Use big, clear captions
Most viewers watch with the sound off, so captions carry the story.
Guide
How to make YouTube Shorts from a script
YouTube Shorts are vertical videos of up to a minute that play in a swipe feed. Most good Shorts start as a few sentences: a hook, one idea and an ending that invites a replay. If you can write that, you can make a Short. This guide shows how to turn a script into a vertical video with narration, scenes and captions, and how to avoid the common pacing problems that make viewers swipe away in the first three seconds. The hardest part is not the software but the discipline of cutting: every sentence must earn its place.
Free trial to start · the cost is shown before every render
Straight answer: Shorts reward early retention, so the first sentence matters most. Do not pad a thirty second idea to sixty seconds.
How it works
- 1
Write a hook of one sentence
Open with a surprising fact, a question or a promise, such as the one thing most people get wrong about a topic.
- 2
Write three short beats
Each beat is one or two sentences. Aim for about eighty words for a thirty second Short.
- 3
Generate the vertical video
Paste the script into Chitrio, choose vertical format, one narrator voice and big captions, then render.
- 4
Check the first three seconds
Play the opening on your phone with the sound off. If the caption does not make you want to continue, rewrite the hook.
- 5
Upload and write the title
Add a short title and a few relevant tags, and post at the time your audience is most active.
What people make with it
Loop the ending
End on a line that flows back into the first sentence to encourage replays.
Keep one idea per Short
If you have two ideas, make two Shorts.
Batch your scripts
Write seven in one sitting and schedule them for the week.
Link to a long video
Mention the full video in the description and pinned comment.
Questions, answered
How long should a Short be?
Between fifteen and forty seconds works for most ideas. Shorter is fine if the idea is complete.
Do I need music?
Not necessarily. Narration and captions are enough, and quiet music can help.
Can I turn a long video into Shorts?
Yes, cut the strongest moments into vertical clips with captions.
What size is a Short?
Vertical 9:16, which Chitrio exports directly.
Do I need a face?
No. Many Shorts use only narration and visuals.