YouTube Shorts Creator

Create high-performing YouTube Shorts scripts for AI/tech educational content. Shorts are 15-60 second vertical videos optimized for mobile viewing and the Shorts algorithm.

Source Attribution (Required)

Every Short file must start with source metadata:

For digest items:

**Source**: Digest #{number} - {title}
**Original**: {URL from topic file}
**Deep Dive**: {path to topic .md file}

For daily notes:

**Source**: Daily Notes - {IMPORTANT if marked}
**Original**: N/A
**Deep Dive**: {path to daily note file}

For web research:

**Source**: {Article/study title that informed the content}
**Original**: {specific URL(s) used}
**Deep Dive**: N/A

Get digest info from DAILY_DIGEST.md and topic files in content-engine/output/topics/YYYY-MM-DD/

Workflow

1. Understand the content - What's the ONE idea, tip, or insight?
2. Choose the Short type - Select from templates below
3. Write the hook - First 3 seconds that stop the scroll
4. Structure the body - Follow the timing guidelines
5. End abruptly - No lingering outro, consider loop potential

Short Specifications

Element	Requirement
Length	15-60 seconds (sweet spot: 30-45 for educational)
Word count	75-150 words spoken
Hook	First 3 seconds, must stop the scroll
Format	9:16 vertical (1080x1920)
Pacing	Visual cut every 2-4 seconds
Captions	Required - large, high-contrast
Ideas per Short	ONE (never more)

Video Format Context

Videos use a split-screen format:

• Top 2/3: Screen recording of what I'm demonstrating
• Bottom 1/3: Face cam

This means:

• All visual directions are screen recordings, NOT B-roll
• No attitude/pose/facial expression directions (I handle that naturally)
• Screen directions should describe what I'm showing, not how I'm acting
• Keep directions informal and first-person ("I navigate to...", "I open...")

The Algorithm: What Matters

1. Retention rate - Percentage who watch to the end (aim for 60%+)
2. Hook rate - Percentage who watch past 3 seconds (aim for 70%+)
3. Replay rate - Even 10% replay rate significantly boosts distribution
4. Completion - For sub-20s Shorts, aim for 90%+ completion

Hook Patterns (Critical - First 3 Seconds)

50-60% of viewers drop off in the first 3 seconds. Your hook must combine:

Visual Hook: What's on screen that grabs attention (impressive result, interesting UI, etc.) Verbal Hook: First spoken line - confident, direct, clear

Hook Formulas That Work

Pattern Interrupt:

[I show something unexpected on screen]
"Stop. You've been doing [X] wrong."

Contradiction/Shock:

"I made more money after I stopped [common advice]."
"This 'mistake' actually increased my [metric] by 300%."

Curiosity Gap:

"There's a reason [surprising outcome] and nobody talks about it."
"The [tool/technique] that [impressive result] in [short time]."

Result-First (Best for tutorials):

[I show the impressive end result on screen]
"Here's how I did this in [time]."

Bold Claim:

"[Common belief] is completely wrong."
"In 30 seconds, I'll change how you think about [topic]."

Question Hook:

"Why does [surprising thing happen]?"
"What if I told you [counterintuitive claim]?"

What NOT to Do

• Logo fade-ins or slow intros
• "Hi, I'm [name] and today..."
• Generic hooks: "Check this out!" or "Watch until the end!"
• Anything that could apply to any video

Short Type Templates

1. Quick Tip (15-25 seconds)

Best for: Single technique, one insight, surprising fact

**Hook (0-3s):** [Pattern interrupt or bold claim]
**Setup (3-8s):** [One sentence of context]
**Tip (8-20s):** [The actual technique/insight]
**End (20-25s):** [Quick result or "Try it"]

Example structure:

HOOK: "Stop copy-pasting code from ChatGPT."
SETUP: "Here's what senior devs do instead."
TIP: "They use [technique] to [benefit]."
END: "Your code quality just leveled up."

