Writing a Script for Video Effectively: Five Secrets Every Beginner Should Know
Have you ever tried writing a script for a video? Or have you ever hit the keyboards just because you don’t know what to say? If the answer is yes, this article is totally for you.
Basically, the script is like the backbone of any video. Without it, you may feel difficult to remember your content that you have intended to make into a video. Hence, before creating a video, the first thing you should do is writing a video script, even if it is brief.
So now, I will reveal five secrets to keep in mind before you start writing your script for video. Keep reading to find out all of them.
1. Create clear ideas
Starting your script with clear ideas is the first secret. If they are not clear, your script will be sunk in a vicious circle.
So, before writing a script for video, make a list of key points that you want to share. It will help everything you write down can follow the right direction. The ideas may become clearer when you can answer some suggested questions:
- What is the video’s topic?
- Why do we make the video?
- Who is the audience of the video?
- What can learners learn from watching it?
When you can answer those questions, what you write may match what viewers expect. So, it’s a good point to put yourself in your customers’ shoes and think about why they should use your product or service.
2. Keep it short and simple
It’s important to think about the length of the script because it is what will largely determine the overall length of your video. A long video with amazing content is good. However, not many people have enough patience to sit and watch a long video from the beginning to the end. Therefore, shorter is usually better because it can keep learners watching to the end.
In addition, writing a script for video is not the same as writing an essay or report. Thus, it should be clear, conversational, and engaging. Try thinking that you are writing to your friends, it’s much easier to write in a more natural tone. You may add life in every word to make it simple and easy to understand. If you use complex sentences in yours, they will make your learners confused and hard to follow. Keeping the sentences short, crisp, and avoiding compound sentences are good choices.
3. Use storytelling
As you may know, there are many different creative ways to make a video engaging. Nevertheless, the tried-tested and true principle that underlies all good scriptwriting is storytelling, even if there’s no story indeed. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need a plot, characters, etc.
When you’re trying to explain something clearly, make sure you’re following a good story structure. Keep in mind that no matter how your script is short, it has to consist of the beginning, the middle, and the end. This way of presenting information is easier for our brain to process.
4. Read your script out loud
This is a secret that cannot be ignored. Yes, once your script is written, don’t just read through in your head, read it out loud. This may help you check and better understand the flow of your script.
In fact, some phrases and words sound better on paper than they do out loud. When reading out loud, you may discover what it sounds like to your audience, whether it flows smoothly or even which parts need to be changed or require more emphasis. As a result, you can adjust your video script more consistently. It’s easier to change it now than during recording video.
5. Get feedback
So, you wrote your script, you’ve read it out loud and you probably think you’re done right? Whether you go through your script twice or even a dozen times, it still contains mistakes.
Thus, it’s time to share your writing with your co-workers, your friends, or someone who can provide valuable feedback. While setting up a table read, you can watch their facial emotion and take note of their comments. If not, you can get feedback through your email, Google Docs, or other online media.
After getting the feedback, you can decide which feedback is reasonable. Then, take a little or a lot that depends on you.
You have known five secrets for writing a script for video effectively. Now, if the video script is completed, it’s time for you to shoot your video. And you may need a tool to help you make a perfect video. So, you cannot miss ActivePresenter.
ActivePresenter is the ultimate eLearning software with advanced video recording and editing features. In addition, it allows you to create various eLearning content types such as video demos, software simulations, quizzes, and games. Using responsive design and HTML5, your content is truly device-independent; it looks good and runs perfectly on any modern web browser and device. The SCORM and xAPI compliant outputs also integrate seamlessly with the most well-known Learning Management Systems.
Hopefully, this article has given you some positive inspiration. Try ActivePresenter from today and feel free to contact us if you need any help. Don’t forget to visit our page and YouTube channel if you want to get more tips and tricks.
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