Tiktok Reels Shorts Scripting

---
name: tiktok-reels-shorts-scripting
description: "Use when scripting short-form video content."
version: 1.0.0
author: Hermes Agent
license: MIT
platforms: [linux, macos, windows]
metadata:
  hermes:
    tags: [tiktok, reels, shorts, video-scripting, short-form]
    related_skills: [social-media-content-calendar, social-media-strategy]
---

# TikTok / Reels / Shorts Scripting

## Overview

A complete system for writing and structuring short-form video content across TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Covers hook strategies (first 3 seconds), pacing, transitions, trending audio integration, caption optimization, and storyboard outlines. Platform-specific guidance for each ecosystem's unique algorithm, culture, and best practices.

## When to Use

- **Creating short-form video content** for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts
- **Building a video content strategy** with consistent posting cadence
- **Scripting hooks and storyboards** for a series of educational or entertaining videos
- **Repurposing long-form content** into short-form clips
- **Training a content team** on short-form video best practices

## Body

### Part 1: Foundation — The 3-Second Hook

The first 3 seconds determine 80% of a video's success.

#### 1.1 Hook Categories

| Hook Type | Example | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| **Pattern Interrupt** | "Stop scrolling." / "Wait for it." | General, broad appeal |
| **Bold Claim** | "Everything you know about [topic] is wrong." | Educational, contrarian |
| **Curiosity Gap** | "The #1 mistake 99% of [professionals] make." | Educational, how-to |
| **Relatable Pain** | "POV: You've spent 3 hours formatting a spreadsheet." | Humor, relatable |
| **Result Preview** | "I grew an account from 0 to 50K in 30 days." | Educational, case study |
| **Question** | "How many of you have done [relatable thing]?" | Community, engagement |
| **Visual Hook** | Bright color flash, fast zoom, unexpected object | Entertainment |
| **Audio Hook** | Trending sound starts before visual | Trend riding |

#### 1.2 Hook Formulas by Niche

**Educational/How-to:**
- "I tried [method] for [timeframe]. Here's what happened."
- "Stop doing [common mistake]. Do this instead."
- "You're [action] wrong. Here's the right way."
- "[Number] things I wish I knew before [action]."

**Entertainment/Humor:**
- "POV: [relatable situation]"
- "Nobody: ... Absolutely nobody: ... Me: [funny action]"
- "How it started → How it's going"

**Inspiring/Motivational:**
- "This video will change how you see [topic]."
- "I wish someone told me this [before event]."

### Part 2: Script Structure

#### 2.1 The 3-Act Short-Form Script

```
ACT 1: HOOK (0–3 seconds)
  - One sentence. High energy. Direct address.
  - Text overlay reinforces spoken hook.
  - Visual: Face-to-camera or bold graphic.

ACT 2: VALUE (3–45 seconds depending on platform)
  TikTok: 15–60s total, Reels: 15–90s total, Shorts: 15–60s total
  - 3–5 quick points. One sentence each.
  - Pacing: 1 idea per 3–5 seconds.
  - Text overlay on key numbers/words.
  - Transitions between points: cut, zoom, or swipe.

ACT 3: CTA (last 3–5 seconds)
  - "Follow for more [topic] tips."
  - "Save this for your next [task]."
  - "Comment [keyword] and I'll send you the template."
  - "Share this with someone who needs it."
```

#### 2.2 Script Template — Educational

```
TIME | VISUAL | AUDIO/SPOKEN | TEXT OVERLAY
0:00 | Face close-up, direct eye contact | "Here's the exact [thing] I use to [result]" | 🛑 STOP SCROLLING
0:03 | Cut to demo screen recording | [Explain step 1 — 5 seconds] | STEP 1: [Name]
0:08 | Cut to second demo | [Explain step 2 — 5 seconds] | STEP 2: [Name]
0:13 | Cut to third demo | [Explain step 3 — 5 seconds] | STEP 3: [Name]
0:18 | Cut back to face | "That's it. Three steps. Try it today." | 🎯 TRY THIS
0:23 | Point to follow button | "Follow for more [topic] hacks" | +FOLLOW
```

#### 2.3 Script Template — Storytelling

```
TIME | VISUAL | AUDIO/SPOKEN | TEXT OVERLAY
0:00 | Face, slightly zoomed, lower thirds | "I almost quit [industry] because of [problem]." | THIS ALMOST BROKE ME
0:05 | B-roll of related work/office | "I tried [wrong approach]. Nothing worked." | THE STRUGGLE
0:12 | Photo/screenshot of turning point | "Then I found [solution]. Game changer." | THE TURNING POINT
0:20 | Face, smiling, confident | "Now [current success]. If you're in [situation], keep going." | KEEP GOING
0:28 | Gesture to CTA | "Drop a story below — I read every one." | 👇 SHARE YOURS
```

### Part 3: Platform-Specific Guidance

#### 3.1 TikTok

**Algorithm priorities:** Completion rate (most important), re-watches, shares (especially DMs), trending audio, searchability.

**Best practices:**
- **Duration**: 15–60 seconds. 21–34s is the sweet spot.
- **Audio**: Always use trending or original sound.
- **Text**: On-screen text for every spoken point.
- **Captions**: 100–150 chars. 3–5 niche hashtags. No #fyp/#viral.
- **Posting**: 3–5x/day (growth), 1–2x/day (maintenance).
- **Best times**: Tue–Thu 7–9 AM, 11 AM–2 PM, 7–10 PM.
- **Hook**: Aggressive. "Stop scrolling." / "You NEED to see this." Fast cuts. No dead air.

