how to write a script for a video essay

Scripting Video Essays: How to Write a Great Narrative

There are many ways in which you can write video essays. Some have argued that video essays are a new trend in the world of creative writing. There is so much emphasis on developing a story from visuals, photographs, videos, and music to tell an enduring tale or lesson in this day and age. 

So, if you want to join the video essay bandwagon as an artist, expert, researcher, or student, you must know how to write them first before creating them.

Writing a narrative video essay is a great way to share your ideas with the world. Narrative essays let you not only say something meaningful but also show it. A good narrative video essay is also about the art of visual storytelling.

But first, if you are wondering what exactly is a video essay. Let’s address it first.

What is a Video Essay?

A video essay is a form of a documentary-like video narrative film using film footage, video clips, and graphics to discuss an issue or topic. Academics and artists can typically use video essays to discuss their research. 

In addition to blog posts and magazine articles, video essays are a new type of storytelling in the digital world. They take one idea and meticulously construct a narrative on how it came to be, how it’s been used/applied, or what it means.

In its most popular form (one person talking head), a video essay is made up of between 3-7 minutes in length and usually presents one concept or topic.

It often looks at a film and demonstrates how it is engaging in meaning or does not. The video essay can also emphasize the acts performed by actors or directors, such as performance, staging, and editing techniques.

But today, it is not fixated to film subjects only.  You can also expand your visual stories about anything under the sun like history, politics, science, technology, etc. Just choose an idea and proceed with your essay writing.

Here is an excellent example of the best video essays –  Example: Best Video Essays by Vox

How do you Create a Narrative in your Video Essay?

To create a compelling video essay, you must know how to write an essay with a video component to produce a compelling story. A good video essay should have the following qualities:

• It should be insightful, thought-provoking, or informative.
• It should be argumentative and practice critical thinking
• It should be visual, formal, and well-structured.
• It should help the viewer understand and appreciate a topic/situation from various angles.
• It should inspire viewers through findings, vocabulary, and plot.

The best video essays also use candid footage and demonstrate the use of nonfiction or documentary filmmaking techniques . And the main reason why people gravitate towards narrative essays is that they let you show your ideas visually to your viewers.

How to Write a Video Essay Script?

Many people are starting to make video essays as a way of presenting their own thoughts and experiences. The problem is that these videos do not have any actual narration, leaving the viewer lost trying to understand what’s happening.

But to write a grand narrative, you must follow the following stages:

Brainstorming ideas is the first stage. At this stage, you should list a few interesting concepts in an organized way. You may want to use the topic form like: “A Case for Video Essays” or “How to Create a Story Using Text and Images?” So, while ideating, follow these:

• Begin by picking a topic ( mostly what you are passionate about).
• Think about your point of view and audience. 
• Set up the background and context for your essay or story (the “what”). 
• Reveal the turning point in your story (the “why”). 
• Provide evidence to support your account of events (the “where”) 
• Discuss how the incident relates to broader social concerns (the “what now?”).

Research is the next stage of writing a video essay. The moment you decide to make a video essay, you should have enough information about the topic. The more information and research you do in the ideation stage, the easier it will be for you as a writer and speaker to share your knowledge with the audience. Research may include:

• Finding out facts from books, interviews, or research papers.
• Finding out relevant video footage of the person, place, or event.
• Getting access to the video footage of a particular event (e.g., presidential speeches).
• Find audio or video files on the Internet and transcribe them into text format (e.g., podcasts, interviews).
• THE ESSAY STRUCTURE: 

Because the video essay is still relatively new, there are no definitive rules about structure and genre for these films.  But still, we should adhere to some basic rules while constructing the script structure. Your structure is the most crucial stage for a crackling narrative. 

The essentials of a great narrative essay structure are as follows :

• First, create a rough outline from your research material.
• Think about a compelling opening line with a single line answer to the question of the essay
• Begin with questions, then answer in a way to create an argument.
• The Argument then leads to the next question.
• The emotion and Tone of the script should be formal, thought-provoking, insightful, and informative, supported by relevant visual reference.
• The essay must represent a single point of view.
• But it should be a well-reasoned perspective.
• It must have the writer or creator’s personal touch.
• Good writing is about the economy of words articulated to the point.
• Don’t forget to mention the What is the Takeaway for the audience.
• Don’t make it lengthy. Video essays are also about documenting or reviewing videos. So the script should not eat it all.
• Once you have structured the script, go back to the beginning and review your work.

Once you have prepared a rough draft of your essay, read it out loud and find the rhythm in the story. Is it telling the theme visually?  Rewrite and get the tone right. Your first few scripts may not be satisfactory. Don’t worry about that. It is a learning process.

• WRITING THE FINAL DRAFT:

Now, once you have gotten all the ideas into a script, you will be eager to write the final draft. At this stage, make sure to follow the following tips:

• Make sure every line is comprehensible so that viewers can easily understand your point of view without missing anything important in it.
• Proofread and make sure that you don’t leave any unfinished work or broken sentences in the video essay structure.
• Check the length of the video essay and make sure to follow the minimum requirements.
• Once you are done with the script, check for the formatting of your work.
• Spend extra time on a great narration that helps explain your content effectively and concisely.
• Get a clear idea about what you want to say so that you know what kind of images to use in the final draft of your essay and how they should be arranged.
• Conclude the essay by providing the audience with everything they need to know about your subject.

For a compelling narrative, the first thing to do is identify what makes the story you are trying to tell unique and why an audience wants to learn about it.

Related Question:

Are Video Essays Popular Today?

Though the concept was coined in the mid-1990s, it has only become popular in the last five years or so. As of now, a considerable amount of video essays and short films are uploaded on Youtube. Some have even garnered millions of views.  The prominent mentions are the Nerdwriter, and Every Frame is a Painting.

check out – Best Video Essays of last year

How Long Does a Video Essay Take to Write?

If you are writing a long video essay, it can take you a considerable amount of time. However, if you aim to create a short film covering one event, it can be done in a day or two. 

But, you may take time if you don’t have the research material in your hand. 

Final words:

The video essay became popular because it is a way to engage with the writer rather than just “watching” them talk about something. But, to make a great narrative, you have to research a lot and put in your best efforts. 

We hope this write-up has helped you create a great video essay. Happy writing!

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How to Write a Video Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide and Tips

• by Joseph Kenas
• January 5, 2024
• Writing Tips

The video essay has become an increasingly popular way of presenting ideas and concepts in the age of the internet and YouTube. In this guide, we present a step-by-step guide on how to write a video essay and tips on how to make it.

While it is easy to write a normal essay, the structure of the video essay is a bit of a mystery, owing to the newness of the term.

However, in this article, we are going to define what is a video essay, how to write a video essay, and also How to present a video essay well in class.

What is a Video Essay?

A video essay is a video that delves into a certain subject, concept, person, or thesis. Video essays are difficult to characterize because they are a relatively new form, yet they are recognized regardless. Simply, video essays are visual compilations that try to persuade, educate, or criticize.

These days, there are many creatives making video essays on topics like politics, music, movies, and pop culture.

With these, essays have become increasingly popular in the era of video media such as Youtube, Vimeo, and others.

Video essays, like photo and traditional essays, tell a story or make a point.

The distinction is that video essays provide information through visuals.

When creating a video essay, you can incorporate video, images, text, music, and/or narration to make it dynamic and successful.

When you consider it, many music videos are actually video essays. 

Since making videos for YouTube and other video sites has grown so popular, many professors are now assigning video essays instead of regular essays to their students. So the question is, how do you write a video essay script?

Steps on How to Write a Video Essay Script

Unscripted videos cost time, effort, and are unpleasant to watch. The first thing you should do before making a video writes a script, even if it’s only a few lines long. Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of writing a script. All you need is a starting point.

A video script is important for anyone who wants to film a video with more confidence and clarity. They all contain comparable forms of information, such as who is speaking, what is said, where, and other important details.

While there are no precise criteria that a video essay must follow, it appears that most renowned video essayists are adhering to some steps as the form gets more popular and acknowledged online. 

1. Write a Thesis

Because a video essayist can handle a wide range of themes, video analysis essays lack defined bounds. The majority of essays, on the other hand, begin with a thesis.

A thesis is a statement, claim, theme, or concept that the rest of the essay is built around. A thesis might be broad, including a variety of art forms. Other theses can be quite detailed.

A good essay will almost always have a point to express. Every video analysis essay should have a central idea, or thesis, that ties the film together.

2. Write a Summary

Starting with a brief allows you and your team to document the answers to the most pressing project concerns. It ensures that everyone participating in the video production is on the same page.

This will avoid problems of mixing ideas or getting stuck when you are almost completing the project.

3. Choose a Proper Environment and Appropriate Tools

When it comes to writing your script, use any tool you’re familiar with, such as pen and paper. Also, find a writing atmosphere that is relaxing for you, where you can concentrate and be creative.

Consider what you don’t have to express out loud when you’re writing. Visual elements will be used to communicate a large portion of your content.

4. Use a Template

When you don’t have to reinvent the process every time you sit down, you get speed and consistency.

It’s using your cumulative knowledge of what works and doing it over and over again. Don’t start with a blank page when I sit down to create a script- try to use an already made template. 

5. Be Conversational

You want scripts that use language that is specific and targeted. Always avoid buzzwords, cliches, and generalizations. You want your audience to comprehend you clearly without rolling their eyes.

6. Be Narrative

Make careful to use a strong story structure when you’re trying to explain anything clearly. Ensure your script has a beginning, middle, and end, no matter how short it is. This will provide a familiar path for the viewers of your video script.

7. Edit Your Script

Make each word work for a certain position on the page when you choose your words.

They must serve a purpose.

After you’ve completed your first draft, go over your script and review it.

Then begin editing, reordering, and trimming. Remove as much as possible.

Consider cutting it if it isn’t helping you achieve your goal.

 8. Read Your Script Loudly

Before recording or going on in your process, it’s recommended to read your script aloud at least once. Even if you won’t be the one reading it, this is a good method to ensure that your message is clear. It’s a good idea to be away from people so you may practice in peace.

Words that flow well on paper don’t always flow well when spoken aloud. You might need to make some adjustments based on how tough certain phrases are to pronounce- it’s a lot easier to change it now than when recording.

9. Get Feedback

Sometimes it is very difficult to point out your mistakes in any piece of writing. Therefore, if you want a perfect video essay script, it is advisable to seek feedback from people who are not involved in the project.

