You could learn a lot from Abraham Lincoln

America's 16th president is considered great for a number of reasons, not least of which were his skills as a writer and public speaker. Even today, more than 100 years after his death, Abraham Lincoln serves as an example of the kind of writer we should all strive to be. His Gettysburg Address is the ultimate model for writing effectively.

Lincoln was invited to dedicate a memorial at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for the many men who lost their lives in a famous Civil War battle on that hallowed ground. The invitation was an afterthought, and Lincoln wasn't even the featured speaker. That honor went to Edward Everett, who was considered the greatest public speaker of his day. Yet it is Lincoln's speech the is remembered today.

Why?

Because Lincoln was able to capture the meaning of the ceremony in just a few minutes. He was able to speak directly to the hearts of everyone gathered. While Everett's speech was long and rambling, free of emotion and full of dates and facts about the battle being commemorated, Lincoln spoke to the central theme and its relevance to the nation.