How to Write a Video Script for Teleprompter Reading
A teleprompter keeps you on track, but a script written for the page sounds stiff when you read it aloud. Write for the ear, in the words you would say to one person.
4 rules for conversational scriptwriting
1. Write short sentences
Long, winding sentences make you run out of breath and flatten your voice. Aim for under 15 words.
2. Use contractions and active verbs
Write how you talk. Use "you're" instead of "you are", and "don't" instead of "do not". Pick active verbs that keep the pace moving.
3. Use line breaks and pause cues
Each line is its own paragraph on the prompter, so a line break is a visual beat. For a real stop, put [pause] or [pause 2s] on a line of its own.
4. Try an outline instead of word-for-word
If you sound too scripted, write the script as an outline of short points. In Voice mode the prompter follows the words you say, so you can ad-lib around each point and the text waits for you.
Read your draft out loud, then paste it into the Studio and record a take.