Keep in mind that many will try to tear your work apart and make you feel incompetent. However, it can also be an opportunity to make your video better.

The best way to gather feedback is to assemble a group of people and read your script to them. Watch their facial reaction and jot own comments as you read. Make sure not to defend your decisions. Only listen to comments and ask questions to clarify.

After gathering feedback, decide on what points to include in your video essay. Also, you can ask someone else to read it to you so that you can listen to its follow.

A video essay can be a good mode to present all types of essays, especially compare and contrast essays as you can visually contrast the two subjects of your content.

How to make a Good Video from your Essay Script

You can make a good video from your script if you ask yourself the following questions;

• What is the video’s purpose? What is the purpose of the video in the first place?
• Who is this video’s intended audience?
• What is the subject of our video? (The more precise you can be, the better.) 
• What are the most important points to remember from the video?- What should viewers take away from it?

If the context had multiple characters, present their dialogues well in the essay to bring originality. If there is a need to involve another person, feel free to incorporate them.

How to Present a Video Essay Well in Class

• Write down keywords or main ideas in a notecard; do not write details- writing main ideas will help you remember your points when presenting. This helps you scan through your notecard for information.
• Practice- in presentations it is easy to tell who has practiced and who hasn’t. For your video essay to grab your class and professor’s attention, practice is the key. Practice in front of your friends and family asking for feedback and try to improve.
• Smile at your audience- this is one of the most important points when presenting anything in front of an audience. A smiley face draws the attention of the audience making them smile in return thus giving you confidence.
• Walk to your seat with a smile- try not to be disappointed even if you are not applauded. Be confident that you have aced your video presentation.

Other video presentations tips include;

• Making eye contact
• Have a good posture
• Do not argue with the audience 
• Look at everyone around the room, not just one audience or one spot
• Rember to use your hand and facial expressions to make a point.

Joseph is a freelance journalist and a part-time writer with a particular interest in the gig economy. He writes about schooling, college life, and changing trends in education. When not writing, Joseph is hiking or playing chess.

How to do a Video Essay: The Video Essay Process

• Plan, Prepare & Create

Storyboarding

• Finding, Filming & Editing
• References & Credits
• The Video Essay Process

This section will give an introductory overview of the stages required to create a video essay.  Video essayers advice is to start simple and work through each stage of the video production process. Visit the Resources page of this guide for more.

Identify what is your argument? What is it that you want to communicate to the viewer? Write this down in a few sentences, refer and modify it as required.

Watch Video Essays

Watch a selection of video essays, read blogs and web pages from video essayers and decide what type of video essay you would like to create. Start simple.

A storyboard is a detailed outline (similar to an outline in a written essay) that helps you to organise and visualise the video essay as to what is on the screen, text, media, message and transitions between shots.

Storyboards assist in determining the length, message and meaning of the video essay and help save time with editing and post production processes.

• Free Storyboard Templates

Collect & Edit

Collect video material as downloads, ripping DVDs, screen grabs, mobile phone footage and create voice-overs. Use research skills to find information and statements to support your argument. Maintain a standard of quality and manage your videos by naming conventions and storage.

Use editing software and experiment with available functionality to enhance and support your argument. Add a voice-over, sound effects, music and other aspects of multimodality. Be sure to include references and credits to all sources used in creating the video essay.

Revisit elements of your video essay and modify as required.

Visit the Resources page of this guide for more.

• Where to find video and how to capture it
• Video Editing Basics - iMovie
• Software Guides

References & Credits

References to cite sources used in the Video Essay. Referencing is a formal, systematic way of acknowledging sources that you have used in your video essay. It is imperative that you reference all sources used (including videos, stills, music, sfx) and apply the correct formatting so that references cited can be easily traced. The referencing style used at ECU is the APA style, 6th ed. 2010. Refer to the ECU Referencing Library Guide for accurate citation in APA style.

Production credits Individuals: acknowledgement of individuals and their role in the production. Purpose: A statement for internal use, e.g. “This video was produced for [course name] at [institution’s name] in [semester, year]”

• Referencing Library Guide
• << Previous: What is a Video Essay?
• Next: Modes, MultiModality & Multiliteracies >>
• What is a Video Essay?
• Modes, MultiModality & Multiliteracies
• A Pedagogy of Multiliteracies
• Modes Of Multimodality
• Video Essay Journals
• Video Essay Channels
• Weblinks to Video Essay Resources
• Weblinks to Creative Commons Resources
• Titles in the Library
• Referencing & Copyright
• Marking Rubric
• Last Updated: Aug 28, 2023 2:57 PM
• URL: https://ecu.au.libguides.com/video-essay

Edith Cowan University acknowledges and respects the Noongar people, who are the traditional custodians of the land upon which its campuses stand and its programs operate. In particular ECU pays its respects to the Elders, past and present, of the Noongar people, and embrace their culture, wisdom and knowledge.

5 Steps for Scripting a Video College Application Essay

Students only have a few seconds to hook the viewer with a compelling story.

Script a Video Application Essay

Robert Daly | Getty Images

Think of the video essay as a brief advertisement for you and your skills.

If you had mere seconds to change the course of your life – what would you say?

If you are submitting a video admissions essay as part of your college application, that question should be at the forefront of your mind. Research has shown that opinion, favorable or unfavorable, is largely determined within the first seven seconds of an interaction. An amazing finish can sometimes compensate for a poor introduction, but first impressions are crucial in all aspects of life.

While the video format promises an immediacy and degree of connection that is lacking in written essays, many students will be tempted to point their cameras at themselves, press record, and reel off a video essay that begins with "Hi! My name is…"

Rather than doing that, consider these tips, which can help you write a script for a winning video essay:

1. View the video essay as an advertisement:  Your video essay is, in some ways, a brief advertisement for yourself. Your audience is the admissions committee that is attempting to select a capable and diverse cohort of students.

Starting your video by stating your name is like beginning an advertisement by saying, "This is a pencil." In other words, you are devoting the all-important first impression to sharing information that is already in your application. Instead, aim to do what advertisements do – establish the necessity of having you on campus next fall.

One of the benefits of compiling a college application is that it prompts you to list all of your accomplishments. Thus, before you start your video essay, you should already know what makes you a strong applicant.

You do not need to be better than the other applicants – you just need to add to the student body in a unique and interesting way. Allow your application data to speak for itself on paper, and instead concentrate on what makes you valuable beyond high test scores or a perfect average.

Learn about

2. Hook your viewer: Begin your script with a short sentence that captures your viewer's attention. The ideal hook is a concise introduction that suggests a larger story.    For example, "My love of science started when I assisted on an ecology research project at Mount St. Helens," is not a compelling hook – although it is better than a generic introduction.

Instead, set the scene in such a way that your viewer wants to find out what happened next. A sentence like,  "In the summer of 2014, I was standing on the slope of a dormant volcano when a storm rolled over our research camp," leaves several open questions that can only be answered by watching the rest of the video.

3. Explain why you chose this school: You will have a very small window to build your hook into a case for why you belong at a given school. Use your introductory sentence as the basis for the lesson that set you on the course toward college.

Think about questions like how this school will help you achieve your goals. Why is it on your short list ? What do you hope to do during your time as a student, beyond simply earning a degree? Use positive terms like "curiosity" and "service" in your script.

4. Share your true motivation:  Some people might define advertising as a form of lying. Certain advertisements certainly fit this mold, but the best ones present the truth in the most favorable light possible.

Your video should demonstrate real passion. If you are not genuinely motivated by a desire for public service, do not claim you are. It is absolutely all right to be motivated by a desire for excellence, a desire to build a secure future for your family or a desire to make a new life for yourself.

Check out these

5. Resist memorizing your script:  The script you prepare will be your guide to the video you ultimately create. However, when you are filming, it is imperative that you do not read from a script.

If you must memorize your script word-for-word, ensure that you can recite it with life and energy in your voice. If you continually pause to remember your next word, take a break and start over. Regardless of how much practice you complete, it is important to sound fresh when you record.

Every person has a story to share. Even if you feel like an ordinary, boring high school student, you have a story. Your goal, in your video essay, is to share that story. Even if you do not have a key moment like a foreign exchange trip or a summer research expedition, there are still moments that are uniquely yours.

Choose an event that is meaningful to you, such as success or defeat in sports, the birth of a younger sibling, or a time when a teacher took special notice of your work. Then, use that moment to set the context of your video. 

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How to write a video script: 13 pro tips & template

What type of content do you primarily create?

If you’re using a video editor like Descript, where you can quickly and easily edit out bad takes and mistakes, a script is far less critical to making a great video.

But you should write one anyway.

A video script does more than put your dialogue on paper — it’s the document that lays out the dialogue and visuals and helps keep things concise and on-point for your message, saving you time, money, and a lot of frustration (we hope).

Whether you’re promoting a brand or teaching people how to sew, a script helps outline what you want — and need — to say in a clear and structured way so that your audience understands what they’re getting from the moment they press “play.” Plus, when you start with a well-written video script, you’ll make the post-production process a lot easier when you get to that ‎ po‎‎int .

What is a video script and why do I need one?

An effective video script outlines what you want (and need) to say in your video. Whether you’re promoting a brand or creating a how-to video , the script will outline everything that is going to be shown on-screen, as well as what your voiceovers, host, or main characters will be saying. 

A well-written video script helps organize what you need, who you want to cast, and which locations to scout for your video project. It will also clarify what visual elements or shots you need to get when filming. All of this will make the post-production process a lot easier on the video editor.

How to write a video script: 8 easy steps

• Clarify your goals
• Identify your target audience
• Present a problem and provide a solution
• Stay on message
• Tell a story
• Keep it concise
• Include a call to action
• Edit your script 

Step 1: Clarify your goals

Before you start writing, figure out the subject matter of your video. Are you trying to educate your audience? Are you making a training video ? Persuading viewers to invest in a product or service? Nailing down your goal before you start writing your video outline will make it easier to figure out how you can achieve it. 

If your goal is to appeal to your viewers’ emotions, for example, you can include more sensory language. On the other hand, if you’re making an explainer video on how to chop wood, you may want to keep your explainer video script more straightforward and free from any unnecessary words.

Step 2: Identify your target audience

Your target audience is the group of people that you want your video to appeal to. In the case of marketing videos , social media analytics and competitive research can help you figure out who’s buying what you’re selling, or why they’re choosing other brands. 

Research can also show you what types of video content people are most likely to respond to. It can reveal which demographic of people are watching your videos (or videos like yours) and who you’re not reaching at all. Once you have a general idea of who you want to target, you can start gearing your message toward attracting that viewer’s attention.

