A pad of paper and a pen

A clear mind

Something to say (if you don't have a topic, ask the people who invited you to speak to suggest one)

To be very prepared, spend 3 times the time length of the speech on preparation. So if you're speaking for 20 minutes, plan on preparing for at least an hour. Technical subjects may require additional planning time.

2torial #0694: Learn2 Write a Speech "Four score [gulp!] and seven [umm] years ago..." Thorough preparation is a great solution to public-speaking panic. A well-written speech or presentation fills you with confidence, and provides a solid base for your ideas (you do have ideas, don't you?). What's more, there's no English teacher who'll grade down for punctuation or spelling errors. So relax. As long as you address the main points of your message (you do have a message, don't you?) with clarity and sincerity, you'll come across as a good public speaker. Remember, physical presence has nothing to do with communicating: Lincoln had a thin, high-pitched voice and Eisenhower frequently garbled sentences, yet they managed to get their points across. You will too. Find a place where you can work without distractions. If your home is noisy, try the quiet study room in your local public library. One focused hour is worth three distracted ones. You should also know the speaking time allotted to you. If the correct speech length isn't obvious to you, ask the folks who asked you to speak. If they're too polite to give you a time limitation, enforce one on yourself. Step 1