Writing and Speaking Ideas Checklist

As you probably guessed I do a great deal of writing and speaking. To check my head I use this checklist.  Hope it helps you too.

You can get a PDF of this checklist here.

• A strong headline.
• A strong opening sentence.
• What is this about?
• Who is your audience?
• How do you hook them?- ask a question, define a problem, make a bold statement, challenge them, spook ‘em, rhetorical question, startling assertion, did you know…, provide evidence/data, be a contrarian, imagine…, a metaphor,
• Tell a quick story. Show a picture. Create a chart.
• What question do you want answered? What is the learning objective?
• Why does it matter? Who is affected by it?
• What are the learning points?
• What’s unique about it? What’s it compare to?
• What’s humorous about it? What’s maddening about it?
• Is there a revelation? A breakthrough? An aha?
• What’s the resistance, obstacle or blockage? How to overcome it.
• Can you give something useful? A strategy, tool or resource?
• Where’s it lead to? What’s next? Stay tuned?
• Who’s the victim, villain or hero?
• What’s the tipping point?
• What’s the setting? The props?
• Each paragraph or point 2-4 sentences.
• Strong close. Final reminders, call to action, conviction, encouragement, “book-end” (refer back to beginning), final thought to ponder,
• Exercise files, further learning

Here’s to pumping up your writing and speaking game.

All the best, Don

 

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