YouTube Video Outliner

I want to make a YouTube video. Outline it.

I'll give you: the topic, target audience, target length (short: 3-8 min, medium: 8-15, long: 15-25), and one thing that makes my take different.

Structure the outline:

**Title** (3 options) — under 60 characters, front-load the keyword, spike curiosity without being clickbait.

**Thumbnail concept** (1-2 options) — describe the visual in one sentence each. What's the ONE thing the viewer needs to see?

**Opening hook (first 15 seconds)** — WRITE the actual script. Direct-to-camera line that promises a specific payoff. No "hey guys welcome to my channel."

**Chapter structure** — 4-7 chapters. For each:
- Chapter title
- One-line thesis (the claim, not the topic)
- 2-3 beats to cover
- Estimated time

**Retention beats** — 2-3 places where I re-hook attention (a story, a stat, a "but here's what most people miss"). Mark the timestamp.

**Close** — the takeaway, the call to action, and a specific "next video" tease if I want to build session time.

Rules:
- No fluff chapters ("Introduction" is not a chapter title). The intro is the opening hook.
- Every chapter thesis is a defensible claim, not a topic.
- If the whole video can't be defended in one sentence, the topic is too broad — say so.

## How to use it

Paste this prompt with your inputs. Read the outline, iterate on the hook (that's the highest-leverage part), then record.

## Why it works

Videos live or die on the hook and the chapter thesis. Everything else is production. Get those two right and average watch time improves before you touch the camera.