How to Write a Video Script
A repeatable structure for talking-head video: hook, promise, body and call-to-action — plus how to budget your word count to a target length.
A good video script does two jobs: it keeps your delivery tight, and it keeps the viewer watching. Here’s a structure you can reuse for almost any talking-head video, and how to size it to your target length.
1. Budget your words first
Before you write a line, decide how long the video should be and convert that into a word count. At a typical 140 wpm on-camera pace:
- 30 seconds ≈ 70 words
- 1 minute ≈ 140 words
- 5 minutes ≈ 700 words
- 10 minutes ≈ 1,400 words
Set the target in the Words to Time Calculator (use Time → words) so you write to a budget instead of trimming a bloated draft later.
2. Nail the hook (first 5 seconds)
You earn every second after the first. Open with the payoff — the result, the promise, or a claim that makes scrolling feel risky. Cut throat-clearing like “Hey guys, welcome back to the channel.” Get to the point, then introduce yourself if you must.
3. Make a promise
Tell the viewer what they’ll get and why it’s worth their time: “By the end of this you’ll be able to…”. A clear promise sets expectations and keeps people watching for the payoff.
4. Deliver the body in clean beats
- One idea per section. Break the body into 3–5 beats, each a single point.
- Signpost transitions. “First… next… finally” helps the viewer follow.
- Show, don’t just tell. Note where b-roll, graphics or demos appear.
- Write for the ear. Short sentences, contractions, active voice.
5. Close with one clear call-to-action
End with a single, specific ask — subscribe, download, visit a link. One CTA converts better than three. Script it word-for-word so it lands cleanly every time.
6. Read it aloud and trim
Scripts always read longer than they sound in your head. Read it out loud, cut anything that doesn’t earn its place, and check the final length with the Script Word Counter. Then load it into a teleprompter and rehearse once before recording.
A reusable template
- Hook — the payoff, in one or two lines.
- Promise — what they’ll get.
- Body — 3–5 beats, one idea each.
- Recap — the single most important takeaway.
- CTA — one specific next step.
Need first drafts faster? The TelePRO app includes AI script help to generate, continue and rephrase scripts right where you record them.