TikTok and Reels Script Template (Copy and Fill In)

A good TikTok script or Instagram Reel script has four parts: a hook, a setup, a payoff, and a close. The hook stops the scroll, the setup gives context, the payoff delivers what you promised, and the close tells the viewer what to do next.

Copy the template below, fill in the brackets, and read it aloud once before you film.

What is the simplest TikTok script template?

Use this four-part frame. It works for a reel script, a TikTok, and a YouTube Short.

• HOOK (1 line): [A promise, a question, or a surprising claim]
• SETUP (1 to 3 lines): [Who this is for and why it matters right now]
• PAYOFF (3 to 8 lines): [The steps, the story, or the answer. One idea per line.]
• CLOSE (1 line): [One action: follow, comment, save, or try it]

Write each line the way you would say it to a friend. If a line sounds odd out loud, change it. The post how to write a script that sounds spoken shows how.

What goes in each part?

Hook

The hook is the first sentence. It has to give the viewer a reason to stay before they swipe.

Good hooks name a result, ask a sharp question, or call out a specific person. For more patterns, read hooks for Reels and Shorts.

• "I filmed my first 20 videos in my car. Here is why."
• "Stop saying 'hey guys' at the start of your video."
• "If your voice sounds flat on camera, try this."

Setup

The setup earns the next ten seconds. Say who the video is for and what they will get.

Keep it to one to three short lines. Cut anything that sounds like clearing your throat.

Payoff

The payoff is the reason the video exists. Give the steps, the story beat, or the answer.

Put one idea on each line. Short lines are easier to say, easier to read on a prompter, and easier to cut in the edit.

Close

Ask for one thing. "Follow for part two" works. "Follow, like, comment, share, and subscribe" does not, because the viewer has to pick and usually picks nothing.

What does a 30 second script look like?

A 30 second video holds roughly 60 to 75 words if you speak at a conversational pace. Many sources put conversational speech at about 120 to 150 words per minute, though the range varies by speaker. Check your own pace with the free script timer.

Here is a 30 second example for a creator who teaches editing.

Your cuts feel slow because of one thing.

You keep the breath before every sentence.

Here is the fix. Play your clip. Find the gap before each line. Trim it to a few frames.

Do that on every sentence and the whole video speeds up.

Try it on your next edit and tell me what changed.

Here is how it maps to the template:

That script is about 60 words. It leaves room for a pause after the hook and a short beat before the close.

What does a 60 second script look like?

A 60 second video holds roughly 120 to 150 words. That gives you room for a small story or three steps.

Here is a 60 second example for a creator who talks about being nervous on camera.

I used to freeze the second I pressed record.

If that is you, here are three things I changed.

First, I stopped starting with "hey guys." I start with the point. "Nervous on camera? Do this."

Second, I stopped memorizing. I read my script off a teleprompter near the lens, so my eyes stay up.

Third, I film three takes of the first line only. Take one is bad. Take two is fine. Take three is the one I keep.

The first line sets your voice for the rest of the video. Once it feels okay, the other lines come easier.

So next time you film, do three takes of the opening line before anything else.

Follow me for the next part, where I show how I set up my phone.

Notice the structure. The hook is one line. The setup is one line. The payoff is three steps plus a closing thought. The close asks for one thing.

How do I make the script easy to deliver?

A script on the page is only half the job. You still have to say it well.

• Read it aloud once and mark the words you want to hit hard.
• Put a pause after the hook. A short silence makes the next line land.
• Keep every sentence under about 15 words.
• Delete any line you stumble on twice. If you cannot say it, the viewer cannot follow it.

If you want to see how long your draft runs, paste it into the script timer. To practice the delivery, paste your script into YapBetter. It adds delivery cues like pause, punch, and louder to your words, never rewrites them, and lets you read from a free prompter. The free online teleprompter runs in your browser with no account.

FAQ

How long should a TikTok script be?

Most TikTok and Reels scripts for talking-head videos run 15 to 60 seconds, which is about 30 to 150 words. Shorter is usually easier to finish and easier to hold attention. Check your draft in the script timer.

Should I write a full script or use bullet points?

Write the hook and the close word for word. You can use bullets for the middle if you are comfortable talking. The post on teleprompter vs memorizing vs bullet points compares all three.

Can I use the same script for TikTok and Instagram Reels?

Yes. The format is the same: a vertical video with a fast hook. Change the close if you want people to act on a different platform, such as "follow me on Instagram" for a TikTok.

Where should I put the call to action?

Put it at the end, in one line, and ask for one action. If the video is very short, you can fold it into the last sentence of the payoff.