#### 3.2 Instagram Reels

**Algorithm priorities:** Shares (highest), re-watches, completion rate, original audio, account interaction history.

**Best practices:**
- **Duration**: 15–90 seconds. 15–30s (growth), 60–90s (deep value).
- **Aspect ratio**: 9:16 (1080×1920) — must be vertical.
- **Audio**: Original audio gets algorithm boost.
- **Captions**: 150–300 chars. 3–5 keywords + 5–10 hashtags for Explore discovery.
- **Posting**: 1–2x/day optimal.
- **Best times**: Mon–Fri 9–11 AM, Tue 11 AM (best).
- **Hook**: Slightly slower pacing than TikTok. "Here's a [industry] tip that changed everything for me."

#### 3.3 YouTube Shorts

**Algorithm priorities:** Swipe-away rate (most important), completion rate, likes/comments, search metadata (title + description keywords).

**Best practices:**
- **Duration**: 15–60 seconds. 15–30s has highest completion.
- **Aspect ratio**: 9:16 vertical.
- **Title**: SEO-friendly, keyword-forward, 40–60 chars.
- **Description**: 100–200 chars with relevant keywords + hashtags.
- **Posting**: 1–2x/day. Consistency > frequency.
- **Best times**: Sat–Sun 9–11 AM, Tue–Thu 2–4 PM.
- **Hook**: Slower, more explanatory. "Here's why [common belief] is wrong."
- **Critical**: Upload natively. No watermarks from other platforms.

### Part 4: Transitions & Pacing

| Transition | How | When |
|---|---|---|
| Jump cut | Remove pauses | Educational, direct-to-camera |
| Speed ramp | Speed up → normal → speed up | Energy moments |
| Zoom | Zoom in on key word/object | Emphasis |
| Swipe | Hand passes in front | Scene change |
| Match cut | Same position between scenes | Seamless |
| Whip pan | Fast pan → blur → new scene | Fast-paced content |

**Pacing by platform:**
- TikTok: 1.5–2 cuts/second. No dead air.
- Reels: 0.8–1.5 cuts/second. Breathing room OK.
- Shorts: 0.5–1 cut/second. Explanatory pauses OK.
- Educational: Slower (0.5 cuts/s). Entertainment: Faster (2 cuts/s).

### Part 5: Caption Optimization

| Platform | Length | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 100–150 chars | Hook in text. 3–5 niche hashtags. No links. |
| Reels | 150–300 chars | SEO keywords in first 80 chars. 5–10 hashtags. |
| Shorts | 100–200 chars | Title + description as SEO. Treat like search. |

**Keyword note:** TikTok captions don't boost reach much — spoken text is transcribed. Reels keywords help Explore ranking. Shorts title + description heavily affect search surfacing.

### Part 6: Storyboard Template

```markdown
## Storyboard: [Title]

| # | Time | Visual | Audio | Text Overlay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0:00 | Face CTA | "Stop [mistake] if you want [result]" | 🛑 STOP | High energy |
| 2 | 0:03 | Screen recording | "Step 1: [action]" | STEP 1 | Show cursor |
| 3 | 0:08 | Screen recording | "Step 2: [action]" | STEP 2 | Speed ramp |
| 4 | 0:13 | Face + result | "And that's it. I did this in [time]." | MY RESULT | Smile |
| 5 | 0:18 | Point to follow | "Follow for part 2" | +FOLLOW | |
```

### Part 7: Posting Cadence

| Platform | New Account | Growth | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 3–5x/day | 2–3x/day | 1–2x/day |
| Instagram Reels | 2–3x/day | 1–2x/day | 1x/day |
| YouTube Shorts | 1–2x/day | 1x/day | 3–5x/week |

## Common Pitfalls

- **No hook in first 3 seconds**: 80% of viewers gone. Spend 20% of script time on the hook.
- **Slow pacing**: Every second unearned = lost viewer.
- **No text overlay**: 40%+ watch without sound. Every point needs on-screen text.
- **Generic hashtags**: #fyp #viral do nothing. Use niche tags.
- **Watermarked content**: TikTok watermark on Reels = suppressed. Upload native.
- **Wrong-platform audio**: Trending on TikTok ≠ trending on Reels. Check per platform.
- **Talking too fast**: Clear beats fast. Viewers can't rewind short-form.
- **No CTA**: Every video needs follow/save/comment/share.
- **One format only**: Mix face-to-camera, trending, educational, entertaining.

## Verification Checklist

- [ ] Hook written for first 3 seconds using one of 8 hook categories
- [ ] Full script in 3-act structure (Hook → Value → CTA)
- [ ] Storyboard outline completed (time, visual, audio, text overlay)
- [ ] Platform-specific adjustments made (TikTok fast / Reels medium / Shorts slow)
- [ ] Trending audio identified and matched to content
- [ ] Text overlay for every spoken point (sound-off viewing)
- [ ] Caption optimized per platform
- [ ] 3–5 niche hashtags, no generic tags
- [ ] CTA included (follow / save / comment / share)
- [ ] No watermarks from other platforms
- [ ] Posting cadence defined for current growth stage
- [ ] Optimal posting time identified per platform