On Speaking Well

In this insightful guide, a former speechwriter for presidents Bush and Reagan shares the best-kept secrets of the speechwriting trade. nFor anyone who fears the thought of writing and giving a speech--be it to business associates, or at a wedding--help is at hand. Acclaimed presidential speechwriter Peggy Noonan shares her secrets to becoming a confidence, persuasive speaker demystifying topics including: nn n- Finding you own authentic voice nn n- Developing a text that interest you nn n- Acing the all-important first paragraph nn n- Using logic to move your audience nn n- Creating, developing, and reinventing the core speech for diverse audiences nn n- Strengthening your speech with a vital element: humor nn n- Winnowing your thought down to the essentials nn n- Handling professional jargon, clichés, and the sound bite syndrome nn n- Presenting your speech in the best way nn n- Collecting intellectual income--conversing your speech treasures nn n- Breaking all the rules and still succeeding nn n- Reading for inspiration--how to use the excellence of others n Complete with lessons, tips and memorable examples, On Speaking Well shows us how to create forceful, persuasive, relevant speeches that will resonate with our audiences. Engaging, informative, and always entertaining, this is undoubtedly the authoritative how-to guide for anyone writing or giving a speechn