Scripts make talking-head videos tighter: no rambling, no forgotten points, fewer takes. The catch is that most people sound like they're reading. Here's how to write for the ear, set up a teleprompter, and deliver it like you're talking to one person.
Write the script for speaking, not reading
A script for a 30–60 second video is short: roughly 80–150 words. Write it the way you talk.
- Open with the hook. The first sentence is the whole video's pitch. "Most people price their first digital product too low. Here's how to fix it."
- One idea per sentence. Short sentences are easier to say and easier to follow.
- Use contractions and plain words. "You don't need" beats "It is not necessary to".
- Cut every line that doesn't move the video forward. If you'd skip it while talking to a friend, delete it.
- End with one clear action. Follow, comment a word, or tap the link in your bio. Pick one.
Read it out loud once before filming. Anything you stumble on, rewrite.
How long will it take to say?
A comfortable speaking pace for short-form is around 140–160 words per minute. PostKit's Scripts shows an estimated speaking time as you write, and you can set your own words-per-minute if you talk faster or slower, so you know whether you're writing a 30-second or a 90-second video before you film.
Set up the teleprompter
The goal is to keep your eyes as close to the lens as possible.
- Put the script right next to the camera. Open the teleprompter on a laptop or tablet placed directly beside or just below the camera you're filming with. The closer the text is to the lens, the less your eyes drift.
- Make the text big. Use the A+ button until you can read it comfortably from where you sit. Bigger text means fewer words per line, so your eyes move less.
- Stand or sit far enough back. A bit of distance makes small eye movements much less noticeable on camera.
- Use Chrome, Edge or Safari and allow the microphone. That's what powers voice following.
Let it follow your voice
A traditional teleprompter scrolls at a fixed speed, so you either rush to keep up or wait for it. PostKit's teleprompter listens as you speak and moves to the word you're on. When you pause, it pauses. When you go off-script for a second, it waits until you're back on the words.
- Tap any word to jump there if you want to restart from a line.
- Hit Reset to go back to the top for another take.
- If your browser doesn't support voice following, you can still read the script; it just won't move on its own.
Deliver it like a conversation
- Talk to one person. Picture a specific friend behind the lens.
- Read ahead, then look up. Glance at the next phrase, then say it to the camera.
- Do it in chunks. Film a few sentences at a time and cut between them. Jump cuts are normal on short-form and hide any glances at the text.
- Change your energy on purpose. Lift your voice on the hook and on the call to action.
After filming
Add captions, since most people watch muted. Captions to Titles turns your speech into word-synced titles you can bring into Final Cut Pro or export as a video. Then post it to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts at once.