The 3 Levels of YouTube Scriptwriting

Quick one before we begin...!

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The 3 Levels of YouTube Scriptwriting

The main objections I get to writing word-for-word scripts are:

• I don't have time.
• It's not always fun.
• After the "bullet point" stage, scriptwriting has diminishing returns.

And you know what?

I've felt all three of these things.

And students inside my scriptwriting community have been asking:

"How much scripting should I do if I don't have much time?"

To answer this, I've written out the same segment of a script three times, from levels 1 to 3.

Level 1 requires the least effort, and level 3 is word-for-word scripted...

At the end, I'll reveal the minimum level you should aim for.

Especially if you don't have much time.

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Level 0

Ok, yes, there's a secret level 0:

Riffing the entire thing.

No scriptwriting required (yay!) but your video will be a mess (boo).

Even pro-riffers like Ali Abdaal write out some bullet points.

So, unless you're vlogging, avoid level 0 as it'll make both filming and editing more stressful.

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Level 1

In this made-up example, I'm writing a script about... how to write scripts faster 🤯

It's a bit meta, but go with me.

At level 1, all you need is a broad-strokes bullet point that describes what will happen during the segment.

Here's my "level 1" script extract:

• Explain that, to get faster at scriptwriting, the viewer needs a system.

That's it. Level 1 complete.

You'd write a bullet point like this for every segment, and riff on them.

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Level 2

At this level, we're still only using bullet points, but with a bit more detail.

Break your level 1 bullet point down into these key elements:

1. Setup (explain why the segment is important).
2. Tension (gradually add information and build towards the reveal).
3. Payoff (reveal the exciting or important information).​

Here's my "level 2" script extract:

• Setup
  • "But first, we need to talk about the most important thing every YouTuber needs before they start writing."
• Tension
  • Metaphor about not having a system for something.
  • Possibly something about sports teams - they have systems of play which make outcomes more predictable.
  • Compare: trying to play elite-level sport without a system... to writing YouTube scripts without a system.
• Payoff
  • "And that’s the first principle you need to understand. Unless you have a scriptwriting system, the writing process will always feel unfocused and chaotic, making it impossible to get faster."

You'll notice I wrote the sentences word-for-word during the tension and payoff bullet points.

You'll probably find this happens naturally because you're thinking more consciously about how to introduce and conclude the segment.

But the tension bullet points are in note form, so you'll still riff the majority of the segment - albeit with a lot more structure.

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Level 3

This is word-for-word scripting.

I still think of each segment in terms of setup, tension and payoff, but now every sentence is written in full.

Additionally, I'm adding B-Roll as I go - fully envisioning how this video should look as I write...

Here's my "level 3" script extract:

• Setup
  • But first, we need to talk about the most important thing every YouTuber needs before they start writing.
• Tension
  • And to understand what it is, we need to talk about David Beckham. [Harsh cut to close-up of Beckham B-Roll]
  • In his Netflix documentary, his teammates describe how it felt to play alongside him. And they all said the same thing. [B-Roll Gary Neville, quote appears beside him blurred out.]
  • They always knew where Becks was gonna be.
  • Without even looking, they could pass the ball up the right wing knowing he'd be there to collect it. [Supercut archive clips of this happening.]
  • But how was that possible?
  • Well, elite-level sports teams always have a system. [B-Roll famous managers in front of whiteboards.]
  • Players spend years drilling different scenarios so, when they have to act fast, they do it instinctively.
  • And while you can play team sports without a system, it makes it impossible to predict your own performance. [Possible B-Roll from Man Utd's 2023/4 season lol]
  • Trying to make an elite-level YouTube video is the same.
  • Without a system, you can't guarantee results.
• Payoff.
  • And that’s the first principle you need to understand.
  • Unless you have a scriptwriting system, the writing process will always feel unfocused and chaotic. [Text: You need a system.]
  • But once you have one, problems like writer's block will almost completely disappear, and you'll start to write better scripts, faster.

Then, we'd transition into the SETUP for segment 2:

• Which begs the question - how do we create a system for writing YouTube scripts...?

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Which level is right for me?

Of course, writing a level 3 script is ideal.

But, to make progress on YouTube, your process has to be sustainable.

So, if you're consistently short of time, level 2 will get you 70-80% of the way there.

I encourage you to write your setup and payoff sentence in full (as I did in my level 2 example), no matter what.

These transition moments between segments are where viewers are most likely to click away - so it's worth making those sentences hella convincing.

Otherwise, pick a level that's sustainable and run with it.

That's all for this week! Any questions, just let me know :)

Speak soon,
George 👋