Video Script Writing: Advice From The Pros

You’ve probably heard the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child,” and you probably know that it’s true. 

The same is true of script writing. While some might think that it’s all about developing your own unique style and voice, it’s just as important to learn from those who have come before you.

Whether they’re fellow writers or Hollywood pros. Here are some tips from professional scriptwriters on how they write their scripts:

Takeaways
Learn valuable tips from experienced video scriptwriters.
Discover techniques to captivate your audience through storytelling.
Understand the importance of concise and impactful messaging.
Gain insights into structuring your video scripts effectively.
Enhance your video content with professional advice and expertise.

Be Clear About Your Goal

The first thing you need to do when writing a script is be clear about your goal. If you don’t know what you want to achieve, how can you write a good script?

It’s important that the writer knows what their goals are because it will help them write better and faster. It will also show them which scenes are unnecessary and can be eliminated from the story.

Here are some examples of goals:

“I want my character to go on a journey throughout the story” – This is a good goal because it shows that there’s some kind of transformation taking place within your character over time.

This makes things interesting for viewers who have watched several movies before this one (like me). People love watching others’ lives change over time!

“I want my characters to fall in love with each other at some point during this movie but not until later on so people won’t expect it when it finally happens.” 

This too is another good example for writing scripts since it shows that there should be a romance between two characters throughout most of their lives before finally getting married near the end credits (if possible). We all love watching relationships grow into something deeper than friendship!

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Get To The Point

• Get to the point.
• Don’t waste time on unnecessary details. The script is not a novel, so you don’t need to include every last detail of what your character is doing at all times. 
• Focus on the events that are most important and let the viewer fill in the rest with their imagination.
• Don’t be afraid to be bold and say what you mean. Sometimes when we want something badly enough or when we’re intentionally trying to mislead someone, we can get a little convoluted in our speech patterns or word choice.
• And this can lead us down an unnecessary rabbit hole if we’re not careful! Think about how much simpler things would be if everyone just said exactly what they meant all of the time!

Start With A Story

Starting with a story is one of the best ways to get your video script started. Find yourself a story that you can relate to, or make up an interesting one of your own. A good story will help you stay focused while you write and it’ll be easier to remember when it comes time to shoot. 

If you have trouble finding inspiration, try starting with a character instead. Or maybe even just start with the problem they’re going through!

You can also use quotes or statements as a jumping off point for writing your script. Quotes and statements are effective because they give viewers something specific to focus on without having to worry about all the details of what led up to this point in time. 

They don’t need much explanation either because these words already mean something very specific within society’s lexicon; all we need is enough context so audiences understand their relevance before our characters say them aloud (and hopefully not too many other times).

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Use Visual Language

It’s easy to forget that the video you’re watching was made by a person, but what if it wasn’t? What would it look like if the script was written for a computer? What if there were no humans involved in making the video not even as actors? Would it still be fun to watch?

Visual language is a way to convey a message using nothing but visuals. It’s not just about how the images look; visual language can be used to make your audience feel something, too. 

A good example of this is in music videos when they use slow-motion or fast-motion shots of an object or person to convey feeling. 

You might notice that sometimes these shots are sped up and other times slowed down depending on what emotion they want their viewers feeling at any given moment in time (e.g., happiness vs sadness).

Don’t Overthink It

Don’t worry about whether you’re using the right words. Don’t worry about whether you’re using the right tone, or if you should use a different voice or style than what comes naturally to you. 

Just write something that sounds good and feels true to yourself and what you want to say, then edit later once you’ve got something concrete down on paper (or screen).

Keep It Short And Simple, Or Sassy

I know it can be difficult to keep your script short and simple, especially when you’re trying to capture the full scope of an emotion or scene. 

But remember that your goal is to make a video that’s easy for your viewers to digest in one sitting. So if it takes more than a minute or two for them to get through, then chances are they’ll lose interest before the end.

Avoid Technical Jargon

If this sounds like a lot of work, then you’re right. Writing video scripts is a long and arduous process.

However, with the right tools and strategies, it can be much easier to write scripts that are not only understandable but also engaging for your target audience. Here are some tips for making sure that technical jargon doesn’t creep into your script:

• Know who will be reading your script
• Use simple language
• Avoid jargon and abbreviations
• Use a thesaurus instead of repetitive words or phrases (e.g., don’t use “literally” when you mean “actually”)

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Write For A Specific Audience

When you start writing a script for your video, you should be as specific as possible. If you’re creating a video for your website and want it to be viewed by customers in their 40s, then make sure that’s who is watching.

A good place to start is by knowing your audience’s demographics. This includes their age, gender, and ethnicity and it can also include their psychographics and behavioral data (for example: do they drive Lamborghinis, or are they more likely to drive Volvos?). 

Knowing these things helps create an accurate picture of who will be viewing the videos on your site so that you can speak directly to them when writing the script.