Step 3: Present a problem and provide a solution

It can be helpful to frame your video around a problem your viewers might have, and use your video script to explain how you can help solve it. A few examples:

• “Are you looking for social media engagement? We can show you how to increase your followers.”
• “Do you have trouble speaking up for yourself? We can teach you how to be more assertive with these tips.”
• “Are you a magnet for bugs like mosquitoes and ticks? We have a product that’ll keep those bloodsuckers at bay.”

Step 4: Stay on message

With a video script, you can carefully craft the exact language you want to use to deliver a single, powerful message. Regardless of what kind of video you want to create, it’s best to have a simple message rather than trying to tackle too many things in one video.

The internet is full of content, so you need to make every second you put out there count. If people click on your YouTube video to learn how to use a socket wrench, don’t also include a political testimonial. Keep your message streamlined so the people watching get what they’ve come for and don’t go looking elsewhere to find it.

Step 5: Tell a story

Effective storytelling can quickly help you engage with viewers in an emotional or relatable way. People can connect with your brand and increase the odds of them investing in your vision. 

For example, there are lots of skincare companies, but maybe yours is unique because of how you choose your product ingredients or even the reason you started your business. Giving viewers this background makes your brand more than just a skincare company; it becomes something more personal for your viewers and potential customers.

Step 6: Keep it concise

While the optimal length for your video strongly depends on its objective (for example, tutorial videos are typically longer than Instagram story ads), you might lose some viewers if you publish feature-length content every day. Avoid ad-libbing long-winded anecdotes or overly flowery language, and try to create a video script that’s relatable and succinct.

Step 7: Include a call to action

If your goal is to motivate people to take action—whether it’s getting petition signatures or buying bathroom cleaning products—include a call to action (CTA) at the end of your video. If your message or ad campaign succeeds in firing viewers up, you want to make it easy for them to follow through on that energy.

Step 8: Edit your script

Read your script out loud to hear how it flows. Note any awkward wording or run-on sentences and punch up dialogue in the parts of the script that need it. You could even ask trusted family or friends to listen and give you some feedback about the way your script sounds before you start the video production process. 

6 tips for writing great video scripts

You’ve laid the foundation of your video script. Here are five bonus tips to engage viewers and create a world-class video. 

Start with a strong hook

Just as first impressions are important when meeting new people, the intro of your script needs to grab the attention of your viewers. Remember: you have a limited time to convince people not to skip to the next video. Don’t save your best stuff for the end—people may not wait around to see it. Put it right up front in the beginning.

Create a story arc

Your script should have an organized train of thought. Even if it’s a fifteen-second ad, there should be a beginning, a middle, and an end. That way there will be something for your audience to take away from watching your video. 

If you want to be a bit more future-thinking, create a story arc or thematic message for your entire YouTube channel. A good example of this is Mercury Stardust’s channel . The creator shares tips and tricks about home repair and DIY with the through message of loving yourself and acceptance. The tagline for each video is: “you are worth the time it takes to learn a new skill!”

Use conversational language

If you’ve ever struggled to stay awake in a lecture, a sermon, or while listening to an audio book, you know how language and tone of voice can make a big difference. Conversational language will make you sound relatable and help viewers retain the information you’re presenting in your video. 

But you need to know your demographic. If you want to create a how-to video for beginners, use layman's terms and break things down as much as possible. If you’re making a video directed at industry professionals, however, you can use more industry lingo—but you should still use a conversational tone. We’re all human, after all. 

Consider the pace

Language isn’t the only thing that can affect whether people are able to retain the information you’re relaying. Pacing is a big part of that as well. Don’t spend twenty minutes explaining something that could’ve been done in five. 

At the same time, try to avoid squeezing ten minutes of information into a two-minute video. Your audience will struggle to make out what you're saying if you rapidly inundate them with information.

To see this in action, play with the speed of a random YouTube video: slow it down to one-quarter speed, then speed it up so it's twice as fast as normal. See how difficult it becomes to even focus on what's being said in the video. That is the importance of pacing.

Optimize for search engines (SEO)

The video script is where you can insert as many keywords you need to make the algorithms take notice of your video. After all, even if you have the best makeup tutorial in the world, if no one can find it in the millions upon millions of other beauty videos on YouTube, it won’t matter. 

Do keyword research to find which search terms someone would use to find your video. Sprinkle them into the script and your video’s description—both tactics will increase the odds of YouTube ranking your video in the search results for those SEO keywords.

Deploy a script generator

Video script writing isn’t easy for most people. If you find yourself staring at a blank page for hours on end, use Descript’s AI Script generator to speed up the process. Simply ask AI to create a video script in your dashboard, then refine and revise the copy to make it yours. 

One click and you’ve got a full story for your podcast, video marketing content, or learning material. Then, you can hit Record and get the camera rolling!

Video script example and template

The most basic format for a video script includes two main columns: one for visuals and one for audio. Visual descriptions should note any graphic effects (GFX), like title cards or transitions. But you can format the script however you want, as long as it’s clear as to which visuals will align with each audio clip. 

Here’s a free video script template that can get you started:

Let AI write great video scripts for you

Granted, Google Docs or Microsoft Word work just fine, but advanced programs like Descript act as an all-in-one solution. You can write your script, record your video, edit your video, and even publish your video all in one place. 

In fact, Descript’s AI script generator will write a full script draft for you based on the prompt you enter, and then you can freely revise and edit the script to fit your needs. 

You can also use Descript’s text-to-speech function to hear what your script sounds like when spoken aloud. This can save you time and energy on those days when writer’s block just won’t leave you alone. 

Take a free tour today and see why Descript is the script writer of choice for some of the world’s top content creators. 

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How to Write a Video Script (+5 Expert Tips)

Easily turn text to video with Synthesia today.

Creating videos is no easy task, but a good video script can provide a solid foundation to make it easier. But before you start writing a video script, you should take time for some deep, creative thinking . 

When reading this how-to guide, you may notice that the actual writing part comes in at step 6.

👉🏻 It’s because the first 5 steps all involve pre-planning a.k.a. 🧠work.

Yes, you are probably tempted to cut right to the chase, write the script, and film the video. But trust us, these 5 pre-writing steps are essential if you want your video to actually make sense.

Without further ado, here's our step-by-step guide to writing a video script.

Step 1. Identify your audience and goal

It's safe to assume you already have some idea of why and who you're making this video for.

However, it's important to narrow down the target audience and goal of the video project before you start writing a video script and filming.

Knowing your target audience will help you:

• choose the appropriate tone and voice of communication
• know what references and metaphors will be understood, and which won't
• identify the problem you can tackle/address/solve in your video

And narrowing down your goals will help you:

• identify what CTA (call-to-action) is relevant for the video and what you want the viewers to do after they watch the video
• identify the metrics with which to measure the success of the video

Step 2. Choose an appropriate video type

Distinct video types require different video scripts. So the next logical step is to pick the right video type for your goals and audience.

Here are some of the most popular video types:

Marketing videos

A video marketing strategy can include many different types of videos: promo videos, landing page videos, product explainers, video case studies, video testimonials, video newsletters, and more.

An effective video script for a marketing video needs to strike the right balance between showcasing the value of the product to the viewer and not being too pushy in its attempt to sell.

A delicate balance, if you ask us. 🪶

Here's an example of a marketing video we created in Synthesia:

Explainer videos

An explainer video is perfect for demonstrating the value of your product or service to your target audience.

An explainer video script needs to be short and catchy to keep your audience's attention without sounding sales-y.

How-to videos

How-to videos are essential for customer support teams.

A well-scripted video will demonstrate a solution to a pain point concisely, without going into great detail.

One of the most obvious examples of how-to videos are knowledge base videos , which are used to replace or add to long knowledge base articles.

Some other examples are customer onboarding videos and product training videos, which are perfect for helping users get started with your product.

See below an example of a how-to video for Slack that was also made in Synthesia:

Training videos

Training videos follow completely different video script formats to marketing or how-to videos.

The goal of a training video is not to sell, but to educate and equip learners with knowledge. Therefore, the script will look a lot different.

Here's a cybersecurity training video example created in Synthesia:

YouTube videos

There is no one cookie-cutter YouTube video script template, because YouTube videos are so diverse.

Writing a script for a recipe video is a lot different to writing a video script for a documentary-style video with narration.

However, regardless of the video's format, it's important to have a clear structure and message that will engage your audience. Your video script should also be tailored to your target audience, keeping in mind their interests, demographics, and pain points.

Finally, when writing a YouTube video script, don't forget to keep your video's length in mind, as viewers' attention spans are generally shorter when watching online videos.

Use ChatGPT to help you write video scripts for YouTube. Check out these 7 expert ChatGPT prompts to get started:

Interview videos

Unlike the other video types we've described above, interview videos cannot be fully scripted, since you don't know what answer you're going to get.

Naturally, an interview video script should only include specific questions for the interviewer, and maybe some visual cues for the placement of the camera.

Step 3. Pick a visual delivery method

Okay. You have a goal in mind and you've settled on the perfect video type.

Now it's time to decide what visuals you want to use to deliver your message:

Talking head

• Screen recordings
• B-roll or stock footage

Why is that important?

Well, the narration and visuals in video content are intertwined, so the type of visual you choose to go for will determine how you write a video script.

If the main visual is a talking head, the narration has to be from a first-person perspective.

If the main visual is animation, write a script that follows a story.

Screen recordings? The script will have a more demonstrative tone or include step-by-step instructions.

B-roll or stock footage - visualize a concept or metaphor.

Step 4. Write a short brief

Start off by summarizing what you want to say in a short, 5-sentence-long brief.

This will enable you to narrow down your ideas and see how the information flows from one point to another.

With the rough outline complete, let's write a video script!

Step 5. Create your own video script template

There are a bunch of fancy and elaborate video script templates out there, but the reality is that unless you are a professional script writer or cinematographer, you won't be needing any of these.

(Otherwise, you wouldn't be googling ' how to write a video script ' 😅)

Here's a free video script template idea that you can make yourself in two seconds.

All you need is a note-taking app like Google Docs, Notion, Notepad, or the good old pen and paper.

Create a table with two columns: one for visual elements, and one for audio elements . And that's your video script template done.

All you need to do in a video script is map out the visual and audio elements of the video scenes in sequence.

You really only need two columns for that - one for visuals, or what is being shown on screen, and the other for audio, which includes narration, music, and sound effects.

