How to Write a TikTok Script in 60 Seconds (Template + Tips)
Behind every 15-second clip that actually goes somewhere is a script that was written, not improvised on the spot. On TikTok, Reels, and Shorts you don't get the luxury of wandering — every word either earns its place or costs you a viewer.
Here's the structure that consistently keeps people watching, and a fill-in-the-blank template to start from.
The Shape of a Retention-Friendly Short
Three components, in order: the Hook, the Value, and the Call to Action.
[00:00 - 00:05] The Hook (Grab attention)
[00:05 - 00:50] The Body/Value (Deliver on the promise)
[00:50 - 00:60] The Call to Action (Tell them what to do)The Hook (first 1–5 seconds)
Miss the first three seconds and the swipe happens. Skip "Hey guys, welcome back" entirely — open mid-action, or with a question that's hard not to want answered.- Works: "This $100 camera trick makes a setup look like a movie studio."
- Doesn't: "Hi, I'm Sarah and today I wanted to talk about lighting."
Hooks come in a handful of repeatable shapes. Steal whichever fits your topic:
| Hook type | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mistake | "Stop doing [common habit]" | "Stop color-grading your videos last." |
| Result-first | Show/state the outcome, then rewind | "I gained 10k followers with one script change." |
| Contrarian | "[Popular advice] is wrong" | "Posting daily is killing your channel." |
| Curiosity gap | "Nobody talks about [X]" | "Nobody talks about what WPM does to retention." |
| Direct callout | Name the exact viewer | "If your videos die at 3 seconds, watch this." |
Write three hooks for every script and pick the strongest out loud — a hook that reads well on paper can still land flat when spoken.
The Body (seconds 5–50)
Short sentences, one idea each. If a line doesn't push the story forward, it gets cut — no exceptions.Tip: > Numbered steps work better than free-flowing explanation. A number gives viewers a sense of "almost done," which keeps them watching to the end.
The Call to Action (last 10 seconds)
Don't stack five asks — like, comment, subscribe, share, follow — into one closing line. Pick one.- Example: "Follow for part two," or "Link in bio for the checklist."
How Many Words Fit in 60 Seconds?
This is where most first scripts die: they're simply too long. At the energetic 150–170 WPM pace that works for short-form, the math is unforgiving:
| Video length | Words at 150 WPM | Words at 170 WPM |
|---|---|---|
| 15 seconds | ~37 | ~42 |
| 30 seconds | ~75 | ~85 |
| 60 seconds | ~150 | ~170 |
| 90 seconds | ~225 | ~255 |
Two things to notice. First, a 60-second script is only about 150 words — roughly one solid paragraph. If your draft fills a page, you've written a three-minute video wearing a 60-second costume. Second, these budgets assume zero pauses; every beat you take for effect spends words from the budget. A realistic 60-second script with breathing room is closer to 135–140 words.
Time the script before you set up lights and camera. Cutting 40 words in the editor takes two minutes; discovering you're 15 seconds over after the shoot costs you the whole take.
The Mistakes That Show Up in Every First Draft
- The intro that isn't a hook. "Let me tell you a bit of background first" — no. Background goes after the hook, or nowhere.
- Two ideas in one video. One script, one claim. If your outline has an "also," that "also" is your next video (and your "part two" CTA writes itself).
- Punchline-free steps. Each step should end on something usable. "Use good lighting" is filler; "put your key light at 45 degrees, just above eye level" is a step.
- Writing for readers instead of listeners. Read every line out loud once. Anything you stumble on, a viewer will stumble on twice — rewrite it the way you'd actually say it.
A Template to Start From
[HOOK]
The biggest mistake creators make when writing scripts is [MISTAKE].
Here's how to fix it in three steps.
---
[STEP 1]
First, cut your intro. Nobody cares who you are until they know
what you can do for them — lead with the result instead.
---
[STEP 2]
Second, write in active voice. "You will see a change" beats
"you will be able to see a change" — same meaning, fewer words.
---
[STEP 3]
Third, time your script before you record. Aim for around
150 words per minute to keep the energy up.
---
[CALL TO ACTION]
Try this on your next script, and follow for more of these.Note: > The --- dividers in this template aren't just formatting — paste this into ScriptPacer and it splits the script into separate timed sections automatically, so you can see exactly how much runtime each step is using.
A script that's been timed beats one that hasn't, every time you're working against a hard 60-second ceiling.