Steps to Writing a Eulogy

A funeral speech, or eulogy, is a speech or written work celebrating the life of a person who is recently deceased. It is typically delivered by a family member or a close friend of the person who has passed on. In some cases, when a person is elderly or extremely ill, a eulogy may be given while the person is still alive so that the person is able to hear the laudatory and loving words expressed about them.

Writing this type of speech can be an extremely difficult task to do, especially given that the writer of the speech is probably coping with feelings of grief and sorrow over the recent loss of their friend or family member. In order to make the writing process an easier one, this article will detail a step-by-step guide on how to write an earnest and well-crafted eulogy.

When writing a eulogy, it is important to remember that this type of speech is not intended to be a biography. Rather, a eulogy should incorporate the writer’s personal thoughts and remembrances of the deceased person. Accordingly, a good step one for writing a eulogy is jotting down as many personal notes and memories about the person who died as possible. Looking through photo albums is a great way to resurface fond memories of experiences and personality traits. This can also be very cathartic for the writer in their time of sadness. During this process, the writer should ask themselves questions about the deceased person, such as “what made them most happy in life?” and “what will be remembered most about them?”

In the second stage of eulogy writing, the writer should begin to organize notes and ideas into an outline. The first section of the outline should be concerned with theme development. The subsequent middle section should build on the established theme and contain the bulk of the eulogy’s information. It should incorporate all of the personal stories, anecdotes, quotes, and poetic materials. The third section of the eulogy should be a brief conclusion that summarizes the writer’s thoughts and reaffirms the theme of the eulogy.

The following stages of eulogy writing concern effective organizational strategies:

Stage 3: Concentrate on the eulogy’s middle section. Further cultivate the outline by grouping together like-minded content, which will help with the eulogy’s flow. For example, the writer could merge the discussions of the deceased person’s life philosophies all together.

Stage 4: Write the eulogy’s introduction. It is a good idea to try to begin with something meaningful or significant that will act as an attention-getter. The introduction should set the tone and theme of the eulogy. It doesn’t have to necessarily be in the writer’s own words. Short stories, poems, sayings, and song lyrics can also all be very effective literary devices to use in a eulogy’s introduction.

Stage 5: Compose the eulogy’s conclusion. The concluding portion of a eulogy should remind listeners of the eulogy’s theme and leave them with final inspirational words.

Stage 6: This is the final step involved with the composition of a eulogy. After the writer has written their first draft, they should walk away from what they have composed for at least a few hours. They should then return to the eulogy, read it over, and make any needed changes or adjustments.

Writing a eulogy is a very emotional experience that can leave someone who is not accustomed to writing speeches at a loss for words. Hopefully this article has provided some helpful strategies for eulogy composition that will make the process an easier one. Some final points to keep in mind are:

- Keep it concise; 5-8 minutes in length; 3-7 typed, double-spaced pages
- Use 14 + size font so it’s easier to read
- Number the pages
- Practice reading it out loud in front of friends or family members to get their feedback
- Make the content uplifting and in good taste

Welcome to Funeral Speeches

Welcome to Funeral Speeches.

Death would be part of life, everyone has to go through that. It would be a matter of time. So we cherish our loved ones as much as possible when they are around. Yet, when that sad day comes, we have to stand strong for them and give the most beautiful eulogy possible.

As our loved ones have passed on, we want to do the last bit share their gracious qualities with their friends and those at their funeral. To write a good speech isn’t what everybody can do, that is why Funeral Speeches is here to help you with this important task. Wait no longer, give your loved ones the speech they deserve!