Finding ideas for TikTok videos is straightforward, but turning those ideas into scripts can be problematic and messy, to say the least. But don’t throw in the towel just yet. Follow our step-by-step TikTok script generation process with ChatGPT first, and see for yourself how easy (and fun) it can be.
1. Identify Your Main Topic
Before you open ChatGPT, you need to get crystal clear on what your video is actually about. Here’s how most influencers do it:
- Start with a broad idea: “Fitness,” “Manifestation,” or “Apartment hacks”
- Get specific: “What I eat in a day to stay lean while lifting 4x/week”
- Zoom in on value: “Quick high-protein meals for lifters with no time to cook”
The more specific the topic, the more focused your script will be. ChatGPT is smart, but it’s not a mind reader. If you feed it vague info, you’ll get vague scripts.
Something to think about: If your topic doesn’t have a clear angle why would anyone care? It’s not ready for a script yet.
2. Determine the Desired Tone
Your tone should reflect your personality and be appealing to your audience. You can use ChatGPT to match that tone, but you’ve got to name it first.
Some popular tones that slay on TikTok:
- Chaotic funny – Think @Brittany_Broski or @Chris
- Motivational and hype – Like @GaryVee or @JasTakhar
- Soft and soothing – Think @BohoBeautifulLife
- Sassy and sarcastic – See @VictoriaParis and @SpencerX
Your tone is what grabs people’s attention and keeps them hooked. If you’re an upbeat person in real life, don’t suddenly try to sound like a formal corporate voiceover artist in your scripts. Similarly, if your whole thing is dry wit, don’t go for a candid feel.
Remember, authenticity always works, and yes, even on TikTok.
3. Define the Target Audience and Audience Preferences
Your tone means nothing if it doesn’t connect with the right people.
Let’s say you’re making a script for a skincare video. Are you talking to:
- Teen girls who want clear skin fast?
- Millennial moms trying to simplify their routines?
- Men in their 30s looking for low-maintenance anti-aging tips?
Your audience decides the language, tone, pacing, and even how much context you need to give. And ChatGPT can tailor the script to match that—if you include audience info in your prompt.
An account that nails this? Skincare by @Hyram. His tone is friendly and educational, and he speaks directly to skincare beginners. You never feel overwhelmed, even when he explains the active ingredients.
Tip: Your audience should feel like you made the video just for them. That’s what keeps them coming back.
4. What’s the Purpose of the Video
Every script needs a goal. The clearer the purpose of the video, the more likely your audience will watch it.
Ask yourself:
- Am I educating?
- Am I inspiring?
- Am I promoting something?
- Am I entertaining?
Your video may achieve more than one of these goals, but your script should be centered around a primary purpose.
For example:
- Educating? Start with a surprising stat or myth-busting fact.
- Entertaining? Kick off with a hook line or a chaotic visual.
- Promoting? Focus on transformation or what your product/service solves.
5. Decide Which TikTok Video Type You Need
Not every TikTok needs a full-blown script, but the ones that do? They fall into a few clear categories, such as:
Tutorial / How-To
Example: @cleanthatup (cleaning tips) and @taylorbryant (beauty hacks)
Structure:
- Problem
- Solution
- Step-by-step breakdown
- Call to action (optional)
Reaction / Commentary
Example: @drewafualo
Structure:
- Clip intro or quick context
- Opinion/hot take
- Punchline or CTA
Storytime
Example: @kingkhalil
Structure:
- Hook (make it juicy, more on that later on this article)
- Setup (who, when, where)
- Climax (what went down)
- Twist/lesson learned
“Day in the Life” / Vlog
Example: @pilotmadeline and @itsjojosiwa
Structure:
- Time-stamped activities
- Commentary/dialogue
- Mood or aesthetic focus
Tip: Your script doesn’t need to be word-for-word; have ChatGPT outline the sequence or mood you want to convey in the script.
6. Set the Optimal Video Length
As of this writing, TikTok allows:
- Up to 60 minutes for uploaded videos
- Up to 10 minutes for in-app recordings
So, what length is the best? As of 2024, TikTok videos between 90 and 120 seconds long appear to receive the most views.
Videos ranging from 120 to 180 seconds aren’t far behind, coming in a close second. The third most popular length for views is actually shorter, between 60 and 90 seconds.
7. Create a Strong Hook
Your hook is the first 1–2 seconds, and that’s all you get before someone swipes away.
According to research, videos with a strong hook in the first 3 seconds retain viewers 1.5x longer. Here are some tips and examples that will help you create a compelling (and hopefully viral) hook.
Great hook styles to test:
- Shocking stat: “You’ve been brushing your teeth wrong for 20 years.”
- Unfinished thought: “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but…”
- Humor/confusion: “This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, and I’d do it again.”
ChatGPT Prompt for TikTok Script
Once you’ve nailed your topic, tone, audience, purpose, and structure, now it’s time to plug it all into ChatGPT.
Keep your prompt detailed. The more information you include, the better the outcome you will get.
Tell ChatGPT:
- The video type
- Your desired tone
- Your audience’s background and what they care about
- Your main message or transformation
- Preferred video length
- How you want to open the video (or let it generate hooks)
Here’s the prompt you can copy and paste in ChatGPT – of course, you should replace the placeholders!
You are a TikTok script generator. Your task is to write a script using these key details:
Main topic: [insert your topic. Be specific]
Target audience: [insert your target audience. Add background and preference of your audience.]
Purpose of the video: [insert what you would like your video to achieve]
Tone: [insert your preferred tone]
Type of video: [Tutorial/Reaction/Storytime/Day in the Life. Don't forget to add context for the reaction and storytime, and the beats for the day in the life.]
Script length: The ideal script length should be for a [insert your preferred optimal video length] video
The first two seconds of the video should include a hook. The hook can be a shocking fact, an unfinished thought or something funny. Lights, Camera, ChatGPT!
Writing TikTok scripts doesn’t need to be a shot in the dark. If you think of ChatGPT as your creative partner and provide it with the right prompts, it can produce a fantastic script. Have a YouTube channel? You can also transform ChatGPT into a YouTube script generator.