

Example 2: Best man wedding speech

“From Roommates to Soulmates”

Good evening! I’m Mike, Tom’s best friend since college—which means I’ve seen him at his worst. Like when he tried to impress a girl by cooking dinner and nearly burned down our dorm. Sarah, that’s why he always insists on takeout!

But seriously, what struck me most about Tom and Sarah wasn’t the grand gestures. It was the small things. How Tom’s face lights up when Sarah enters a room. How Sarah actually laughs at Tom’s terrible dad jokes. How they turn grocery shopping into an adventure.

The night after their first date, Tom came home with this goofy smile that didn’t leave for weeks. That’s when I knew Sarah was the one who made my best friend finally understand what all those love songs were about.

So raise your glasses! To Tom and Sarah—may your love story be filled with laughter, adventure, and just enough burnt dinners to keep things interesting! Cheers!

Like any other kind of writing, writing a speech is an art—one that engages the senses of sight and hearing too, once it is time to deliver it, so it is important to ensure you hit the sweet spot that makes your audience feel like they have just listened to something of value.

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Tanvi

With a foundation in Life Sciences, Tanvi enjoys curating technical writing tips tailored for ESL students. When she's not translating complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, she can be found playing with dogs or painting landscapes.