You should also know which products or services people in this demographic are most likely interested in buying from you in other words: what pain points do they have?

The next step is finding out where these types of people hang out online so that they can see what kind of content appeals best to them (i.e., Facebook page vs Twitter feed).

Get Feedback As You Write

You can’t edit your video script on your own, so you need to show it to someone else. That’s why the person who reads over your work must have some expertise in writing. 

Ideally, they should have written a few scripts themselves and know their way around the language of screenwriting (and more importantly, they understand how that language differs from that of other forms). 

If you’re stuck on finding an appropriate reader, consider asking a colleague who works in film or television if they’d be willing to take a look at what you’ve written.

Lastly: make sure the person reading over your script is not a member of one of these groups:

• Your mother
• Your boss
• A friend

Don’t Forget To Keep Speaking In Mind

• Don’t write for a text-to-speech reader. A text-to-speech reader can be useful in some circumstances, but it’s not the same as writing a script that people will listen to.
• Don’t write for a computer. Computers don’t care about your script, and they certainly don’t care about your voice or story. They only care about data processing and information retrieval – those are their jobs!
• Don’t write for a robot (like C3PO or R2D2). Robots have no emotions and they can barely form complete sentences, much less tell an engaging story with compelling characters and an exciting plot. 
• In fact, robots might not even understand English as well as you think they do!
• Don’t write for a robot with a bad accent: If you want your scripts to be understood by people from all over the world – including other countries outside of North America.
• Then make sure you avoid using any kind of regional slang or colloquialisms like “ain’t” or “y’all”. 
• Those things might sound fine when spoken by native speakers like me here in Texas but could lead others astray if we didn’t explain ourselves properly first off at the beginning before getting too far into our scripts!

Choose Your Words Carefully

You might have heard the adage, “Write for your audience,” but it’s especially important when writing a video script. A lot of times people will write in the language of their industry jargon and slang. 

Don’t do this! Instead, you should be writing in a common language that anyone can understand. Avoid using contractions like “I’m” and “we’re” at all costs as well: 

They make you sound relaxed, which is not what you want when trying to get someone excited about something or convince them that your product/service is worth their time and money. 

Also avoid filler words like “um” or “uhh” because they add unnecessary pauses into your presentation (which makes it seem less professional). And if possible try not use too many pronouns like “it,” “they,” and so on; instead try rephrasing sentences so they don’t need any pronouns at all! 

Finally don’t forget how powerful active voice can be instead of saying something like “A new report was released today,” consider saying something more direct such as “Today we released our latest report.”

In summary: choose your words carefully!

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Write For A Global Audience

When you’re writing a script, consider that your audience may not be from the same country as you. Whether your video is being translated into multiple languages or not, it’s still important to keep this concept in mind. 

Writing for a global audience means considering cultural differences and using appropriate language (such as avoiding slang). If there are any words or phrases that could offend people from other countries, steer clear of them!

If you think it would help your project reach more people, translate the script into different languages using Google Translate (or another service). 

With this step done ahead of time, viewers who watch your video in their native language won’t be confused by anything unfamiliar, and if any terms don’t translate well between languages? They’ll be covered up by subtitles anyway!

Writing Is Hard But You Can Do It!

You’re a busy person and your audience has many demands on their time. So be clear about why you’re writing. 

You should also remember that not everyone reads at the same speed or level of comprehension, so keep your language simple, use visuals where possible and make sure that your message gets across quickly.

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Conclusion

Remember, if you’re having trouble writing your script, don’t be afraid to ask for help! It might seem like a big deal but it will keep everything running smoothly and make sure that everyone is on the same page. 

If you have any questions about our advice or would like some more tips from us before starting your own project, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Further Reading

WordStream – Tips for Writing Effective Video Scripts: Learn valuable tips and techniques for crafting engaging and effective video scripts that resonate with your audience.

HubSpot – How to Write a Compelling Video Script: This guide provides step-by-step instructions on creating compelling video scripts that drive results and boost your marketing efforts.

Synthesia – A Comprehensive Guide to Writing Video Scripts: Discover a comprehensive guide to writing video scripts, packed with practical tips and examples to help you craft impactful videos.

FAQs

How do I start writing a video script?

Begin by defining your target audience and the purpose of your video. Understand the key message you want to convey and structure your script accordingly.

What are some essential elements of a successful video script?

A successful video script should have a compelling introduction, a clear call-to-action, and a well-defined narrative that engages the audience throughout.

How long should a video script be?

The ideal length of a video script depends on the content and platform. Generally, it’s best to keep it concise and focused on the main message.

How can I make my video script more engaging?

Incorporate storytelling elements, use visuals effectively, and add a touch of humor or emotion to make your video script more engaging and memorable.

Should I use a script or improvise in my videos?

Having a script provides structure and ensures you convey your message effectively. However, some natural improvisation can add authenticity and spontaneity to your videos. Finding the right balance is key.