3.3 Writing your scripts

Now it’s time to get writing! This process will be different depending on the format you’ve picked. Some formats such as interviews don’t need a script in the same way that a narration or presentation-based video would.

If writing for screen isn’t something you’re familiar with, here’s a few of our best tips:

• Find a compelling start! How are you going to capture your audience’s attention in the first thirty seconds? What is this video offering them?
• Staring at a blank page can be daunting, but it’s likely that you talk about your subject matter everyday. This is a script not an essay, so use conversational language wherever possible
• If you are finding it difficult to get started, try sitting down with someone and talking about your content informally. If you record this conversation and listen back to it, you will probably find some good key points to kick off the writing process
• Remember, the script is not the final outcome. Some things won’t need to be said because they can be displayed visually. You can still make note of this in your script
• Your knowledge level is probably very different from that of your audience, so if the information is likely to be new to them, don’t forget to contextualise it
• Storytelling and humour are great ways to keep people engaged! Can you think of an allegory that will be relevant to your audience to help your point stick?
• Show the draft to some individuals from your intended audience if you can and get some feedback to help with redrafting.

Remember that each of these factors and your writing style will be influenced by the format you selected.