write-script
Guides an AI through writing a YouTube video script with strict structural, language, and quiz rules for a survival channel.
What this file does
Guides an AI through writing a YouTube video script with strict structural, language, and quiz rules for a survival channel.
When to use it
- You need a script following the Kallaway hook and 2-1-3-4 body structure
- You want to enforce term branding, embedded truths, and loop openers
- You require quiz callouts and word count targets in script output
- You have a research log and competitor transcripts to incorporate
Write a full video script for @SketchySurvival101 following all rules in CLAUDE.md.
Before Writing
- Read
/Users/automation/sketchy-survival/research_log.mdto understand the recommended topic and any competitor context available. - Find the target video folder (the most recently created folder in
/Users/automation/sketchy-survival/that has an emptyscript/directory). - Ask the user if there is a competitor transcript or reference material to incorporate. If yes, ask them to paste it. If no, proceed with the topic from the research log or ask for a topic.
- Confirm: "Writing script for: [TITLE]. Is this correct?" — then proceed immediately.
Script Rules (from CLAUDE.md — follow every one)
Structure
- Hook: 5-part Kallaway intro, max 30 seconds spoken (75–90 words)
- Context — set the scene
- Common belief — what most people think
- Contrarian take — what physics says instead
- Plan — what we're covering
- Proof — credibility signal
- Body: numbered sections, Kallaway 2-1-3-4 ordering (lead with 2nd best point, then best, then descend)
- Outro: Fortune cookie single line + non-conclusion closer that bridges to another video
Hook Rules
- Never open by announcing the topic — open by activating desire
- Single subject, single question — one emotion-driven question in the viewer's head
- Anti-corporate/conspiratorial framing in hook only — body is pure science
Body Rules
- Always use numbered sections with spoken markers (e.g. "Number one is the cold sink problem.")
- Re-hook between every section using a contrast word (but / actually / turns out / except / instead)
- Re-hooks end on tension or an unanswered implication — never announce the transition
- No header formatting — output as clean flowing paragraphs only
The Six Story Locks
- Term Branding — give physics concepts proprietary names (2–3 per video minimum)
- Embedded Truths — remove all hedging words (if/might/could/probably → when/the reason/once)
- Thought Narration — state what the viewer is thinking out loud at least twice
- Negative Frames — at least one per section (frame threats, not tips)
- Loop Openers — re-hook every 60–90 seconds, validate + tease, always include a contrast word
- Contrast Words — but / actually / turns out / instead / except / yet in every transition
Language Rules
- Always use contractions (don't, isn't, won't, they've, you're)
- Write numbers phonetically where needed (Cesium one thirty seven)
- Dollar amounts as full spoken English — no hyphen, no $ symbol: "two dollar powder"
- No hyphens or dashes to split sentences — use commas instead
- Use "you" and "your" as much as possible
- Translate all stats into relatable everyday comparisons
- Use both metric and imperial measurements
Quiz Callouts (2–4 per script, scaled to sections)
- 2 sections → 2 quizzes. 3 sections → 2–3 quizzes. 4+ sections → 3–4 quizzes.
- Always place Quiz 1 after the most counterintuitive opening section
- Always place the final quiz after the core science section, before the final sections
- Space remaining quizzes evenly — roughly one every 3–4 minutes of content
- Never place two quizzes back-to-back
- Format: ask question verbally, list 4 options A/B/C/D, say "take 10 seconds to answer the quiz below"
- After reveal: "If you answered [X] [compliment]." + 1–2 sentence explanation
Target Length
- 2400–2500 words. Count words after drafting and adjust if needed.
After Writing
Run through this checklist internally and fix any failures before saving:
- Hook opens on desire activation, not topic announcement
- Single subject, single question identifiable after hook
- Term branding: at least 2–3 proprietary concept names
- Embedded truths: all hedging language removed
- Thought narration: viewer objection stated and answered at least twice
- Negative frames: at least one per section
- Loop openers: every 60–90 seconds, always includes contrast word
- Contrast words: present in every section transition and re-hook
- No hyphens used to split sentences
- Contractions throughout
- Numbers written phonetically where needed
- 2–4 quiz callouts placed correctly and scaled to number of sections
- Fortune cookie outro + non-conclusion closer
- Word count between 2400–2500
Save
Save the finished script to the script/ folder of the target video as script_[slug-initials-or-number].txt. Confirm the path and word count to the user. Remind them to run /split-script next.
Topic Repetition Note
If this script is a follow-up or "double down" on a topic the channel has already covered, that is a valid and often smart strategy. When the algorithm is pushing a topic cluster, 2–3 videos on related sub-angles compound each other's reach through co-recommendation. Make sure the angle is distinct enough (different physics mechanism, different survival application, or different contrarian frame) that it stands alone as its own video.
What's inside
6 phases (pre-write, hook rules, body rules, story locks, language rules, quiz rules) plus a 15-item checklist
Change this for your project
- Replace
@SketchySurvival101with your own channel handle - Replace
/Users/automation/sketchy-survival/research_log.mdwith your research log path - Replace
/Users/automation/sketchy-survival/with your video folder root - Replace
script_[slug-initials-or-number].txtwith your own naming convention
Where it goes
Save as CLAUDE.md in your repository root. Claude Code reads it automatically at the start of every session.
Worth borrowing
- Embed a post-generation checklist that the AI must run internally before saving
- Use a topic repetition note to explicitly permit follow-up videos on the same topic cluster
- Scale quiz count to number of sections with placement rules for each scenario
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