How to write a 15-second TikTok script
Short videos feel spontaneous, but the good ones are usually planned down to the sentence. A 15-second script is around 35 to 45 spoken words, which means every line has to earn its place.
A four-line structure
Line one: the hook, a claim or question that names the payoff. Line two: the setup, the one fact the viewer needs. Line three: the payoff, the tip, the reveal or the result. Line four: a reason to stay or come back, such as 'part two tomorrow' or a question for the comments.
Write the payoff first, then work backwards. If you cannot say what the viewer gets in one sentence, the video is not ready.
Cut it in half
Read your draft aloud with a timer. Most first drafts run 25 to 30 seconds. Remove greetings, 'so basically', and anything that repeats the hook.
Replace descriptions with visuals. If the camera can show it, you do not need to say it.
Write for speaking, not reading
Use short sentences and words you would actually say. Read each line out loud; if you stumble, rewrite it rather than practising it.
Put the most important word at the end of a sentence. Spoken emphasis naturally lands there.
Don't read it on camera
Learn it in chunks of one line, film each line as its own clip, and join them. Looking at the lens between lines is easier than holding 40 words in your head.
If you use a teleprompter app, place the text right under the lens and keep the font large, so your eyes barely move.
Frequently asked questions
How many words fit in a 15-second TikTok script?
Around 35 to 45 spoken words, so every line has to earn its place. Most first drafts run 25 to 30 seconds and need cutting in half.
What structure works for a very short script?
Four lines: a hook naming the payoff, a setup with the one fact needed, the payoff itself, and a reason to stay or come back. Write the payoff first.
How can I deliver a script without reading it on camera?
Learn it one line at a time, film each line as its own clip and join them. Looking at the lens between lines is easier than holding the whole script in your head.