A good YouTube Shorts script does three things: it hooks the viewer in the first line, it tells one story in about a minute, and it's written to be heard, not read. This guide shows how to write one, and how to get a first draft in seconds with our free YouTube script generator.
Open the free YouTube script generator
How long should a YouTube Shorts script be?
About 150 words. Read at a natural pace, that's roughly a minute of narration: enough to tell one story, short enough to keep people watching to the end. The same length works for TikTok and Instagram Reels.
How to write a YouTube Shorts script, step by step
- Pick one idea. A Short has room for one story or one surprising fact. Cut everything else.
- Write the hook first. The first line decides whether someone keeps watching. Open on the most surprising part, a question, or a stake: "In 1925, a con man sold the Eiffel Tower. Then he tried to sell it again."
- Tell it in order. Short, spoken sentences, each one moving the story forward.
- End on a payoff. The last line should answer the hook, or leave one thought the viewer remembers.
- Read it aloud. If a sentence is hard to say, it's hard to listen to. Rewrite it.
Write for the ear, not the page
A narrated Short is heard, not read. That changes the rules:
- Short sentences. One idea each.
- No headings, lists or hashtags in the narration. They don't make sense out loud.
- Plain words. Write the way you'd tell the story to a friend.
Use the free AI script generator for a first draft
Type a topic in a sentence, or paste notes or an article, and the script generator writes a narration script of about 150 words:
- The first line is written as the hook, then short spoken sentences.
- It's narration only: no headings, scene directions, hashtags or emoji.
- Paste source text and the script sticks to your facts.
It's free with a Synthvids account, a few runs a day. The script is yours to use, edit and publish.
Turn the script into a voiceover
Once you have the script, the free AI voice generator reads it aloud in a studio voice and gives you an MP3. More in our guide to making a free AI voiceover for YouTube.
When the video is done, the YouTube title generator writes the title, description and tags. See how to write YouTube titles, descriptions and tags.
Or let Synthvids make the whole Short
On a Synthvids plan, the script is the first step: Synthvids writes it, narrates it, makes original AI scenes for every line, adds captions and music, and posts to YouTube or TikTok. Every scene stays editable after the render. Read how to start a faceless YouTube channel with AI to see the whole workflow.
FAQ
How many words is a 60-second YouTube Short?
About 150 words at a natural speaking pace.
What makes a good hook for a YouTube Short?
The most surprising part of the story, said in the first line. A question, a number, or a stake ("this nearly ended his career") all work. Don't open with an introduction.
Is the YouTube script generator free?
Yes. It's free with a Synthvids account, with a few runs a day.
Can I use the AI script on TikTok and Reels?
Yes. A short narrated script works the same on YouTube Shorts, TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Who owns the script?
You do. The script is yours to use, edit and publish.
Try it
Open the free YouTube script generator, or see the plans to turn scripts into finished videos.