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21 · Format Spec
Brand System · 21 · Lockwood Advisory · MMXXVI
Speeches
& Notes
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21 · Voice & Speaking · Format Spec

Speeches & Speaker Notes

For the ear, not the eye. Speech, keynote, panel, podcast.

Live spec

When to use it

  • Award acceptance or speech with prepared text.
  • Keynote talk requiring full script or detailed notes.
  • Panel preparation with talking points by question.
  • Podcast appearance with topic prep.

When NOT to use it

  • Projected slides for delivery · use the Presentation (13).
  • Written-to-be-read content · use the Web Brief (11) or Word Document (12).

When this format is right

If it's going to be spoken aloud · speech, keynote, panel, podcast · it's this format. Voice rules differ from written: shorter sentences, more breath, more silence.

Canonical reference

Leadership WA Acceptance Speech · 19 February 2026 · canonical reference for the speech context.

Four contexts

  • Acceptance Speech · full script, ~600-1000 words
  • Keynote · full script OR detailed outline, ~15-25 min
  • Panel Notes · talking points by anticipated question
  • Podcast Prep · topic outline + anchor phrases

Output

.docx for editing, printed for delivery. Speaker notes formatting (large type, breath marks, emphasis cues).

The DNA

Speaker notes formatted for performance: Cormorant Garamond, 18-20pt, generous line height, deliberate paragraph breaks. Emphasis marks (italics for stress, [pause] for breath).

Voice rules for speaking

  1. Shorter sentences. Spoken language can't carry 30-word clauses.
  2. More breath, more silence. Write the pauses in.
  3. Concrete language. Abstract concepts confuse listeners.
  4. Repeat the through-line. Listeners can't re-read.

Production checklist

  1. Read aloud (full read-through)
  2. Time the speech against the slot
  3. Breath marks where natural
  4. No tongue-twisters or hard-to-say phrases
  5. Filename: NicoleLockwood_[Event]_[SpeechType]_[YYYYMMDD].docx
Prompt-ready brief · copy into any AI 
You are writing a [speech / keynote / panel notes / podcast prep] for Nicole Lockwood.

CONTEXT
Spoken delivery. The audience hears, not reads. Voice rules differ from written.

STRUCTURE FOR SPEECH/KEYNOTE
- Opening hook
- Through-line statement (1 sentence)
- Body (3-5 anchor points)
- Closing call/return

VOICE
- Shorter sentences than written voice.
- More breath, more silence. Write pauses in [pause] or paragraph breaks.
- Concrete language. Avoid abstract jargon.
- Repeat the through-line. Listeners cannot re-read.

FORBIDDEN SYMBOLS (NEVER USE)
- No em dashes (—)
- No en dashes (–)
- No section symbol (§) — use plain numbers (01, 02) instead
- No curly quotes (“ ” ‘ ’) — use straight quotes (")
- No ellipsis character (…) — use three dots (...)
- Use middle dot . only as separator (the . shown here is U+00B7)

OUTPUT
Write a [speech type] for Nicole Lockwood on [topic] for [audience] at [event], with the structure above.

What this block does

Drop this into Claude, GPT, Gemini, or any LLM to produce a Speeches & Speaker Notes in the Lockwood Advisory format and voice without re-explaining each time.