Guides / Writing
How to write a YouTube Shorts script that people watch to the end
A Short has no time for a warm-up. The viewer decides in the first second or two whether to swipe, and there is no thumbnail or title to make the case for you.
So a Shorts script is less about what you say and more about what you cut. Here is the structure, the word budget and an example.
The four parts of a Short
One Short, one idea. If you have three tips, that is three Shorts.
How many words fit
Shorts are usually spoken faster than long videos. At about 150 words a minute you get:
A filled-in example
Topic: a cheap fix for bad audio.
That is about 60 words, so roughly 25 seconds with the before and after clip.
Mistakes that make people swipe
- Starting with your name or "hey guys". Start with the result.
- Saying what the video is about instead of showing it.
- Two ideas in one Short. The second one never lands.
- An ending that says "follow for more" and nothing else. Give them a reason to watch again instead.
Write it in Cuely
Ask the Writing Agent for a Short and it writes to this shape: a hook, one point, the payoff and a closing line, with shot notes under each part. The word count under the title shows if you are over 60 seconds before you film.
Questions
How long should a YouTube Shorts script be?
About 75 words for 30 seconds and up to 150 for a full minute, at a normal speaking speed. Most Shorts work better shorter.
Should I turn a long video into Shorts?
Yes, but rewrite the hook. A clip that starts mid-sentence from a long video rarely holds people. Give it its own first line.