“If you want to be a good speaker, listen more and if you want to be a good writer, read more”.
What do you get from this phrase? It's a simple proposition. Probably that's the easiest way one can make us understand how to pursue our quest for public speaking and writing endeavours.
Reading history tells us that all great speakers had a unique way of preparing and delivering speeches. Like, Theodore Roosevelt used to dig up all facts about the intended speech himself, carried out an appraisal and later dictated his speech in quick succession to the typist. Afterwards he would read the typewritten copy, make necessary ammendments and dictate that all over again. Quite a job, ah han!
Not only him but Abraham Lincoln is said to have strived hard to master the art of speaking ever since he was a young boy and strived wholethrough his life to make it to delivering perfect speeches. No doubt, his dexterity in speaking is a well known fact. He used to think through his speeches for hours and days and weeks while everywhere he went he was continuously thinking of the phrasology and would soliloquise his speeches in his abode. That's worth it.
In the recent world, we know many political and military leaders who speak quite eloquently. One of my favourites is Mr. Shashi Tharoor, an Indian Member of the Parliament who has an extraordinary speaking power when it comes to oration. He utters his phrases so well that every word is justifiably in place and conveys the unambiguous meaning. Many others speakers are also there on the long list but one has to delve into the internet - since that's the most convenient tool at our disposal - and comb through the online content in order to see these talented men and women displaying incredible oratory skills. That's the hard-earned fuit of toil and diligence we see in the shape of good speeches they deliver.
In order to speak well we ought to listen to speakers who have made a mark by their exploits in speaking or atleast what we can do is to segregate them through their fan following. For instance, a famous religious scholar from our country named Maulana Tariq Jamil has a vast fan following because his speeches appeal to majority of the people, no matter which sect of the religion they follow. The essence of his popularity, apart from good delivery and skillful use of words, is his hardline against hate-speech. That's why he is more admired than detested in a community divided by sectarian differences. Good speakers are liked by a great number of people and that liking is independent of their religious, ethnic, cultural or political orientation. There is so much to learn from them, quite amazingly.
As of writing, it is again an arcane art since just being able to write is not enough but to trigger the urge of the reader to read your text is the essence of true writing. Few of us might have read the world-famous novel “A Walk to Remember” by Nicholas Sparks. The plot of the story itself might be fascinating but it is the skill of the author that triggers the intrigue of the reader manifold. He truely knows how to play with the strings of emotions through his writing style. Even a movie named and based on the same novel lags behind the written novel itself.
Not only the stroytellers but all writers who write on myriad topics have a unique way of expressing their ideas. That style is actually what dintinguishes them from other writers. Perhaps they know how to pull the reins of the readers' minds and then shackle them in the chains of their words.
In our endevour to write well, we ought to select good material for reading in the first place. A good book is worth reading often by the virtue of its contents and in certain cases on the basis of the writer's repute. For instance Khalil Gibran is famous for his unorthodox outlook on the way society behaves. One of his famous books “Spirits Rebellious” is still read with great interest since he has brought out oft-forgotten but most important lessons of society. The contents may be debatable but the rich text is a treat to eyes when read without bias. After all, good books are to be read for the sake of words, ideas and style embedded therein. Reading good material is the corner stone of good writing. The adequate style of a particular writer might actuate our abilities to write on innumerable topics. It is the essence of writing to read more. It is just as simple as it sounds.
To conclude, it is imperitive to listen and read more in order to speak and write better than before. In all ages, eloquent speakers and good writers have been paid respect and admiration. In order to be heard and read, we ourselves need to listen and read more and more as speaking and writing skills are part of essentials in today's world.
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