If you're using pre-designed video templates to make your video, then adjust the script to the flow and visuals of the template.

Step 6. Write, re-write, and re-write again...

Grab your new 'fancy ' video script template and write a script.

When you're done with your first draft - discard it.

Not because we don't believe in your writing talents, but because the first draft is always a bit rusty. (That doesn't only apply to video scripts, but to any form of written communication - a blog post, news article, letter, etc.)

This is essentially the first time you're putting down your ideas on paper, and when you look at it in writing, you will notice a lot of things that need to be changed, like unnecessary words or a weak call-to-action.

And that's okay.

Keep re-writing the video script until you're happy with it. Fine-tune it until every word fits and sounds perfect.

Take a break and come back to it the next day with a fresh mind.

If you're transforming an existing text into a video script, like a blog post or article, use the Chunk and Shave technique to effectively adapt a long text into an actual script.

Step 7. Produce your video

If you or a production company is filming the video, make sure that your script is solid before the actual filming starts, or have an alternate script you can choose from.

Once the filming day is over, you can't go in and change your script in post-production.

If you're making an animated video online or using a text-to-video tool , you have a lot more flexibility when it comes to altering your script. You can make changes to the script as you make the video, and even go back in and change the actual video if you aren't happy with the results.

5 tips for writing better video scripts

The above 7-step guideline will enable you to approach writing a script in a structured way.

Once you've mastered the basic video script writing steps, there are 5 tips that can help you transform a good script into a great script.

Tip #1: Use a conversational tone

No matter the goal of your video, and no matter the type of video you choose, you always want to be understood by your viewers.

Don't write a script like you would a scholarly article. Instead, drop the fancy lingo and write as if you are having a conversation.

Tip #2: Use no more than 3-4 sentences in a scene

If you want to keep your viewer's attention glued to your video, you need to introduce variety and change up the video scenes fairly frequently.

So, a good rule of thumb is to write no more than 4 sentences for the voiceover/narration for an individual video scene. That way the scene won't drag on for too long before it switches to a new one.

Tip #3: Read the script aloud

Reading out loud for yourself might seem silly at first, but it helps to see the script in a new light.

What looks right on paper might sound strange when read out loud.

Use that tip to adjust the flow of words and sentences and replace words that are difficult to pronounce.

Reading out loud to an audience, like your colleague or friend, can also help bring in a fresh perspective and a second opinion.

Tip #4: Vary the visuals in your script

We touched on variety in tip #2, and visual variety follows the same principle - changing up the visuals will help people stay engaged while watching your videos.

When you're making notes on the visual elements in your video script, ensure you include a good mixture.

Here are the 4 most common visuals you can choose from:

A talking head is a person or two speaking directly into the camera or just off to the side. While most commonly used for a video interview, talking heads are also incredibly popular as YouTube videos (think vlogs, reaction videos, and the like).

B-roll is essentially supplementary footage of something other than the main subject of the video. B-roll is incredibly useful for showing context and providing visual interest to the voiceover in the background.

Use either your own or stock footage for the b-roll.

Screen recording

A screen recording is a perfect way to demonstrate a process or product on screen.

So if at any point in your video script you describe a step-by-step process, consider using screen recordings to supplement the voiceover with visuals.

Text on screen

Sometimes, to really make sure the message sticks, duplicate the narration with text on the screen.

This is particularly useful for quotes, testimonials, definitions, and video headlines at the very beginning.

Tip #5: Make the beginning memorable

Hook in your viewers right from the beginning using classic literary and public speaking techniques, like:

• asking a rhetorical, or thought-provoking question
• showing the end result at the start
• introducing the main character

Take your video content to the next level with a good script

A successful script can make all the difference in the end product.

We hope our guide on how to write a video script has left you feeling more informed and confident about writing a script for your next video project.

Ready to start shooting stunning videos?

Check out our guide on how to transform a script to video without using cameras, microphones, or editing software.

Frequently asked questions

What is a video script.

A video script is a written record of the dialog, narration, and other relevant information for a video production. It is also known as a shooting script or production script.

The purpose of a video script is to provide a roadmap for the video, so that everyone involved in the production knows what needs to be done and when.

The script should be clear and concise, and it should include all the information necessary to make the video. This can include the scene setups, the locations, the characters, and the dialog.

What should be included in a video script?

A video script is a blueprint for what will be said and shown in a video. It includes everything from the introduction to the conclusion, and all the steps in between.

When writing a script, it is important to keep the following factors in mind: who is the audience, what is the purpose of the video, and what message do you want to communicate? Once you have answers to these questions, you can start writing your script.

Begin with an attention-grabbing opening, then move on to the main body of the video. Remember to include speaking points for each step of the video, as well as any visuals that need to be shown.

End with a strong call to action or closing statement.

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your video script is effective and engaging.

How do you end a script?

So you've written a great video script and now you're ready to wrap things up. How do you end it on a high note? Here are a few tips:

1. Make sure your concluding sentence is strong and definitive. This is your last chance to make an impact, so make it count!

2. Don't be afraid to end with a call to action. This can be something as simple as telling viewers to visit your website or subscribe to your YouTube channel.

3. Keep in mind that the end of your video is a great opportunity to promote any other videos or content you have. If you have a related video that you think viewers will enjoy, include a link to it at the end of your script.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your video scripts end on a strong note and leave viewers wanting more.

How do you start a video script?

There is no right or wrong way to start a video script, but one pro script writing tip is to think about how you will hook your audience in.

Use classic literary and public speaking techniques, like:

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Video script writing 101: how-to steps + templates and examples.

It’s no secret: v ideo gets more engagement  and drives more growth than any other type of media.

But you’ll only reap the benefits if your marketing videos are at least decently produced.

That doesn’t mean every video needs a Hollywood budget, but you  do  need to put time into planning your video and writing a video script (or asking AI to write one for you).

The good news? Learning how to write a good video script is easier than it looks. This guide covers the basics of writing a script and gives you examples to help you write your own.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How to script a video with AI .
• How to plan your script.
• Best practices for writing a script.
• Tips for choosing the “right” kind of script.
• Example video scripts to jog your creativity.

Stay tuned until the end and we’ll also walk you through our favorite ready-to-edit presentation, promo, and explainer video script templates available from  Biteable .

Create videos that drive action

Activate your audience with impactful, on-brand videos. Create them simply and collaboratively with Biteable.

Video scripts made easy: Start with a Biteable template

You don’t have to write your own video script from scratch. Video script templates are the busy video maker’s secret weapon.

Biteable’s online video-making software offers hundreds of  video templates  to jump-start your script-writing creativity.

• Fully customizable.
• One-click editing.
• Ready-made content. (24+ million clips, images, animations, music tracks).
• Free 7-day trial

How to script a video with AI

The easiest way to script and create videos is with a little help from your newest assistant: AI. Biteable’s AI-powered Automated Video Assistant (AVA) scripts and creates your video with the click of a button.

Read your complete guide to scripting and creating videos with AI for the step-by-step details.

How to write a video script

Before we go anywhere with video, let’s be clear about this: keep it simple. As you plan your video and write your script, it’s all too easy to start throwing all sorts of cool ideas out. After all, you can do anything in a video, right?

With an unlimited budget, sure. But we’re willing to bet your budget is limited. So keep your videos as simple as possible. You’d be surprised how much work it takes to produce very minimal on-screen effects.

Planning your video script

With all that in mind, start planning your script. Some writers call this “ prewriting ”.

1. Identify your audience.

This is a staple in any sort of marketing or copywriting. You need to address a very specific customer with your content, otherwise it won’t resonate. It can be tempting to make it as broad as possible in order to address every potential customer. Avoid this temptation. Something that’s for everybody appeals to nobody.

If you need help identifying who you want to reach, go through the exercises on this  worksheet  from digitalmarketer.com.

2. Choose a goal

Next you need to know what the point of the video is. This will depend on where your audience will see the video, what stage of the marketing funnel the video will be used at, and what you want viewers to do after they watch the video, and the  key performance indicators  you use to track your success.

But if you want viewers to do something specific after seeing the video, you’ll need a call to action. Just make sure your call to action aligns with the purpose of the video. Have a look at this video for FreshBooks. The purpose of the video is quite clear, even if it’s not explicitly stated.

3. Decide on a central character

If your video features too many people, it will be difficult to follow and the focus will stray from the main point. Identifying the primary character does two things:

• It simplifies and focuses your video.
• It pushes you toward creating a story (if your video needs it).

Some videos, like a product overview, have very little story in them. However, it’s still best if a single person does most of the talking. If you’re producing a video with a narrative arc, it’s best to focus on the main character.

In either case, you need to know who’s going to be on screen most of the time. If you need two or more people in the video, choose one person to show for a majority of the screen time.

Bonus tip: If you can, use the same person as the spokesperson in all your videos. This creates continuity and familiarity in your video content. That’s why brands often create characters that almost function as mascots, like Flo from Progressive.

4. Identify the main point of the video

This boils down to a very simple exercise: tell someone why they should watch this video in one sentence.

When you start writing your script, put the answer to this question as close to the beginning as possible. Let viewers know what they’re going to get right up front, and you’ll retain more viewers.

As a bonus, identifying the point of the video will also tell you what sort of video you need.

Writing your video script

If your planning is good, the writing will be fairly easy. You’ve already created your map. Just follow it.

5. Write out visual and audio elements.

This is super important if you’re doing any sort of voiceover with visuals that cut to different shots. But even if your video is a single shot of someone talking, write the visual and audio aspects into your script.

The script is a set of directions for whoever is shooting the video, and you want the video team to know, without a doubt, what’s supposed to be happening with both the visual and audio elements.

A simple table with two columns is an easy way to format your script. It’s easy to read and see how the video will look and sound. This is a brief two-column video script example:

Add as many boxes as you need to cover all the shots in your video.

6. Write your script, then trim to fit

Depending on the sort of video you’re making, you may need to cram everything into 15 or 30 seconds, or you could have a full three minutes or more to work with.

Either way, plan for 125 to 150 words of dialogue per minute.

But when you start writing, focus on saying everything you want to say. Once you’ve got all the dialogue written, check your word count, then start axing and rewording until it fits your time limit.

This method makes your script clear and concise. It forces you to keep only the dialogue you  need .

Here are a few brief tips for writing dialogue:

Speak directly to the audience.  Use “you” and talk to your viewers. It’s more personable, and people prefer being spoken to rather than being spoken at.

