A Short lives or dies in its first two seconds and its last two. Viewers decide to stay before you have finished your first sentence, and whether they re-watch — the strongest signal in the Shorts feed — depends on whether the ending loops back into the beginning. The Shorts Script Generator writes a complete 45–60 second script with a pattern-interrupt opening, a loop structure, timed text overlays and three alternative hooks to test.
This guide explains the loop structure, how to use the overlay cues, and how to run the three-hook test without filming three times.
Why the first two seconds are different on Shorts
There is no thumbnail and no title in the feed. The video starts playing and the viewer is already mid-swipe. A pattern interrupt is anything that breaks the expected rhythm — a surprising visual, a mid-action start, a claim that seems wrong. The script opens with one, then delivers the premise by second four. If the premise is not clear by then, the viewer has swiped.
The loop
The script ends on a line that only fully makes sense if you watch the beginning again, or ends mid-action so the restart feels continuous. Re-watches are counted as additional views and dramatically increase average view duration as a percentage — a 30-second Short watched 1.5 times averages 150%, which the feed rewards more than a 60-second Short watched once. The generator marks the loop point explicitly.
Testing three hooks
Film the body once. Film the three hooks separately — each is under four seconds. Publish the version with hook A; if the swipe-away rate in the first 3 seconds (visible in YouTube Studio's retention graph) is over 40%, republish with hook B. This costs a minute of filming and is the single highest-leverage test in Shorts.
Tips
- Describe the payoff, not just the topic. "3 productivity hacks" is weak; "the productivity hack that made me stop using a to-do list" gives the generator a hook.
- Text overlays are for sound-off viewers — around 30–40% of Shorts views. Follow the overlay cues even if you think the audio is clear.
- Keep the script at 45 seconds unless the content demands 60. Shorter Shorts loop more.
Common mistakes
- A one-second intro card — Logos, names and "hey guys" are the first thing cut on Shorts. Start mid-thought.
- An explicit ending — "Thanks for watching, follow for more" kills the loop. The script never ends with a sign-off.
- Reading the script stiffly — It is written for speech. Deliver it faster than feels natural — Shorts run about 20% faster than long-form pacing.
Worked example
Input: "3 productivity hacks for people who hate to-do lists."
What the report returned: 52-second script. Hook A (pattern interrupt): "I deleted my to-do list app and got more done." Loop: closes on "…which is why I deleted the app" cutting back to the opening frame. 6 overlay cues. Hooks B and C provided for testing.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a Short be?
Between 30 and 60 seconds for most content. Shorts under 15 seconds loop well but rarely earn subscribers; over 60 seconds is possible but retention percentage drops.
Does it include text overlay timing?
Yes. Each overlay has a timestamp and suggested wording. For a more detailed caption plan, the Shorts Caption Generator specialises in that.
Can I turn a long video into a Short with this?
Use the Long-to-Shorts Repurposer for that — it finds clip points in an existing script. This tool writes a Short from scratch.
What is a pattern interrupt?
Anything that breaks the viewer's expectation in the first two seconds: a mid-action start, an unexpected claim, an unusual visual. It is the Shorts equivalent of a thumbnail.