home / skills / wesleysmits / agent-skills / youtube-script-generator
This skill generates structured YouTube video scripts with hooks, segments, CTAs, and B-roll notes to streamline production.
npx playbooks add skill wesleysmits/agent-skills --skill youtube-script-generatorReview the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.
---
name: writing-youtube-video-scripts
description: Creates structured video scripts with hooks, segments, and CTAs. Use when the user asks about YouTube scripts, video content, video outlines, talking points, or video intros.
---
# YouTube Video Script Generator
## When to use this skill
- User asks to write a video script
- User needs YouTube video structure
- User wants talking points for video
- User mentions video hooks or intros
- User needs B-roll suggestions
## Workflow
- [ ] Identify video type and length
- [ ] Generate hook options
- [ ] Create video structure
- [ ] Write segment scripts
- [ ] Add CTAs and end screen
- [ ] Include B-roll notes
## Instructions
### Step 1: Identify Video Type
| Video Type | Length | Structure |
| ---------- | --------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Tutorial | 8-15 min | Hook → Problem → Steps → Recap |
| Listicle | 10-20 min | Hook → Items → Best pick → CTA |
| Explainer | 5-10 min | Hook → What → Why → How → CTA |
| Review | 10-15 min | Hook → Overview → Pros/Cons → Verdict |
| Vlog | 8-12 min | Hook → Story segments → Reflection |
| Shorts | 15-60 sec | Hook → Value → CTA |
| Interview | 20-45 min | Intro → Questions → Key moments → Outro |
### Step 2: Hook Generation (First 30 Seconds)
**Hook formulas:**
| Type | Formula | Example |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Problem-agitate | "If you're struggling with X, you're not alone..." | "If your videos get zero views, you're not alone..." |
| Bold claim | "This one thing changed everything about X" | "This one plugin saved me 10 hours a week" |
| Curiosity | "Most people do X wrong, here's why..." | "Most developers write CSS wrong, here's why..." |
| Result tease | "By the end of this video, you'll be able to..." | "By the end, you'll deploy apps in under 5 minutes" |
| Pattern interrupt | Start with unexpected visual or statement | [Show failed result first] "This was my code yesterday..." |
| Story | "Last week, I made a huge mistake..." | "Last week, I accidentally deleted production..." |
| Question | "Have you ever wondered why X happens?" | "Have you ever wondered why your site is slow?" |
| Statistic | "X% of people fail at Y. Here's how to be different" | "90% of startups fail. Here's how to survive" |
**Hook structure:**
```markdown
## HOOK (0:00 - 0:30)
[VISUAL: Show end result or problem]
"[Opening line - pattern interrupt or bold claim]"
[VISUAL: Quick montage of what's coming]
"In this video, I'll show you [specific outcome].
We'll cover [point 1], [point 2], and [point 3].
Stay until the end for [bonus/best tip]."
[VISUAL: Subscribe animation]
"If you find this helpful, hit subscribe."
```
### Step 3: Video Structure Templates
**Tutorial script:**
```markdown
## VIDEO SCRIPT: [Title]
**Length:** [X] minutes
**Goal:** Teach [specific skill/outcome]
---
### HOOK (0:00 - 0:30)
[Opening line]
[Problem identification]
[Promise what they'll learn]
[Tease the result]
---
### CONTEXT (0:30 - 1:30)
[Why this matters]
[Who this is for]
[Prerequisites/what they need]
**B-ROLL:** [Show tools, setup, examples]
---
### STEP 1: [Action] (1:30 - 4:00)
[Explain what we're doing]
[Show the action]
[Common mistake to avoid]
[Verify it worked]
**B-ROLL:** [Screen recording, close-up of action]
**ON-SCREEN TEXT:** [Key command or shortcut]
---
### STEP 2: [Action] (4:00 - 7:00)
[Explain what we're doing]
[Show the action]
[Pro tip]
[Verify it worked]
**B-ROLL:** [Screen recording]
**ON-SCREEN TEXT:** [Key point]
---
### STEP 3: [Action] (7:00 - 10:00)
[Explain what we're doing]
[Show the action]
[Troubleshooting common issue]
[Final result]
**B-ROLL:** [Final result comparison]
---
### RECAP (10:00 - 11:00)
"So to recap:
1. First, we [step 1]
2. Then, we [step 2]
3. Finally, we [step 3]"
**ON-SCREEN TEXT:** [Bullet summary]
---
### CTA + OUTRO (11:00 - 12:00)
[Suggest next video]
[Ask for comments]
[Subscribe reminder]
[End screen]
**END SCREEN:** [Related video cards]
```
**Listicle script:**
```markdown
## VIDEO SCRIPT: [Number] [Things] for [Outcome]
**Length:** [X] minutes
**Goal:** Provide [number] actionable [tips/tools/ideas]
---
### HOOK (0:00 - 0:30)
"Here are [number] [things] that will [outcome]."