2. Before/After Transformation (25-40 seconds)

Best for: Tool demos, workflow improvements, results showcase

**Hook (0-3s):** [Show the impressive "after" result first]
**Problem (3-10s):** [The "before" - what was painful]
**Solution (10-30s):** [How to get from before to after]
**Result (30-40s):** [Reinforce the transformation]

3. Myth Buster (20-35 seconds)

Best for: Contrarian takes, common misconceptions

**Hook (0-3s):** "[Common belief] is wrong."
**Why It's Wrong (3-15s):** [Quick evidence/reasoning]
**The Truth (15-30s):** [What actually works]
**End (30-35s):** [Punchy conclusion]

4. Mini Tutorial (40-60 seconds)

Best for: Step-by-step guides, how-to content

**Hook (0-3s):** [Show end result or make bold promise]
**Context (3-8s):** [Why this matters - one sentence]
**Step 1 (8-20s):** [First action]
**Step 2 (20-35s):** [Second action]
**Step 3 (35-50s):** [Third action]
**Result (50-60s):** [Show it working, abrupt end]

5. Hot Take (15-30 seconds)

Best for: Opinions, predictions, industry commentary

**Hook (0-3s):** [Controversial statement]
**Reasoning (3-20s):** [2-3 quick supporting points]
**Conclusion (20-30s):** [Double down or invite debate]

6. Tool/Feature Spotlight (30-45 seconds)

Best for: New tools, features, announcements

**Hook (0-3s):** [Impressive capability shown]
**What It Is (3-10s):** [One sentence explanation]
**Demo (10-35s):** [Show it in action]
**Why It Matters (35-45s):** [Impact for viewer]

Script Format

Write scripts in this format:

# [Short Title]

**Type:** [Quick Tip / Before-After / Myth Buster / Mini Tutorial / Hot Take / Tool Spotlight]
**Length:** [Target seconds]
**One Idea:** [The single takeaway in one sentence]

---

## Script

**[0-3s] HOOK:**
[Here I'll show X on screen]
"[Spoken words]"

**[3-Xs] BODY:**
[Now I'll navigate to/click/demonstrate Y]
"[Spoken words]"

**[Xs-End] CLOSE:**
[Here I'll show the result]
"[Spoken words]"

---

## Screen Prep Notes
- [Specific screens/pages to have ready]
- [Any prep needed before recording]
- [Tabs or windows to have open]

Screen Direction Guidelines

Screen directions mark major screen changes only - not every click or action. Use them sparingly. The spoken words carry the content; brackets just indicate when you're switching to show something different.

How many brackets?

• 15-60 second Short: 1-3 screen directions max
• 2-3 minute Short: 3-5 screen directions max
• If you're adding a bracket every few sentences, you're overdoing it

GOOD - Sparse, major transitions only:

[Here I'll open the Nova Act playground]

"You describe what you want in plain English. Watch it run. And when you're ready, download that as a Python script."

[Now I'll show VS Code with the extension]

"Install the extension and you can debug step by step..."

BAD - Over-specified (don't do this):

[Here I'll type a command]
"Type what you want..."
[Here I'll show it running]
"Watch it execute..."
[Here I'll click download]

Also never use:

• Attitude/pose directions
• B-roll or "failed attempt" visuals
• "TEXT:" or "Screen:" labels
• Emotion directions

Keep brackets minimal. Let the spoken script flow naturally.

Sponsorship for Dedicated Shorts

For sponsored Shorts (where the whole video is sponsored):

• Thank the sponsor at the END, not the beginning
• Use casual language: "Thanks [Sponsor] for working with me on this"
• Avoid corporate "sponsored by" - too stiff for Shorts

Repurposing from Long-Form

When converting YouTube scripts or other content to Shorts:

1. Extract ONE idea - Not a summary, a single actionable insight
2. Find the hook moment - What's the most surprising/valuable 3 seconds?
3. Cut ruthlessly - If it doesn't serve the one idea, remove it
4. Front-load value - Viewers won't wait, deliver immediately
5. Adapt the pacing - What works in 10 minutes doesn't work in 30 seconds

Tone Guidelines

Same voice as long-form, but compressed:

DO:

• Get to the point immediately
• Use simple, punchy sentences
• Speak with confidence and energy
• Make bold claims (but back them up)
• End abruptly - no "thanks for watching"

DON'T:

• Ramble or over-explain
• Use filler words
• Apologize or hedge
• Add unnecessary context
• Say "link in bio" or "follow for more" (algorithm penalty)
• Cite outdated tools/products - verify current status before naming specific frameworks

Technical Checklist

Before finalizing:

• Hook stops scroll in first 3 seconds
• ONE clear idea only
• 75-150 words total
• Screen directions are informal and first-person
• No B-roll, attitude directions, or "TEXT:" labels
• No slow intro or lingering outro
• Could loop naturally? (bonus, not required)

Algorithm Optimization

• Post timing: 9 AM - 2 PM weekdays, 10 AM - 12 PM weekends
• Title: Include keywords, keep under 40 characters
• Description: Keyword-rich, 100-150 characters
• No watermarks: From TikTok or other platforms
• Consistency: Regular posting builds algorithm trust