Writing A Memorable Eulogy
by infocus on 2007-09-23
Writing a eulogy is far more difficult than writing just any old speech because you have to make it personal to those who knew the dearly departed. It is generally considered in good taste to focus your eulogy on the life of the departed rather than focusing on how they died.
1. Where To Begin?
The best piece of advice to consider when working on a eulogy is to write down what comes to mind first without worrying about it being any good. You can always go back later and pick and choose what elements you want to include and that ones you don't. You should think about what that person held as important in life, what they chose as their profession, and how they affected the world around them.
2. Decide On A Tone
Another special consideration for your eulogy should be the tone. You can make your eulogy a bright and optimistic outlook on life, going over the achievements of the deceased and their aspirations in life. It is also quite acceptable to have a very serious eulogy, perhaps with a period of silence to remember the dead. It also depends on the personality of the deseased. Perhaps they were someone who loved a good laugh, it might be a good idea to share some of the funny stories about them.
3. For You and The Audience
Many people who write a eulogy forget that the eulogy is not just about how the person affected you, but how they affected everyone. It is important to involve the audience emotionally if you can. Try to talk to the friends and family of the diseased to make sure you talk about all aspects of that person's life. Remember that a person can be a different way with different people, and they can also mean different things to different people.
4. Organize Everything
Unless you are writing a narrative eulogy that flows as a single story, you will want to separate your ideas and memories about this person. Be prepared to write a first draft of your eulogy and have other people critique it before moving on to write your final draft.
5. Rehearse In Front Of A Mirror
You don't have to memorize your eulogy, it's perfectly OK to write down in point form what you want to say to help you remember. It is never a good idea to wing it, you will most definitely want to practice your delivery several times in front of a mirror and then perhaps in front of a friend or family member for some honest feedback.
1. Where To Begin?
The best piece of advice to consider when working on a eulogy is to write down what comes to mind first without worrying about it being any good. You can always go back later and pick and choose what elements you want to include and that ones you don't. You should think about what that person held as important in life, what they chose as their profession, and how they affected the world around them.
2. Decide On A Tone
Another special consideration for your eulogy should be the tone. You can make your eulogy a bright and optimistic outlook on life, going over the achievements of the deceased and their aspirations in life. It is also quite acceptable to have a very serious eulogy, perhaps with a period of silence to remember the dead. It also depends on the personality of the deseased. Perhaps they were someone who loved a good laugh, it might be a good idea to share some of the funny stories about them.
3. For You and The Audience
Many people who write a eulogy forget that the eulogy is not just about how the person affected you, but how they affected everyone. It is important to involve the audience emotionally if you can. Try to talk to the friends and family of the diseased to make sure you talk about all aspects of that person's life. Remember that a person can be a different way with different people, and they can also mean different things to different people.
4. Organize Everything
Unless you are writing a narrative eulogy that flows as a single story, you will want to separate your ideas and memories about this person. Be prepared to write a first draft of your eulogy and have other people critique it before moving on to write your final draft.
5. Rehearse In Front Of A Mirror
You don't have to memorize your eulogy, it's perfectly OK to write down in point form what you want to say to help you remember. It is never a good idea to wing it, you will most definitely want to practice your delivery several times in front of a mirror and then perhaps in front of a friend or family member for some honest feedback.
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