[Quick montage showing all items]
"I saved the best for last, so stick around."
---
### ITEM 1: [Name] (0:30 - 2:00)
[What it is]
[Why it's on the list]
[How to use it]
[Quick demo or example]
**B-ROLL:** [Product demo, screenshot]
**ON-SCREEN TEXT:** "1. [Item name]"
---
### ITEM 2: [Name] (2:00 - 3:30)
[What it is]
[Key benefit]
[Pro tip for using it]
**B-ROLL:** [Demo]
**ON-SCREEN TEXT:** "2. [Item name]"
---
[Continue for each item...]
---
### BEST PICK (X:00 - X:30)
"If I had to pick just one, it would be [item] because [reason]."
---
### CTA + OUTRO
"Which one are you going to try first? Let me know in the comments."
[Related video suggestion]
[Subscribe reminder]
```
**Shorts script (under 60 seconds):**
```markdown
## SHORT: [Title]
**Length:** 45-60 seconds
**Hook:** First 1-3 seconds
---
### HOOK (0:00 - 0:03)
[VISUAL: Eye-catching result or problem]
"[One punchy sentence]"
---
### VALUE (0:03 - 0:45)
[Rapid-fire delivery]
[One clear point per 10 seconds]
[Visual changes every 2-3 seconds]
Point 1: "[Short statement]"
Point 2: "[Short statement]"
Point 3: "[Short statement]"
---
### PAYOFF (0:45 - 0:55)
[Show the result]
"[Memorable closing line]"
---
### CTA (0:55 - 0:60)
"Follow for more [topic]"
[VISUAL: Point to follow button]
```
### Step 4: Segment Transitions
**Transition phrases:**
| Purpose | Phrases |
| ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Next point | "Now let's move on to..." / "Next up..." / "Here's where it gets interesting..." |
| Deeper dive | "Let me break this down further..." / "Here's the thing though..." |
| Example | "Let me show you what I mean..." / "Here's a real example..." |
| Contrast | "On the other hand..." / "But here's the flip side..." |
| Summary | "So to recap..." / "The key takeaway here is..." |
| Energy boost | "Now THIS is the good stuff..." / "Here's my favorite part..." |
### Step 5: Call-to-Action Templates
**Mid-roll CTA (soft):**
```markdown
"Quick note - if you're finding this helpful,
the like button really helps the channel.
Okay, back to [topic]..."
```
**End CTA (strong):**
```markdown
"If you made it this far, you're serious about [topic].
I have a whole playlist on [related topic] -
I'll link it in the cards above.
Drop a comment telling me [specific question].
I read every single one.
And if you want more [content type], hit subscribe.
I post every [schedule].
See you in the next one."