Write it the way you would say it.  Your audience isn’t going to read your script. So write what you would actually say, not what looks best on paper.

• Read your script out loud.  This is the only way to find out if your dialogue sounds natural. If you make changes, read it out loud again.

Once the dialogue is clean, you’ll know roughly how much footage you need to shoot and what shots you need. If you’re using a voiceover, be sure to shoot some extra footage to account for pauses in the dialogue and visuals that don’t make the cut.

Bonus tip: Use AI to get the first draft of your script. Use a chatbot like ChatGPT , or skip to the finished video with AVA — Biteable’s AI-powered Automated Video Assistant.

7. Stick to the video script (mostly)

This is technically not part of writing the script. But it’s related to writing your script. It boils down to one question: why bother writing the script if you’re not going to follow it? That’s like paying an architect to draw a floor plan, then just building your house all willy-nilly.

Once you start filming, follow your script as much as possible. Some minor changes are fine, and professional actors or voice actors can contribute some flair. Or, if you find you don’t have the resources to do what you planned, you may need to make changes or go back and rewrite the script.

But avoid making major changes to the script on the fly just because you think of something cool. Ad hoc changes and ad-libbing rarely turn out for the best. Explosions are cool, but don’t blow everything up just to have some fun.

How to write the right kind of video script

Marketing videos accomplish two things:

• They educate viewers.
• They persuade viewers.

Some videos only do one of the two and some do both, but we’re going to split the various types into one of these two categories to keep things simple.

Educational videos: Presentation and explainer video scripts (+ templates)

Presentation and explainer videos fall into the educational category.

These videos are usually for:

• Demonstrating how to do something.
• Explaining how your product or service works.
• Introducing what your brand does.

The keys to success with educational videos are brevity and visuals.

Concise information is easier to remember. That’s why phone numbers are seven digits long. So keep your video short and break it up into manageable blocks of information to help viewers retain what you’ve shown them.

Also, include relevant visuals to show and tell the viewer what you’re explaining, which will increase retention even more. Here’s an excellent explainer video from Mint:

It’s short (1:32), the visuals are relevant, and the dialogue is broken up into separate statements.

This explainer video from Dollar Shave Club is legendary:

Watch this one more than once, because it’s hilarious. But once you stop spitting coffee, notice how the dialogue is broken up into 10-15 second chunks, which are separated by funny visuals. Distinct, memorable blocks of information.

And just for giggles, here’s a bonus videos to get your inspired.

To help you create your own explainer or presentation video, Biteable offers  video templates  you can edit yourself. Here are a few presentation and explainer video script templates to get you started:

Persuasive videos: Promotional and commercial video scripts (+ templates)

Promotional and commercial videos are for getting people to do things. The action you’re after isn’t always an immediate purchase. You could use a persuasive video to get people to consume additional promotional content.

But, most often, promotional and commercial videos are for:

• Showing the benefits and features of your product or service.
• Demonstrating what separates your brand from competitors.
• Showcasing how your product or service will  improve your customer’s life .

Customers will often view these videos on social media or in a sidebar on a website. Getting to the point and keeping it short are non-negotiable. A call to action is mandatory as well.

These videos usually get watched with the sound off, so write your script and plan your visuals to work without sound. Including subtitles is also a good idea.

You might be thinking “great! I’ll save myself time and create a video with no dialogue!” That’s a perfectly good idea, but even if your video has no dialogue, don’t skip the script. Write a script for the visuals so you have a plan to work from.

Here are some examples of commercial videos that work well on multiple platforms:

Notice how short these are. Also note that all of them are consumable without sound. But the main takeaway from these videos is that you need to get attention, deliver your message, and get out before your viewer swipes you off their screen.

Video templates starter pack

We know that can be challenging, so we created a starter pack of video template collections you can use and edit yourself:

• Social media video templates .
• Video ad templates .
• Promotional video templates .
• Explainer video script templates .

Make your first video with Biteable

So you’ve got the knowledge. You’ve got the templates. You’ve got the video editor ( Biteable, of course ) and you’ve got the power. Now go forth and make some awesome videos.

Make stunning videos with ease.

Take the struggle out of team communication.

Try Biteable now.

• No credit card required
• No complicated design decisions
• No experience necessary

How to Write a Video Script [Template + Video]

Published: March 15, 2024

Videos tell a story. According to 92% of marketers, video is essential to their approach. So, the storyline should be effective, whether creating video scripts from scratch or using a template.

Although creating, organizing, and editing compelling videos can be lengthy and scary, a good script can make or break the success of your video.

So, why don’t we take you through the steps on how you can start your scriptwriting process?

What is a video script?

A video script contains the dialogue, plans, and action for your video. It's a crucial tool that gives you and your team cues and reminders about the goal, timeline, and results you want for your video.

Any basic video is elevated with a script, but there’s more to creating a video . You’ll need proper equipment, sound, lighting, sets, and the cast and crew. When combining these, it can be challenging to make sure there are no mistakes.

A strong video script can seamlessly bring it all together. Plus, having an in-depth script will boost your team's confidence and result in a better video outcome.

How to Write a Video Script

Video script template, video script example.

• Choose your target audience.
• Set a goal for your video script.
• Choose the main character for your video.
• Create a brief.
• Use your brief to write an outline.
• Start writing your script, section by section.
• Edit your video script.
• Do a verbal run-through off-camera.

1. Choose your target audience.

Any marketing project is better with the right buyer persona . This is especially true with video.

Because videos often take more time and investment than an online ad or blog, your video must speak to a specific audience.

So, before you start developing characters or a brief for your video, you need to figure out who your video is for. Your target audience for your video script can impact:

• The length and format of your video.
• Where you post your video.
• Setting, costume, and lighting.

If your video is for brand awareness, you may broadcast to a large and diverse audience. But what if you‘re introducing a product or feature?

In that case, you’ll want to focus your audience on the buyers who are most likely to feel the pain point your product solves.

You might want a different approach if your video is for employee or customer retention. You'll want to review data, reviews, and testimonials before you begin your script brief.

This will help you create the story and dialogue your audience will respond to.

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The Ultimate Video Marketing Starter Kit

Access everything you need to get started with video marketing.

• Video Script Templates
• Video Best Practices
• Example Videos

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

2. Set a goal for your video script.

Videos are usually team projects. Without a single focus, every person could come to the video with their idea of what it's about. As the project continues, this can turn a simple video into a convoluted mess.

That's why starting your video script is essential by just thinking about your goal. So, before you jump into a storyline, character, or setting, figure out the why.

Why are you making this video?

Do you want to teach people about your product? Are you introducing a new pricing structure? Are you trying to expand into a new niche?

If you‘re not sure about your goal, think about the problem you’re hoping this video will solve.

For example, say you're struggling with conversions for a new product.

• Is it because you're breaking into a new niche? A product video on the right social media platform for this niche might be right.
• Do users need better instructions? You might want to add a product tour or instructional video to your website.
• Are you getting good reviews? You may want to partner with influencers to build a reputation for this product.

Don't jump into your video script without deciding on a single goal.

Then, use your goal to set the metrics you‘ll use to measure the video’s performance once it goes live.

3. Choose the main character for your video.

Video marketing helps you show your viewers what your product can do instead of telling them. And characters are essential to storytelling.

Choosing the main character for your video before you begin your script will help you focus on telling a story, not just selling an idea. This will help your audience connect and engage with your video.

You may already know that your main character is your ideal customer or your CEO. They could be a celebrity, a cartoon of your product, or a narrator who speaks in your brand voice.

But if not, before you start writing your video script, decide who will be the focus of your video.

If you don't know who your main character is, go back to your goal and target audience. Think about who your buyer persona wants to hear from as they reach that stage of their journey.

Next, outline your main character. You can use the habits, quirks, and voice of your main character to paint a picture for your audience that helps them remember and relate to your video.

Once you've figured out your main character, you can decide how they relate to your product. Do you want to talk about their back story? Are you going to talk about a specific experience they had and how your product helped?

4. Create a brief.

Creating a brief allows you and your team to document the answers to the most important project questions. This helps everyone involved understand the who, what, when, where, and why of your video.

Say you‘re three-quarters of the way through the editing process. If your boss or colleague wants to completely redo half of your video, that’s a huge problem.

Challenges like this can impact your budget, timing, and campaigns. But with a brief, you can refer to the goals and project plan your team mapped out together and say, “Actually, that's not what we agreed to.”

Then, you can move forward.

Focus on your goals, topic, and takeaways in your brief.

A brief doesn't have to be fancy, nor does it have to follow a specific formula. However, there are several vital questions it should include to craft an effective video script.

• What‘s the video topic? (The more specific, the better. For example, if you’re in the house painting business, you might choose a topic like “buying the right paint brush.”)
• What are the key takeaways of the video? What should viewers learn from watching it?
• What‘s our call-to-action? What do we want viewers to do after they’ve finished watching the video?

You can easily create a brief in Google Docs to serve as a living, breathing template that you revise over time – and that your team can collaborate on.

5. Use your brief to write an outline.

Once you‘ve picked a topic and written a brief, it’s time to start constructing your video script. We recommend starting with an outline to give structure to your video script.

This way, you can break your video into subtopics and decide how your dialogue (or monologue) will progress.

Are you basing your video script on a blog?

You can‘t just rewrite a blog post and call it a day – there’s a specific way to write a blog-based script so that it shapes an effective video. Alicia Collins can teach you a bit more in the video below (and yes, we wrote a script for it).

Like Alicia says in the video above, a video script shouldn‘t simply regurgitate the blog post word-for-word. Blog posts are ideally written to be conversational.

But there are pauses and verbal explanations you’ll need to add to your speech patterns that you wouldn’t have without your script.

But, using the blog post's subsections is a helpful starting point when figuring out how your script will progress from one section to the next.

Are you writing an original video script?

Start with a well-structured outline. Many video scripts follow a three-part structure that includes:

• An introduction and hook to draw viewers into your video.
• A problem, pain point, or question comes up.
• A conclusion and resolution of the problem, including a call to action.

This is a basic video script structure, but you can go in many ways as you outline your story. This structure will help you write a script that covers the details that make your video believable and valuable to your audience.

As you create your outline, think about where natural transitions happen.

For example, say you're writing a video script about the life of a new product. You might outline your script with the steps a business might take to launch a product, including:

• Coming up with the idea.
• Doing market research.
• Designing the new product.
• Producing a test product.
• Editing the product for mass production.
• Audience testing.
• Marketing and sales strategies.
• Product launch.

