Ask HN: How do you start giving tech talks?

From my experience you need three things:

0) You need a goal.

  * I want to give tech talks is good.  I want to talk about X at Y is better.
  * Keep it realistic.  When you achieve it, set the next goal.
  * Commit to the goal by signing up for it.  Runners do this and it works.  We sign up for a 5k race in a few months, and then we train for it, because now we're committed.

1) You really need to learn how to be a good speaker. This isn't actually particularly hard, but it does take a lot of work.

  * Find a good coach or program.
  * Give lots of speeches to small audiences.  People think large audiences are harder: they aren't.  
  * Get feedback from people you trust  Act on that feedback.  
  * Record yourself giving the speech and give yourself feedback.
  * Don't neglect the positive feedback.  Good public speaking is a lot about confidence, so learn what your strengths are, and bring them out.
  * Don't use slides until you can give great talks without them.  Slides distract you, and break your connection with the audience.  We think of them as speaking aides, and they can be, but they can just as easily do the opposite.
  * Learn to memorize your speeches.  If you're a musician you know why memorizing a piece is important. Same deal with speakings.
  * Murder your filler words.
  * Your talk can almost always be shorter.  The shorter talk is almost always better.

2) Have a tech topic you are passionate about. You should feel like you are the person that other people want to hear from about this topic.

  * Write about it for your self.
  * It's tech, so use it.  Build cool stuff.  Put it somewhere where other people can use it. Put where people that scare you can use it.  Maintain a project that directly relates to your passion.  
  * Develop best practices that you believe in.
  * Get involved with the global conversation about your topic.  Validate your ideas.

Is the question:

1. How do you get good at giving talks?

2. How do you generate opportunities to talk?

Most of the other comments are focused on the first (practice), but if the question is the second, it is really a question about marketing.

You have to become famous in a niche, perhaps write something you can be known for. Try to develop a platform, or else write for a well known brand.

Yeah, the second question is really important. What good is all the prep if you don't have an actual speaking engagement arranged?

And, you don't necessarily have to be "famous". One can keep an eye on conferences or other gatherings at which one would be interested in speaking. When they announce request for proposals, submit one. Spend a few weeks working on the request and make sure it is really well thought out and interesting.

when you get an opportunity to speak, take it (no matter how small). Speaking is a good way to build up that "fame" rather than the other way around.

I was present in the audience for the talk. By far my favorite asyncio talk from the conference.

Find a conference that interests you, submit a proposal.

Outline and practice. Find a delivery style that works for you.

YouTubers have a surplus capacity for critiquing these types of works. Their feedback may be helpful, and the motions of editing, recording and publishing may help isolate your target audience.

Give your talk. No matter how excellent, people will cough and manipulate their phones.