The first time I was asked to give a speech, I copied paragraphs from three TED Talks, prayed the audience wouldn’t notice, and still went blank halfway through.

Since then I’ve written (and rewritten) talks for weddings, conferences, and community events, and I’ve discovered a process that turns scattered thoughts into a flow that sticks.

Below are seven straightforward steps—adaptable for a five-minute toast or a 20-minute keynote.

I’ll also point out exactly where Merlin AI can jump in to shave time and tighten your language.

Why a Strong Speech Outline Beats Wing-It Nerves

• Focus: A clear structure keeps you from rambling or skipping key points.
• Retention: Listeners remember organized ideas (rule of three, anyone?).
• Confidence: When you know your roadmap, stage fright loses its bite.

Invest an hour here and rehearsal will feel like polishing—not panic.

Step 1 Clarify Purpose, Audience, and Time Limit

• Purpose: Inform, persuade, celebrate, motivate, or entertain?
• Audience: Colleagues, investors, classmates, wedding guests?
• Time: A two-minute briefing isn’t a TED Talk—trim accordingly.

Quick Merlin Move Paste your event details into Merlin and prompt: “Summarize purpose, audience, and strict time limit in 50 words. Suggest tone (formal, upbeat, humorous).” Use the output as a north star when writing.

Step 2 Brainstorm Key Points (Mind-Dump First, Organize Later)

Spend five minutes dumping bullet ideas—facts, stories, quotes, jokes—onto the page. Don’t edit yet. Now group bullets into three core ideas (people can only grasp so much):

If this is a toast or eulogy, swap “problem/solution” for “memory/lesson.”

Step 3 : Craft a Hook That Grabs in 15 Seconds

Options:

• Surprising stat:

  “Every minute we lose 300 soccer fields of forest…”

• Provocative question:

  “When was the last time you skipped a plastic straw?”

• Short story:

  “Three years ago, I nearly quit my job over a sticky note.”

Hook + thesis (one-line preview) should take ≤ 40 words.

Merlin Assist Prompt: “Generate five speech hooks about renewable energy (≤ 25 words each).” Pick the one that pops and tweak.

Step 4 Build the Body: The Rule of Three + Signposts

Structure Each Main Point (PEEL):

• Point: topic sentence

  “We need faster adoption.”

• Evidence: stat or story

  “Data shows adoption tripled when policy shifted.”

• Explanation: why it matters

  “Faster adoption meets climate goals on deadline.”

• Link: bridge to next point

  “But adoption alone isn’t enough—”

Repeat for each of your three points.> Use verbal signposts (“First…”, “Next…”, “Finally…”)—audience brains love GPS cues.

Quick Merlin Move Feed Merlin one PEEL point and prompt: “Rewrite with vivid verbs, 90 words max, conversational tone.” Save 10 minutes per paragraph.

Step 5 Add Audience Engagement Devices

• Rhetorical questions:

  “Imagine your home powered by a single rooftop panel…”

• Inclusive pronouns:

  Use “we,” “us,” “our.”

• Analogies/metaphors:

  “Data is the new oil—but only if refined.”

• Pauses:

  Type ellipses (…) or stage directions [pause] so you remember to breathe.

Keep visuals minimal if slides aren’t part of the brief; words should stand alone.

Step 6 – Land a Memorable Conclusion

• Echo the hook to create symmetry

  “Remember those 300 soccer fields?”

• Summarize the three points in one crisp sentence each

• Call to action or heartfelt toast:

  “Tonight, pledge one small switch—LED bulbs or bust.”

• Final punch line / quote / toast:

  End on uplift; avoid “That’s it.”

Merlin Polish Pass Prompt: “Rewrite conclusion to echo hook, add 10-word call to action, bold final phrase.” Tweak to match your voice.

Step 7 – Edit, Time, and Rehearse Out Loud

• Timing test: Speak at natural pace—about 140 words per minute. Cut or add as needed.

• Read aloud: Clunky phrases reveal themselves.

• Tighten language:

  Replace “very important” with “crucial,” passive with active.

• Run Merlin’s Grammar Check: Spot filler words, repeated phrases, tense flips.

• Print big font or load onto note cards; mark pauses.

• Rehearse twice standing up—body remembers posture.

• Optional tech check: Record yourself; adjust pace and tone.

Mini Cheat Sheet: Word Counts by Speech Length

(Use Merlin to trim or expand quickly.)

How Merlin AI Saves ~40 Minutes

Conclusion – Your Speech, Ready to Inspire

Writing a compelling speech boils down to:

• Know your purpose, audience, time limit.
• Choose three core ideas and craft a hook.
• Use PEEL paragraphs and signposts for flow.
• Engage with questions, pronouns, pauses.
• Echo the hook, add a clear call to action.
• Edit, time, and rehearse aloud.
• Lean on Merlin AI for brainstorming, tightening, and polishing fast.

Follow these seven steps and you’ll walk on stage with a story that lands—and an audience ready to applaud.> Open Merlin, jot your purpose, and craft a speech that sings.> Good luck up there!

FAQ

Should I write the speech verbatim or just bullet notes? For short talks, verbatim helps; for longer ones, bullet cues prevent sounding memorized. Use whichever calms nerves.

PowerPoint or no slides? If allowed, one visual per main point max—audiences listen or read, rarely both.

What if I forget a line on stage? Rely on your structure. Paraphrase the point and move on; audiences forgive slips if the flow stays clear.