The document provides 37 tips for writing and public speaking. Some key tips include telling a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end; making an argument with consequences and opposing views; editing by deleting excess words; having someone read your writing aloud to catch mistakes; and maintaining eye contact and pausing when speaking to an audience. The overarching message is to believe in what you are saying so that the audience will believe it too.

1. Andy Barr: andy@STETcommunications.com
Sarada Peri: peri@westwingwriters.com
37 PRACTICAL TIPS TO HELP YOU WRITE AND SPEAK BETTER
PLANNING YOUR SPEECH
1. Tell a story: one with a
beginning/middle/end, relatable
characters, and momentum.
2. Make an argument: one with
consequences, opponents, and the
element of surprise.
3. Have an answer to “So what?”
4. Look for a Big Metaphor.
5. Beg, borrow, steal (w/ credit).
WRITING YOUR FIRST DRAFT
6. Don’t start writing until you’re
ready to start writing.
7. Sarada’s writing rig: Read File,
Scratch Track, Outline, Draft
8. Andy’s writing rig: DCOB (Draft,
Cutfile, Outline, Bibliography)
9. Benefits > features, argument >
description, people > numbers.
10. Reward knowledge without
punishing ignorance.
11. Always park on the downhill.
12. Kill your babies.
13. Only quote if you can’t beat the
words or the speaker’s credibility.
14. Being funny =/= telling jokes.
THE SIX RULES OF GRAMMAR
15. Sentences = subjects and verbs
and then maybe other stuff.
16. Active voice > passive voice.
17. Don’t dangle modifiers.
18. A better noun > an adjective.
19. A better verb > an adverb.
20. Grammar rules aren’t laws;
they’re recipes.
EDITING: WHERE ACTUAL
WRITING HAPPENS
21. The most important key =
DELETE.
22. 130 words = 1 minute.
23. Any paragraph that you start with
“By the way” is probably one you
don’t need.
24. 3 is enough; 4 is too many.
25. Read with ears, not just eyes.
26. Absence makes the edit stronger.
27. The Jonas Method: Have
someone read it to you.
PREPARING FOR DELIVERY
28. Pronouncers for proper nouns.
29. Markings for emphasis.
30. No orphaned paragraphs.
31. Waste the bottom 1/3 page.
32. Make a “set list” on cards.
SHOWTIME!
33. Where to look: 15—70—15.
34. Pick one person per section to
make eye contact with.
35. Don’t strangle the podium.
36. Slow down. Pause more.
THE SINGLE MOST
IMPORTANT THING TO
REMEMBER

2. 37 PRACTICAL TIPS TO HELP YOU WRITE AND SPEAK BETTER
Andy Barr: andy@STETcommunications.com
Sarada Peri: peri@westwingwriters.com
37. Believe what you’re saying and
the audience will, too.