Your primary goal is to engage your target audience with a situation they can connect with. This can help them understand how the challenges you share in your video relate to the problems they want to solve in their own lives.

6. Start writing your script, section by section.

Your video script doesn‘t have to be fancy. You’re not trying to submit this script for any awards – its purpose is strictly functional.

A good script makes it easy for the people on camera to get their messages across while sounding and acting naturally.

Write conversationally.

Writing a script isn’t the same as writing a college paper or marketing research report. You want to write the script how you want the video subject to speak.

Saying, “I'm gonna create a video after reading this blog post” on camera will read much better than, “I am going to create a video after reading this blog post.” Keep sentences short and crisp, and try to avoid compound sentences.

Make it thorough.

A script doesn't just include dialogue. If your video will require multiple shots, characters, or scenes, include these details. Be sure to include any necessary information about the set or stage actions, such as a wardrobe change.

Basically, you want the script to be thorough enough that you could hand it off to someone else to shoot, and they'd understand it.

Write for the audience and the platform.

Make sure you‘re keeping your script conversational for the people you’re trying to connect with – and infuse humor, tone, and inflection accordingly.

For example, if you‘re writing a short-form video for Facebook, you might want to consider keeping your script choppier with sentence fragments.

But if you’re producing a long-form explainer video for your website, make sure you're as thorough as possible.

Script every single word.

It's understandable to think you can just jot down the main bullet points for a script and then just wing it on camera, especially if you know your subject matter.

This approach makes it tough to communicate a message as clearly and concisely as possible, and it usually results in a lot of redos.

So, we suggest scripting every last word. Doing this will keep you organized during filming and save you loads of time later.

7. Edit your video script.

Writing is tough, and it‘s easy to get stuck if you expect your video script to be perfect on your first draft. It’s worth doing two to three rounds of edits to cut any unnecessary words in your writing.

These are a few more tips for editing your script so that the video script can make your final video shine.

Give yourself a break.

Step away from your script after you write it, and don't go back until you can look at it from a fresh perspective.

Check for transitions.

Dialogue and actions will move your story forward. So, look for moments in your script that feel abrupt or awkward. Then, add details that will help your viewers understand what is happening.

Cut the extras.

Great writing and interesting dialogue will be bad for your video if they don't advance your story. Edit out these parts and save them for a later project if you think they can be useful.

8. Do a verbal run-through off-camera.

Now that you know how to write a script, it's time for a table read. This is the part where you practice bringing your script to life on camera.

Why practice? Because some words look great on paper, but once you read them aloud, they just don't sound right. Reading your video script out loud can help you make the language more conversational and your sentences shorter.

You can read your script aloud while editing, but the table read is where you really get to fine-tune the tone. It’s when you can mix anything that sounds too proper, improper, robotic, or otherwise inappropriate for the message you want to convey.

Check out this video for a fun example of a table read:

Nothing is more frustrating than nervously trying to write an effective video script while staring at a blank sheet. It's easy to feel overwhelmed with all of the ideas floating around.

So, where do you even start? How do you sort and narrow all the ideas to write a strong screenplay? Furthermore, how do you direct this creative tempest into a script that engages the audience?

Well, starting with a template makes it that much easier. Here are some of our video marketing starter packs with a free video script template you can consider. Also, check out the HubSpot video below for more info.

Let’s explore multiple templates for different types of videos:

1. HubSpot’s All-in-One Video Script Template

You can modify scripts to match their brand voice and the preferences of their audience by adding sections and prompts that may be customized. This allows for more efficient storytelling and message delivery.

HubSpot‘s template enhances the overall quality of videos while saving time and effort by ensuring the smooth integration of text and visuals.

We’ve incorporated every aspect discussed in this blog post using HubSpot's video script template below.

Don't forget to share this post!

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How to Write a Script for a Video (+Free Template!)

Marketing Content Strategist

Table of contents

Why do you need a video script, how to write a video script, tips to write an amazing video script, subscribe to techsmith’s newsletter.

Creating a stunning video requires a wide variety of skills and talents. One of the key factors in a video’s success happens long before any lighting decisions are made or the audio recordings need editing. Excellent videos require excellent scripts, but writing a script for a video can be one of the most difficult things for a creator. 

Because of that, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to creating a great video script! We’ve even included a free video script template that you can use to make sure all of your videos start out with a solid foundation.

For some great scriptwriting tips, check out the video below!

To get more inspiration

How often have you found that getting words flowing from your mind onto paper just opens up a floodgate? Ideas and inspiration just seem to multiply once you allow them to flow. Because of this, the process of writing a video script can unlock ideas you may otherwise have missed. 

So often when we put pen to paper we are able to access pieces of our imagination that add really important elements to our end product. Writing a video script can be a springboard for all of the things that will make your video impactful.

Create and edit your own videos with Camtasia!

Download a free trial of Camtasia to quickly and easily edit your own videos.

To deliver your message efficiently 

Structure and clarity are two non-negotiables for successful videos. Writing a script for your video is a great way to make sure that your message follows a logical pattern and that the viewer is able to clearly understand the point you are trying to get across. 

Writing a video script also helps to make sure that the message is delivered in a way that is in line with established brand standards – audience confusion is not efficient!

Also read: Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Video Recording

To save editing time

The script for your video will outline all of the audio and visual components that the final product should display. This could include sound bytes, illustrations, and animations among others. An editor who is able to work from a prepared video script will be able to do their job in a more timely way than the editor who is left to guess where each element belongs. 

A narrator or main character who is guided by a full script will have fewer instances of hesitation or interjections of fillers like “um”, “like”, and “uh”, which can significantly impact editing time .

To make recording easier

Recording is made infinitely easier when the process is guided by a well-developed script. If you are recording solo, having a script to refer to can help calm your nerves and keep you on topic. 

If you are recording an interview, being able to provide the script to the interviewee in advance can help them prepare, often resulting in fewer takes and less editing required to create an excellent end product.

Identify your audience 

A key step in video script writing doesn’t involve a pen, paper, or a video camera. Identifying the target audience for the video being developed is an all-important first step. Your choices around language, humor and tone will vary depending on the audience identified for the video. Creating a script that is engaging for teenagers is very different than writing a script for a video targeting retirees! If you don’t know exactly who you are speaking to it is likely that your message won’t be well received.

Knowing your audience is also important when it comes to how the end product is used. A video geared toward teenagers may be only a few minutes long, recorded vertically, and placed on TikTok, while a training video for new employees would be much longer in duration and require less focus on an attention-grabbing hook. 

Set a goal for your video

Because creating a video consists of so many different elements ( lighting , sets, cast, crew, sound, etc…) there are often many people participating in the process. In order to have that process run smoothly and create the desired end product, all of these people need to be working towards one unifying goal. Without this, you can run into a lot of difficulties as a result of each person holding a slightly different perspective about why the video is being made.

The key question to ask yourself at this pivotal point is “why?” Why is this video being made? Is it meant to teach people something? To unify a group of people? To establish a brand’s identity? Knowing and sharing the answer to this question will help steer your video script writing and the work that everyone else involved is doing as well.

If you are struggling to identify your video’s goal, think about the problem that the video is meant to solve. Is it to direct potential clients to a specific offer that needs some attention? Provide clearer instructions on a protocol that’s not being adhered to. Reduce workplace accidents? Increase website conversions on an underperforming site? It can be a challenge to narrow down one specific goal but it is an absolutely essential step to take before you begin writing a script for a video. 

Choose the main characters

Good storytelling is key to creating compelling videos, and what is a story without some engaging and relatable characters? Developing a character, or a set of them, for your video, not only helps your audience engage more with the content but it can also help you focus on creating an effective narrative around your message instead of simply selling an idea. 

If you are struggling to identify the main character, go back to your target audience and your goal. Think about who that audience would relate to and want to hear from in relation to the goal you have established for the video. For example, if your video‘s goal is to build trust with a company following a public failure, having the CEO as the main character may suit, whereas if your video is a solution to a recurring workplace accident, the health and safety representative might be a good choice.

Once the main character or characters have been established, you’ll build out some details about them that will help guide your video script writing. How do they relate to the product or subject matter at hand? Is their backstory relevant? If so, what is it? You don’t need a full character profile but you should go into as much detail as is necessary to help you reach the goal you have identified.

Write an outline

Starting with an outline helps to give structure to your video script. It is a great starting place to get all of your ideas out of your head and onto paper so that you can see which ones fit well in a structured video script and move you toward your goal and which ones may actually end up as distractions.

It can be tempting to jump right into video script writing but skipping this important step can cause your message to be lost and the video to appear overstuffed and disorganized. Your outline should help to establish what the beginning, middle, and end of the video script will include. You can include any details that might be helpful as you move into the next step – video script writing. 

Here’s the script formula we use to create how-to videos:

The A.A.A.A Formula

• Attention (Grab their attention in the first line)
• Agitation (Agitate the pain that you can solve)
• Activity (Show them HOW to solve it)
• Action (Call them to action and tell them how to get the solution)

Create sections

Breaking your outline down and writing a video script section by section is an excellent way to make sure your thoughts stay organized and the storyline for your video follows a logical progression. So what exactly should be included in each section of your video? Let’s take a look! 

In the beginning:

• Start with a hook. What’s a hook? A compelling introduction to your video that delivers an accurate preview of what the viewer can expect and immediately captures their attention. You might use phrases like “Have you ever…” “Here are 3 of our top tips for…” or “If you’re looking for…” as components of your hook.
• Make sure the viewer can recognize your brand and associate this video’s message with it. You can do this by incorporating brand colors into the scheme for the video, displaying a logo, and making sure to write your video script using brand-aligned language and tone. This helps establish your video as something familiar and trustworthy rather than a random piece of content to ignore. 

Now that you’ve drawn them in, you’ll use the middle section to:

• Deliver your message. You’ve drawn them in with the hook and established who you are, so now is the time to tell them exactly what you came here to tell them. Be sure to write this portion of your video script to be as clear and concise as possible so that the message doesn’t get watered down or confused. 
• Share the evidence. This is a great opportunity in your video script writing to present anything to the audience that can back up or solidify any claims made with your message. Is your video script meant to introduce a new product?

Share the experiences of your beta users. Is this a training video? Establish the proven benefits of absorbing and applying the information being provided. 

And finally, the end. This section of your video script should 

include a Call to Action (CTA). This is the opportunity within your video script to tell the audience exactly what you want them to do. Whether that’s “book now”, “watch the next video”, “buy now”, or anything else, do not miss this opportunity to provide that extra bit of clarity around what you want the viewer to do with the information you have just provided. 

