 HOW
TO EDIT A SPEECH:
REMOVE ONE JEWEL
(Voices of
Experience, National Speakers Association)
© Mariah Burton Nelson
I learned something about editing speeches from
Coco Channel, of all people. She used to say:
After getting dressed, remove one piece of
jewelry.
I use this technique with speeches: After
planning a speech, I’ll remove one precious
element I had wanted to include: a fact or a
quote or even a signature story.
Figuring out what to remove helps me decide
what’s essential. It also creates room - for
dramatic pauses, for repetition, for digressions,
and for spontaneous interactions with the
audience. It helps me not feel rushed.
Professional speaking coach Ron Arden talks about
“the stuff in between.” This is the
stuff that gets left out altogether. It’s
like white space. We’re all eager to share
so many pearls of wisdom, but I find that
it’s best to leave some of my favorite
jewels at home.
Mariah Burton Nelson is an
author, athlete, and professional speaker who
uses sports stories to show people how to lead
and succeed with courage, compassion, commitment,
and confidence. For reprint permission contact
the author; information below.
To
contact Mariah about her presentations, call
703/276-8323 or write to her at Mariah@MariahBurtonNelson.com
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