The Advanced Guide to Creating Killer YouTube Scripts
What's the secret to crafting YouTube scripts that go viral? It's not just about gear, TikTok followings, or secret knowledge. The real secret lies in understanding the principles that underpin engaging content. This guide reveals the framework for creating average, great, and killer YouTube scripts, focusing on the formula that holds successful channels together. Whether you write scripts before filming or craft your story in the edit, this information is for you.
The Secret Formula: Build and Tension
The secret to effective YouTube scripts, and all scripts in general, lies in a simple function: build and tension. This formula should guide every second of your scriptwriting process.
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What's the one point you're building towards?
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How do you create tension along the way?
The effectiveness of your build and tension will determine whether your video performs averagely, greatly, or goes viral. It truly only takes one video to change everything.
Starting with a Killer Outline
Before writing a single line of script, begin with a killer outline. As chess champion Bobby Fisher said, "Tactics flow from a superior position." This superior position is a well-structured outline that forms the foundation of your story. In its simplest form, an outline consists of three things:
- Introduction: How the story is introduced.
- Climax: How the story builds to a climactic peak.
- Resolution: How the story resolves.
Instead of immediately writing a script, focus on crafting a solid outline. There are applications like Studio Forge available to streamline this process. Analyzing existing YouTube videos and identifying their intro, climax, and resolution can help you understand this foundation.
Transforming an Average Script into a Great One
The average YouTube script typically features a weak intro, hardly any emotional build or climax, and a resolution that simply asks for likes and subscriptions. To transform this into a great script, improvements must be made to the intro, climax, and conclusion. Clarifying the central point and building towards a single climactic moment is crucial.
For example, consider a video on "six reasons people leave the ones they love." Instead of having multiple points, consolidate them into one killer point: closure through understanding. An emotional intro can hook the viewer, the reasons can build tension, and the climax provides the answer to the initial confusion, ultimately leading to resolution.
Creating Tension Through Pacing and Loop Opening
To keep viewers engaged, avoid boring them. Pacing is crucial, and the easiest way to improve pacing is to cut unnecessary lines. Be ruthless; every second of your script should build towards the climax. If something doesn't contribute, cut it out. Every story is collapsible to some degree.
Creating tension involves opening and closing "loops." Anytime you build anticipation for what's to come, you open a loop. Viewers are compelled to close that loop, making them stay engaged. Continuously opening and closing loops is the essence of captivating writing.
The Invisible Ingredient: Passion and Enjoyment
There is one critical part of the formula: passion and enjoyment. The YouTube videos we truly enjoy are the ones where the creator clearly loved making them. Bring your own love to your script. Let the gift you are given lead you to enjoy making the video, so you can share it with the world.
If you find yourself struggling with a script, and not enjoying the process, step back. A good script should help people feel a range of emotions, and to truly create this, you must feel them, too. Focus on making videos that you are passionate about, even if it means occasionally deviating from purely strategic topics.
Anyone can learn to write killer YouTube scripts. It's not an innate talent, but a skill that improves with practice. Keep refining your skills and watch your videos improve.
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