Most videos don't fail because of the camera or the edit. They fail because of the script. Here's how to write a video script that holds attention: hook them in two seconds, say why it matters, deliver one idea, and ask for one thing. That's the whole game. The rest of this page shows you how to do each part.
The 4-part video script formula
Every good short video uses these four parts, whether the writer planned it or not. The times below are for a 30-second video. Stretch the value section for longer ones.
| Part | Its job | Time (30-second video) |
|---|---|---|
| Hook | Stop the scroll. Name the problem or the payoff in one line. | 0 to 2 seconds |
| Setup | Show why this matters to this exact viewer. | 2 to 8 seconds |
| Value | Teach, show or demo the one thing they came for. | 8 to 25 seconds |
| Call to action | Tell them the one thing to do next. | Last 3 to 5 seconds |
1. The hook
You get about two seconds. If the first line doesn't hit, nothing after it matters, because nobody is there to hear it.
A good hook does one of two things. It names a problem the viewer already has, or it shows the payoff they want. Then it gets out of the way.
Hook formulas you can steal
- Call out the viewer: "If you run a Shopify store, watch this before your next ad."
- Name the mistake: "You're not slow. You're running too fast."
- Lead with the result: "I got [result] in [time]. Here's exactly how."
- Ask the question they already have: "Why does every video you post die at 200 views?"
Stuck? The free video hook generator gives you ten hooks for any topic.
2. The setup
Now tell them why they should care. One or two lines. Who is this for, and what goes wrong if they ignore it?
Skip the intro. Nobody needs your name, your channel or a "hey guys" before you've earned their attention.
3. The value
This is the part they stayed for. Teach one idea, show one demo, or tell one story. One. Most scripts fail here because they try to cover five things and land none.
Write it as beats, one line per beat. Each beat should make the viewer want the next one.
4. The call to action
Ask for exactly one thing. Follow, comment, click the link, try the product. Pick one and say it plainly.
Two asks get you zero. One clear ask gets you action.
Free video script template
Copy this, fill in the brackets, and you have a script.
Short-form template (30 to 60 seconds)
HOOK (0-2s): [Name the problem or the payoff in one line] ON-SCREEN TEXT: [5 words max] SETUP (2-8s): [Why this matters to the viewer] VALUE (8-25s): - [Beat 1] - [Beat 2] - [Beat 3] CTA (last 3-5s): [One action]
Example: a 35-second script from a running coach
- HOOK
- You're not slow. You're running too fast. [ON-SCREEN TEXT: Stop doing this on easy runs]
- SETUP
- Most new runners go all out on every run. Then they get hurt in week three and quit.
- VALUE
- Here's the fix. Run slow enough to talk in full sentences. That's your easy pace. Do most of your runs there and keep the hard stuff to one day a week. Your legs recover and you actually show up next week.
- CTA
- Try it on your next three runs. Then tell me in the comments if it felt too easy. It should.
Why this script works
The hook flips what the viewer believes about themselves. The setup names a pain every new runner knows. The value is one rule, not a training plan. The ask is small and easy to do.
Word count
About 85 spoken words, which comes out at roughly 35 seconds.
How long should a video script be?
Most people speak about 150 words per minute (words-to-time calculator). Use that to size your script before you film. YouTube Shorts can now run up to three minutes, but long is allowed, not required.
| Video | Script length |
|---|---|
| 15-second ad | About 40 words |
| 30-second TikTok or Reel | About 75 words |
| 60-second Short | About 150 words |
| 3-minute Short | About 450 words |
| 10-minute YouTube video | About 1,500 words |
How to write a video script, step by step
- 1
Pick one viewer and one idea
Write down who is watching and the single thing you want them to walk away with. If you can't say it in one sentence, the video isn't ready.
- 2
Write the call to action first
Know where you're going before you start. Every line after the hook should move the viewer toward that one ask.
- 3
Write ten hooks and keep one
Your first hook is rarely your best. Write ten fast, then pick the one that makes you want to keep watching.
- 4
List the value as beats
One line per beat. If a beat doesn't teach, show or move the story, delete it.
- 5
Cut it by a third
Your first draft is too long. They all are. Cut filler words, repeated points and anything you'd skip if someone else posted it.
- 6
Read it out loud
Scripts are heard, not read. If you stumble on a line, rewrite it shorter. If it sounds like a press release, rewrite it like a text to a friend.
- 7
Add on-screen text and visual cues
Mark where captions, product shots or B-roll go, in brackets. Plenty of people scroll with the sound off, so the hook needs to work as text too.
Video script mistakes that kill watch time
- Starting with a greeting or a logo. You just spent your two seconds on nothing.
- Cramming three ideas into one video. Split it into three videos instead.
- Writing long sentences that look fine on paper and sound terrible out loud.
- Ending with "follow, like, comment and share." Ask for one thing.
- Burying the payoff at the end. Show it early and explain it after.
Get a first draft in 30 seconds
Type your topic into the free video script generator and it writes the hook, setup, value and call to action for you. Selling something? The UGC ad script generator is built for product ads.
Don't want to film it yourself? VidGuy turns the script into a finished video with voice, visuals and captions, sized for TikTok, Reels and Shorts. Check your text placement with the safe zone checker, or see VidGuy pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write a script for a video?
Use four parts. A hook that lands in the first two seconds, a short setup that says why it matters, the value (one idea, taught or shown), and one clear call to action. Write it in short spoken sentences, read it out loud, then cut it by a third.
What is the format of a video script?
Label each part (HOOK, SETUP, VALUE, CTA) and write the exact words to be spoken under each label. Add on-screen text and visual cues in brackets, like [ON-SCREEN TEXT: 5 words] or [SHOW: product close-up]. That's enough for a short video. Longer videos add more value beats.
How many words is a 1-minute video script?
About 150 words. Most people speak around 150 words per minute, so a 30-second script is roughly 75 words and a 10-minute script is about 1,500.
How do you write a hook for a video?
Name the viewer's problem or show the payoff in the first line. Call out who it's for, name a mistake they're making, lead with a result, or ask the question already in their head. Write ten options and keep the strongest.
Can AI write a video script for me?
Yes. The free VidGuy video script generator writes a hook, setup, value and call to action from one sentence about your topic. Treat it as a strong first draft: read it out loud and change anything that doesn't sound like you.