YouTube Shorts Script Template
A section-by-section script template for YouTube youtube shorts videos. Copy it, customize the placeholders, and start writing.
[HOOK - 0:00 to 0:02] [VISUAL HOOK: Start with the most surprising visual or action mid-motion] Text overlay: "[BOLD CLAIM or QUESTION]" [CONTEXT - 0:02 to 0:05] "[ONE-SENTENCE SETUP explaining what viewer is about to see]" [CORE CONTENT - 0:05 to 0:40] Deliver your main point, tip, or story in rapid-fire pacing. - Point 1: "[KEY INFORMATION]" + visual demonstration - Point 2: "[KEY INFORMATION]" + visual demonstration - Point 3 (if applicable): "[KEY INFORMATION]" + visual demonstration Keep each point under 10 seconds. Use jump cuts to maintain pace. [PAYOFF - 0:40 to 0:50] "[SURPRISING RESULT, PUNCHLINE, or FINAL REVEAL]" Show the before/after or the final outcome. [LOOP / CTA - 0:50 to 0:58] "[ONE-LINE CTA: Follow for more, or ask a question to drive comments]" Design the last frame to visually connect back to the first frame for a seamless loop.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Starting with a verbal intro instead of a visual hook. Viewers swipe before you finish saying "hey guys."
Cramming too much content into 60 seconds, making it feel rushed and confusing rather than fast-paced and clear.
Not adding text overlays, which alienates the large portion of viewers watching without sound.
Ending abruptly without a loop or a CTA, so the final frame feels unrelated to the opening one.
Planning numbers
About 209 words
Script length that fills a 58 second Short
0:00 to 0:02
Opening block to write first
216 wpm (median for under 1 minute videos)
Words per minute of finished video
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a YouTube Short be?
Shorts between 30 and 45 seconds are a practical default: long enough to deliver something and short enough to hold attention to the end. A 60-second Short has to keep earning the next second the whole way through, so use the longer runtime only when the idea genuinely needs it.
Do I need a script for YouTube Shorts?
Yes, scripting is even more important for Shorts because every second counts. A 60-second Short has no room for filler. Write out your hook, key points, and payoff so you hit each beat precisely. Many top Shorts creators script down to the word.
How do I make a YouTube Short loop seamlessly?
Design your last 2-3 seconds to visually and thematically connect to your first 2-3 seconds. Use matching camera angles, continue an action across the cut, or end with a phrase that flows into your opening line. A seamless loop makes the Short feel deliberate and gives a viewer who reached the end somewhere to go next.
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