Speech Writing for The People, by the People, and of the People

What are the elements of a good speech? Granted, a competent speechwriter must juggle a speech’s pace, flow, alliteration, core themes, aesthetic and also emotional qualities. But how do you blend seamlessly all these elements without conveying a woolly-headed or convoluted message? The answer is not simple and the learning path is not straightforward. Some people are just innately able to write great speeches in a short time. Abraham Lincoln apparently wrote his Gettysburg Address—probably one of the best speeches ever in the history of mankind—in less than two days. Thankfully, for the rest of us without a natural ability to pen celebrated addresses, there are infinite resources available for free just one click away. For example, About.com is very helpful, featuring a whole section on speech writing. Also, there are good speech samples here and, of course, there is a blog with a ton of speechwriting ideas a tips. In addition, you can get inspired by reading historic speeches, such as Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" or Edmund Burke's "Speech on conciliation with the colonies."