| Did you ever go fishing?
Me neither. But I've watched plenty of other people fish (OK, mostly on
TV, I admit), so I know that the lure entices the fish to come closer,
the hook catches it, and the fisherman pulls it in with a line. When you
write talks, you must do something similar.
HOOK:
You've done your homework, researched
your subject well, then created a great story, anecdote, picture,
or joke that hooks your listener's attention. Great! (If not, see
how in the August
newsletter).
LINK:
Once your audience is hooked, start reeling in. Create a direct
connection between your hook and the information you hope to impart -
the reason you are giving this talk.
A poor link can lose the audience as
quickly as a fish escapes from a snapped fishing line. Then, it
is much more difficult to get their attention again.
Here's how to write a link:
1. Consider just what your point is.
Define it for yourself. Say it out loud. Write it down.
2. Clearly
explain how your hook connects to your subject. Compare and contrast the
point of your hook with the point of your talk. Help create a
mental picture for the audience.
3. Now
that you have them hooked and start reeling them in, start giving out
information.
(See two
examples of hooks and their links.)
BODY:
With all the interesting and valuable information you learned in your
research, never forget that most people remember examples best. So
make a point, include some great information, and then say all that
again with an example from your own life, if possible.
Alternate
between head and heart, between facts and your own experiences and your
talk will not only sparkle, it will keep your audience interested all
the way through.
Once you have completed your first draft
which includes all the points you think are important, read it out loud
to yourself or better yet, to someone else.
Then rewrite to make sure your language
is conversational and easy to understand. Use words that you use
every day rather than college exam vocabulary. Avoid very complex
sentences or passive voice. This will help your audience more able to
understand as they listen. It will also help them feel as if you are
talking to them rather than lecturing or reading to them. They will
remember what you said, and anxiously await your next talk.
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Newsletter homepage
|
1.
Be sure to include plenty of examples as well as facts.
2. Read
everything out loud so you HEAR it.
3. Err
on the side of simplicity so you are sure to use conversational
vocabulary rather than writing vocabulary. There is a BIG difference. |