Writing a video script is a lot of work, but the end result will be well worth it. And the great news is, you don’t have to start from scratch every time you need to create one! A video script template can really speed up the process and help keep you on the right track with your video script writing. We’ve created a video script writing template that you can download for free here and put to use on your next project! 

Also read: The ultimate guide to instructional videos

Stay true to yourself

We’ve all had the experience of watching someone speak, whether live or on video, and being painfully aware that they are reading from a script. And you would probably agree that those experiences were not the most engaging. 

So how do you prevent that from happening with your video scriptwriting? Well, a focus on writing conversationally is a big help with this.  If you’re writing a script that you will be speaking from, write it the way that you talk normally. If the video script will be read by someone else, learn a little bit about the nuances of how they speak and interact with others and write the script for their video in a way that reflects that. 

Make sure to write your video script using language that feels comfortable, is aligned with the brand you’re representing, and feels familiar. If you are comfortable and remaining true to your natural communication patterns (or those of the speaker you are writing for) your audience will be more fully engaged than if it feels obvious that you are “putting on a show”.

Go straight to the point

The average human attention span is a maximum of 8 seconds, and people are used to being entertained. Taking the time and energy to consume your content may not seem like a big ask, but in this day and age, it actually might be. 

For these reasons, it is important to get right to the point and be as concise as you can be when writing a video script. Surrounding your message with too much back story or context can be distracting and confusing for viewers. Save any of the information that you think is important to share but doesn’t fit well within a concise video script for use in future videos or other types of content.

Stick to the video script (mostly)

You are writing this video script for a reason right? And part of that reason is to make sure the message gets delivered and the video fulfills its goal . A little riffing or adlibbing here and there is ok but do try to stick to the script as much as possible. A few additions to add personality can go a long way, but too much will likely have a negative impact. 

If you or the person who will be presenting the script are likely to go off script, try to include some of the content that may inspire the adlibbing in the video script itself. This can reduce the temptation to go rogue. And if, in the end, the video script just isn’t working, a rewrite is often more effective than an improvised, unscripted video. 

Also read: The guide to creating Youtube videos

Do a verbal run-through off-camera.

A verbal run-through, or table read, is a great opportunity to take your video script out for a test drive and identify any challenges you may have missed in the writing phase. It is not at all uncommon for a word or phrase to look great on paper but sound ridiculous when spoken out loud. 

An off-camera run-through can also help to shorten sentences, cut unnecessary words, and make sure the real-life impact of the words chosen is the same as what you were hoping for during the video script’s writing.

Having someone who is a member of the target audience for the video you have scripted sit in and provide feedback at this point can also help to make sure that your video scriptwriting is going to land the way you want it to with the intended audience. 

Support any B-roll with the proper callouts in your main narrative.

B-roll is a term used to describe secondary shots that are shown while the storyline continues audibly. Using B-roll footage can allow you to feature products, employees, happy customers, charts and graphs, testimonials, and other content that enhances the message presented by your video. 

Be sure to include cues and instructions for your narrator or main character to help integrate B-roll footage without causing confusion or distraction for the viewer. Phrasing like “…in the chart you see here…” can help the viewer contextualize what they see on the screen and guide the speaker to gesture or position themselves appropriately.

We’ve all seen the videos where the subject points in one direction and the B-roll footage shows up somewhere else, but that’s much less likely to happen to you with a properly scripted video. 

Don’t forget – there is no need to start from scratch every time you need to write a script for a video. If you have a video script that has worked well in the past, you can easily templatize it and keep using it!

If you need some help to get started, click here to download the free video script template we created for you. You simply document some background information, like your target audience and goals, and then fill in the blanks – what could be simpler?

Additional Resources

How to create a video storyboard, how to make a youtube channel: step-by-step guide, snagit vs. camtasia: which screen recorder is right for you.

How to Write a Script That’ll Keep Your Audience Hooked (Template + Tutorial)

• video script

It’s no secret that you need to write a good video script to create a stunning video , but it can be one of the most difficult things for a creator or a marketer. Hence, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to walk you through the exact steps that you can follow to get your video script in place. These are the same steps we follow to bring hundreds of videos to life here at InVideo .

The best part-we’ve included ready-to-use video script templates too so you can hit the road running.

Easily turn your scripts into videos

With text-to-video templates on InVideo

Let’s get started!

Plan of action

A. What is a video script? B . How to write a video script? C. How to write a YouTube script?   D. 5 tips to write a fool-proof video script

A. What is a video script? 

A video script is the blueprint of your video where you make a note of the scenes and dialogues. This plan allows you to ensure that your video turns out exactly the way you want it to. Having a video script ready means that you know the length of the video, what you will need on shoot days, and if it is communicating your message well. Here are a few details you should figure out before you start writing the script for your video:

1. What type of video are you looking to shoot?

We’re essentially talking about the treatment of the video. Is it an interview, a vlog, BTS, or a scripted sketch? Knowing the treatment of the video will allow you to write your script accordingly.

Pro-tip: If you are confused about what type of video you want to create, browse throught the 5000+ templates on InVideo which are categorized based on your needs. This will give you an idea of what’s currently trending and you could also edit the template to create a stunning video in less than 10 minutes!

2. How long do you want your video to be?

You must choose the approximate length of your video keeping the platform it will be published in mind. If you’re shooting a video for YouTube , IGTV , and Facebook Watch, videos between 2-15 minutes long will work best for you. Videos longer than 15 minutes may affect watch-time and so you should try to break up the topics into smaller sections and cover them in multiple videos. Deciding on the length of the video also allows you to edit out the things that don’t necessarily add value to your video.

Pro-tip: You can create videos as long as 15 minutes in length without downloading any editing software, simply by using InVideo’s cloud-based editor . It’s free to sign up. 

3. What do you want to say and who is your audience?

Before you begin writing your script, it is important to understand what you want to communicate and to whom. When you understand your audience, it is easier to script the scenes and dialogues to get their attention. One of the simplest ways to do this is to summarize your video in a single sentence that should answer these two questions.

For example, the video summary statement for a makeup brand could be ‘to make every woman feel comfortable in her skin tone’.

B. How to write a script for a video?

Now that you have a fair idea of how you want your video to turn out, let’s start working on the script. It’s important to understand that writing a script for a video is a process and the more things you are able to figure out at this stage, the easier it becomes on shoot days.

Step 1: Write a rough video outline

You must always start with a rough script because it allows room for edit and change. There is no real structure to a rough script – all you need to do is jot down an outline of the script. You can start by writing down the concept of the video – what should be the final takeaway and how is it important for your audience. You can also make a brief note of what would happen at the start, middle and end.

If it is an interview, you can write down all the questions that come to your mind and for a vlog, simply make a note of everything that you want to cover in the video. This rough outline will make for a good reference point every time you are lost about where the video is going.

It is in the rough outline stage itself that you will edit out stuff that makes the video too long or takes away from the message you want to deliver. The more you work on the rough outline to make it to the point, the better your video will turn out.

For example, if you’re scripting for an interview, remove repetitive questions that may have been already answered by your guest many times in other interviews. However, for a concept video, you will weigh the scenes that add value and omit the ones that don’t.

Step 2: Turn your idea into a script

Now that you have a rough outline – start writing a script to structure your thoughts. Every video has a different structure and we will dive into the 4 most commonly used video script formats (with templates!). Make sure you are aware of where you are leading the video and at any point, you feel lost, refer to the outline for more clarity.

The 4 most commonly used structures for video creation are scripted sketch, interviews, audio-visual video script, and a talking-head video script (speaking directly into the camera).

1. Scripted sketch

In a completely scripted video like comedy sketches, short films, etc. all of the dialogues and visuals are pre-planned, and very little is left to improvise.

The simplest way of writing a scripted sketch is to separate the visual and dialogue or voiceover – allowing you to work on both audio and visual aspects simultaneously, like the video script example below.

You can also add more columns to mention specific details like narration, location, set-up, etc., depending on your video. This will allow you to visualise the video and you may also add other details like costumes and props if needed.

Here’s a template for a scripted video to get you started right away.

2. Interviews

Unlike a scripted sketch, a lot of things are improvised during an interview. However, to maintain the flow of the video and not go far from the topic of discussion, having a video script is important.

In the rough outline, you would have written the questions and edited out the repetitive ones. For the final script, you will start with looking for patterns in questions that go together or can lead to the next question.

Once you have a flow, it’s important to structure it into a script. Start with writing the introduction for your guest, then list down the main questions for the interview and finally write down your concluding statements. Don’t forget that during the interview you may have to improvise based on the answers of your guest but with your script in place, you will be able to guide the conversation back to the topic. Feel free to add more details to your script – like if you want to show any visual elements, or a section to play a rapid-fire game.

Here’s a template to help you write your interview video script.

3. Audio-visual video script

If you want to create a video that has visual elements being guided by narration or voice over, like this video by Jonna Jinton , or you want to make tutorials and how-to videos, your script will look slightly different from the ones above.

Add voice overs to your videos in minutes

With InVideo’s online editor

4. Talking-head video script

A talking-head video is when the person is talking to the camera – either directly into it the camera or slightly to the side.

These videos are more spontaneous but having a script gives the video a structured flow. Unlike other scripts that have dialogues and visuals described in detail, a talking-head video script only requires you to make a note of the points you want to cover in the video.

Essentially, your script is divided into 3 chunks – the introduction, where you introduce yourself and the topic, the body, where you deep dive into the topic, and the conclusion. Some creators also write the script down as they would speak it on camera because it helps them rehearse it before shooting the video.

Here’s a template that will help you write your first talking-head video script.

With this step complete, you basically have a video script ready. However, one of the most crucial things of video creation is storyboarding. Many creators emphasise this step because it allows them to visualise the video before they start shooting and also saves time on d-day.

Step 3: Storyboarding

Once you’re confident about your script, it is time to make things even more clear. A storyboard will allow you to break down your video visually, scene by scene, describing what is happening in it.   You don’t need to be an artist. You can make a functional storyboard using stick figures and mentioning important details on the side. Some video creators don’t draw at all and simply describe the scene with utmost detail.

Remember, the three essential things that your storyboard must cover are:

- The scene - What is happening, that is, the action – how are you showing it visually? - Dialogue and voiceover.

Here’s an example of a simple storyboard created for shooting a coffee machine tutorial.