```
**Shorts CTA:**
```markdown
"Follow for more [topic] tips"
[Point gesture to follow button]
```
### Step 6: B-Roll & Visual Notes
**B-roll notation format:**
```markdown
**B-ROLL:** [Description of footage]
**ON-SCREEN TEXT:** [Text overlay content]
**SFX:** [Sound effect]
**MUSIC:** [Music mood change]
**TRANSITION:** [Cut type - jump cut, fade, etc.]
```
**Common B-roll suggestions:**
| Content Type | B-Roll Ideas |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| Coding tutorial | Screen recording, typing hands, terminal output |
| Review | Product shots, comparison footage, spec graphics |
| Explainer | Diagrams, animations, stock footage |
| Vlog | Location shots, process footage, time-lapse |
### Step 7: Retention Techniques
**Keep viewers watching:**
| Technique | How to Use |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Open loops | "I'll show you the secret trick in a moment..." |
| Pattern interrupts | Change visuals, music, or energy every 30-60 sec |
| Tease upcoming content | "Coming up, we'll cover the one thing most people miss..." |
| Chapter markers | Add timestamps for easy navigation |
| Visual variety | B-roll, graphics, zoom cuts every 3-5 seconds |
| Direct address | "Now you might be thinking..." / "I know what you're wondering..." |
### Step 8: Timestamps Template
```markdown
## TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Hook
0:30 - [Chapter 1]
2:00 - [Chapter 2]
5:00 - [Chapter 3]
8:00 - [Chapter 4]
10:00 - Recap
11:00 - What to watch next
```
## Output Format
```markdown
## Video Script: [Title]
**Type:** [Tutorial/Listicle/Explainer/etc.]
**Length:** [X] minutes
**Target audience:** [Who this is for]
---
### Timestamps
[Formatted timestamp list]
---
### Full Script
[Complete script with all sections, B-roll notes, and on-screen text]
---
### Thumbnail Ideas
1. [Thumbnail concept 1]
2. [Thumbnail concept 2]
### Title Variants
1. [Title option 1]
2. [Title option 2]
### Description
[Video description with timestamps and links]
```
## Validation
Before completing:
- [ ] Hook is under 30 seconds
- [ ] Clear value proposition in first minute
- [ ] B-roll notes included for key sections
- [ ] Transitions between segments are smooth
- [ ] At least one mid-roll CTA
- [ ] Strong end CTA with next video suggestion
- [ ] Timestamps provided
- [ ] Script reads naturally when spoken aloud
## Error Handling
- **No clear topic**: Ask for the specific video subject and target audience.
- **Too long/short**: Adjust depth per section; tutorials need 8-15 min, shorts under 60 sec.
- **Monotone energy**: Add pattern interrupts, questions, and visual change notes.
- **No retention hooks**: Add open loops and "coming up" teases every 2-3 minutes.
- **Missing visuals**: Every 30 seconds should have B-roll or on-screen text note.
## Resources
- [vidIQ](https://vidiq.com/) - YouTube SEO and analytics
- [TubeBuddy](https://www.tubebuddy.com/) - Title and tag optimization
- [Descript](https://www.descript.com/) - Script-based video editing
- [YouTube Creator Academy](https://creatoracademy.youtube.com/) - Official best practices
This skill creates structured YouTube video scripts with strong hooks, clear segments, and effective CTAs to maximize retention and engagement. It produces full scripts, timestamped outlines, B-roll notes, and thumbnail/title ideas tuned to the chosen video type and length. Use it when you need ready-to-record dialogue, transitions, and visual guidance for tutorials, listicles, explainers, reviews, shorts, or interviews.
Tell me the video topic, target audience, desired length, and format (tutorial, listicle, short, etc.). I generate multiple hook options, a timestamped structure, scripted segment text, mid-roll and end CTAs, B-roll and on-screen text notes, and thumbnail and title variants. The output includes retention techniques, transition phrases, and a validation checklist so the script is production-ready.
What if I don’t know the exact video length?
Give a range or format (short/tutorial/listicle); I’ll adapt section depth to fit the target duration and suggest timestamps.
Can you include on-screen text and B-roll cues?
Yes — each key section will include B-roll suggestions, on-screen text, SFX/music cues, and transition notes for editors.