Pen to Podium: Writing a Story You’re Excited to Tell

Whether you're preparing for a big keynote, stepping onto a stage for the first time, or sharing your story in an intimate setting, one thing is true: the best speeches come from real experiences.

When you speak from the richness your own life, you unlock the gifts your story can bear. Your audience leans in. They feel your authenticity, and they might even see their own reflection in what you share. 

But it’s not always easy to figure out which story to tell, or how to tell it in a way that you’re genuinely excited to share.

Here’s how to turn your lived experience into a speech that feels honest, energizing, and entirely your own.

Step 1: Know Who You’re Talking To

Before you start writing, pause and think about the people who will hear your story.

Ask yourself:

• Who are they?
• What could they relate to?
• What might they need to hear right now?

When you align your message with what you know about your audience’s emotions, values, and challenges, you create connection. But here’s the key: you don’t need to change your story to fit the room. Instead, choose which parts of your story to tell, based on what will serve them best.

Pro Tip: Imagine one person in your audience who truly needs your message. Write as if you're having a heartfelt conversation with them.

Step 2: Find the Story You Want to Tell

If you want your audience to listen, you have to frame your story in a way that will grab them. The best speeches don’t come from structured outlines and rigid writing rules. They come from courageously sharing the pieces of your lived experiences that can help others learn something valuable.

Think about the stories that light you up to share?

• What’s a moment that changed you?
• What’s something you’ve overcome or discovered?
• What lesson are you living proof of?

Pick a story that makes you feel something. Because if you feel it, your audience will too.

Step 3: Speak It Out Loud and Take Ownership of Your Story

The moment your story leaves your mouth, it comes alive.

Speak your words aloud, over and over. Notice where you stumble, where you soar, and where your emotions rise.

• Time yourself.
• Cut what feels heavy.
• Add rhythm, dynamic changes, breath, and natural pauses.

Your goal isn’t perfection, it’s connection. Let the story be the bridge that truly connects you with your audience.

Your story doesn’t have to be dramatic to be powerful. Sometimes that parts of the story we think are the smallest leave the biggest impact.

When you choose a moment from your life that you are excited to share, you invite others to see themselves in your journey. You create impact through connection.

Whether you're on a stage or sitting in a circle, know this:

Your voice matters. Your story is enough. And when you tell it with heart, people will listen.

Need help finding the story you’re excited to share? Or want support shaping your speech? I’m here! Book a FREE call with me to see how sharing your story can be the next step in your journey.