If your video will include text or supers to make it more interesting, now would be a good time to make a note of that too. You can simply add another line below Voiceover/Dialogue and put it under ‘Text/Super’.

The storyboard you create has to make the process of creating a video easier for you – so don’t shy away from adding more details that will help you.

Many video creators also use stock footage now instead of shooting everything since it adds to a lot of production cost. You can simply add details of your stock footage in your storyboard wherever necessary.

Here’s a StoryBoard template we created for you to get started.

The next thing you need to do is make a shooting schedule and choose the right equipment. We’ve written about it in great detail on our make a video blog.

And once you’ve shot your video, you can easily edit it using InVideo’s online video editor . You can check out this blog to see how to easily edit a video using InVideo

C. How to write a YouTube script?

No matter what kind of videos you post on YouTube, creating a script is a game-changer. Here’s why:

- It allows you to have control on time. - It lets you focus on what value you are delivering - Allows you to plan your video and be prepared with examples, texts, cards, etc.

The script for a YouTube video is slightly different from that of other videos. This is because YouTube videos focus more on their audience’s needs. One of the first things you need to do before you start scripting for a YouTube video is keyword research. Essentially you’re trying to understand what is it that your audience is looking for and how can your YouTube video be a solution to their problem. To get started with keyword research, you can read this step-by-step guide to find keywords for YouTube.  

Once you have decided on the topic for your YouTube video based on your keyword research, you can start writing your video script. A YouTube script essentially can be divided into 3 main segments: the hook, the content, and the call-to-action.

Turn your scripts into YouTube videos

Without spending hours on editing

The hook of the video is what gets the attention of the audience – it is a promise to solve their problem. You need to script your hook so that it is crisp and to the point. Check out the hook on this video by Think Media where in just 20 seconds he addressed the problem and gave his audience enough information to continue the video.

Vanessa Lau also suggests that you should keep your hook short and move into the main contentof the video sooner. The longer you take to get to the juicer part of the video that answers your audience’s questions, the more drop-offs you will see.

The content is the main chunk of the video and is the value that you deliver to your audience. You can either make bullet notes in your script that can guide you through the video or you can write it the way you’d hope to deliver it. In both cases, you’re planning and delivering the content in a structured way.

3) Call-to-action

The call-to-action is the conclusion where you pass the baton to your audience to take an action, like subscribe to your newsletter, purchase your product or sign up for your workshop. Watch how Pick Up Limes concluded their video by introducing their new website and listing down its best features in the video below.

Cards and text: You can add cards and texts to your YouTube video to make it engaging and redirect your audience to other content. While both of these things have to be done while you’re editing the video or uploading it, it is a good idea to make a note of it when you’re making your video script. If you want to know more about YouTube cards  and how they work, read our complete guide on YouTube cards.  

Here’s a YouTube video script template  that you can start using right now.

The above steps should definitely allow you to get your video script in place. Once you’ve done that it’s time to create your video and bring it to life.

We have another trick up our sleeve that will make creating videos as breezy as a walk in the park. At InVideo , we already know the kind of videos that work with different kinds of audiences. So we created fully customizable templates that are an absolute time saver.

Watch this video to understand how you can completely customize our templates to fit your brand guidelines.

Take me to templates .

If you already have a script ready, all you need to do is upload it to our online editor, using the text-to-video  template, and we will take it from there. Check out this video  to see how.

It’s also not easy to plan an entire production and go shoot every scene (especially in a pandemic). It is no wonder why many creators and marketers prefer using stock footage to make their videos. When you use InVideo to create your video, you can choose from more than 8 million stock images and video clips from our in-built media library. This will allow you to build videos from scratch using stock footage without having to shoot the content yourself.

Take me to InVideo 

D. Five tips to write a fool-proof video script

Tip #1 - think like your audience.

One of the biggest mistakes marketers can make is not understand their audience when creating videos for them. If your video is only communicating about your business, whilst keeping your customers on the sidelines – you will not get any eyeballs. When you start identifying problem statements and create videos that add value to your audience – that’s when you will get their attention.

Tip #2 - Create characters

What makes a video interesting are the characters – even if you are speaking into the camera. You must ensure that your characters are relatable to your audience so that they can identify with them. If you are directly addressing the audience, speak from a perspective of a friend who is here to help and not as a business.

Tip #3 - Don’t be afraid to cut

When you start writing a script, you might want to pen down all of your ideas and thoughts. It can be overwhelming to cut scenes out. However, every good video has been chopped down to perfection – so don’t be afraid to be ruthless with your cuts. Trim out the sections that are repetitive, unnecessary, or drag along. You should also get feedback from others who can help you identify scenes that they don’t understand or feel are too long.

Tip #4 - Add in those details

It’s your video script – so feel free to add in as many details and columns if it helps you visualise the video better. Many video creators also add costume details, time of the day they want to shoot, props, etc. to the script itself.

Tip #5 - Make room for change

Anything can happen on d-day and so you must leave some room for change in your script. For example, if the weather gets dicey, you may have to move the scene indoors or shoot at a different location. Make sure that your script is adaptable to unavoidable circumstances.  

Summing it up-

We hope this guide helps you write your video script. We’ve not only listed down the steps you need to follow but we’ve also included templates to get you started right away. All you need to do now is start and you’ll be creating scroll-stopping videos  in no time.

Once you are done with your script, hop on to InVideo and use its intuitive editor to create stunning videos where you have stock footage, royalty free music , effects, etc at your disposal. You can sign up for a free account and try all the features before you decide to subscribe - isn’t that great!   

Found this article helpful? Please do share it with your friends and peers looking to get started with YouTube. Want to be a part of a community of creators, just like yourself, and discuss video tips, video guides, strategies, and of course, inspire each other? Join the InVideo community – a place for you to connect and learn from 25,000+ other video creators like yourself.

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Guest Essay

In ‘West Side Story,’ My Mother Saw a Latina Who Could Dance Her Way Out of Any Script

By Deborah Paredez

Professor Paredez is the chair of the writing program at Columbia and the author of the forthcoming “American Diva.”

Some Latina mothers teach their daughters how to spoon masa or plátano onto a corn husk or banana leaf when making tamales or pasteles.

My Latina mother taught me to love musicals.

Or, more precisely, how to worship the diva at the center of a musical, the woman pulling at the seams of its tidy romance plot, unraveling in her wake a trail of delight and mayhem. Some days it was Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice in her mink hat and muff insisting that no one rain on her parade. Or Diana Ross easing on down the road. But most times it was Rita Moreno as Anita dancing her way beyond the borders of “Ameríca” in “West Side Story.”

In the decades since its opening night on Broadway in 1957, “West Side Story” has been the story, the persistent white fantasy of “Latinness,” that Latinas like my mom and I have had to reckon with. And yet my mom and I kept watching. Perhaps it’s because, like all musicals, “West Side Story” is a complex form of representation that revels in both its messiness and its marvelousness. My mother taught me to see in “West Side Story” not just the problems of brown-face makeup, but also the choreography of another Latina who could dance her way out of any script that sought to confine her or relegate her to a supporting role. My mother was showing me a diva who could move across these imposed limits. And who did it in a fabulous dress and heels.

It is not without a measure of sheepishness that I admit this now, long after the public and private conversations Latinos have engaged in about our vexed relationship to “West Side Story.” No doubt, it presents damaging stereotypes of “Latin” culture in America. Many of us have cataloged and condemned the musical’s depictions of criminal youth and blatantly sexual women all speaking in exaggerated accents.

Musical divas like Ms. Moreno helped my mother and me forge our bond as we made our own way in America from our working-class neighborhood in San Antonio, Texas, a city that has long had a Latino majority. “West Side Story” endures as a paradoxical — and often pleasurable — cultural text by which many Latinos have come to know ourselves and one another. Artists and thinkers like Lin-Manuel Miranda , Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the Supreme Court and Jennifer Lopez , to name a few, have turned to the musical as a means of understanding themselves or as a jumping-off point into a new narrative.

According to my mom, the first time we watched the 1961 film adaptation of “West Side Story” together was when NBC aired it over two successive nights in March 1972. I was a little more than a year old. In those days, she and I were sharing a bed in the front room of my grandparents’ house on San Antonio’s south side. My father was fighting in Vietnam. I spent countless nights in the years that followed curled up in bed with my mother singing along to “West Side Story.”

We learned every line, every lyric. We scoffed at the brown-cake makeup. Rolled our eyes at the accents. We believed that, yes, a boy like that could kill your brother. We cried every time Bernardo died. We cursed. We crooned. We held our breaths when Anita’s purple petticoat flared, her leg kicked up and stretching to forever, to the smattering of stars above, to some beyond somewhere far from here.

In “West Side Story,” Rita Moreno doesn’t just master the notoriously exacting rigors of Jerome Robbins’s choreography. She expresses undisciplined delight in her body’s movement beyond it. In Ms. Moreno’s mauve-blurred movements as Anita there is both a sense of well-rehearsed control and improvisatory curve, a sense of what my mother would call “movidas,” of finding a way when there seems to be no way, of creating space where none is ceded. Movidas are not just ways of making do but making do with Latina flair, of hustling so smoothly it becomes dancing.

Rita-as-Anita refuses to move in a straight line — and why should she when the playing field is so full of obstacles? Latinos know there are few straightforward paths toward securing a place for ourselves; the only constant is the well-rehearsed control and improvisatory curve and sartorial flair and audacious joy we perform in our movidas. We recognize in Anita’s movements the choreographies of our own refusals and striving for self-possession.

Again and again I saw in the film how Anita tends fiercely to Maria, the teenager left in her charge. Just as I joined my mother in bed to watch and cry and sing along, Anita joins Maria on her bed to sing the duet “A Boy Like That/I Have a Love.” It’s a pivotal moment when Anita, despite her own reservations, romantic attachments and aspirations, sacrifices herself to help Maria try to achieve what she wants. Anita and Maria are the only couple central to the narrative who survive.

My mother taught me to memorize the steps and the songs in a musical diva’s repertoire. Together, we studied the ways Rita-as-Anita moves across the battered gymnasium floor, across the rooftop, across the boundaries of turf and tribe. She showed me how to follow the diva who shows Latinas how to move and move and keep on moving, how to move until the skirts of our dresses achieve liftoff, how to move past the violence done to our bodies and our boyfriends, how to move closer to one another across the borders that seek to keep us apart.

Deborah Paredez is the chair of the writing program at Columbia and the author of the forthcoming critical memoir “American Diva .”

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