Updated: July 21, 2010

By Christa Fletcher

Ever listen to a really boring speech? You know, the kind that makes you think about what happened on Lost last night, rather than whatever the speaker is droning on about? Or worse yet, when you hear a speech that actually makes you fall asleep and you wake up somewhere in the middle lost in a sea of "Blah blah blah..."

This might be why people are terrified of public speaking -- many speakers bore their audiences to no end, while only a choice few completely captivate them. The risk seems high, but it doesn't have to be. Instead of being afraid to write and deliver a speech, why not embrace it? In fact, if you follow the right steps, you'll not only feel more confident, you'll write a speech others will appreciate, enjoy, and maybe even remember.

So, get ready to work hard and learn some new skills. Because by the time you're done, you'll have your audience totally in the moment, hanging on your every word.