Part of ✏️ MODULE 2: Planning & Scriptwriting with AI (Articles 6–9) in Crash Course: Starting an AI Video Generation Business from Scratch
(A Beginner’s Guide to Making AI Actually Listen to You)
Let’s get real for a second.
Ever opened ChatGPT, typed in something like “Write me a YouTube script about fitness”, hit enter, and then… cringe?
Maybe what you got back sounded like a motivational speech written by a robot who’s never touched a dumbbell. Or worse, something straight out of a 2010 infomercial:
“Are YOU ready to take your fitness to the next level?! Let’s go, champ!”
Yikes.
Here’s the thing: it’s not the AI’s fault. It’s doing its best. But just like you wouldn’t walk into a café and say, “Food, please,” and expect a perfect flat white and avo toast—you can’t expect AI to read your mind without a solid prompt.
That’s where prompt engineering comes in.
Don’t let the term scare you. You don’t need a PhD or a hoodie and dark basement to “engineer” anything here. It’s really just a fancy way of saying:
“Learn to ask better questions so you get better answers.”
🤔 Wait, So What Is Prompt Engineering Exactly?
Imagine you’re giving directions to your best friend who always gets lost (we all have one). If you just say, “Go to that place we went that one time,” they’re ending up in the wrong country.
But if you say, “Turn left at the gas station, go three blocks, look for the building with the giant chicken on the roof, and then call me,”—boom. They’re there.
That’s prompt engineering. Giving your AI buddy the right level of detail, tone, and context so it gives you gold, not garbage.
🎬 Why It Matters for Video Scripts
Here’s why this really matters in video work:
- Video is personal. It’s your tone, your face (sometimes), your vibe.
- Generic scripts = viewers clicking away faster than you can say “Like and subscribe.”
- AI can help, if you steer it with clear direction.
You’re not just writing a script. You’re crafting a conversation, a story, a vibe. The way you talk in your videos is (hopefully) not the same as your email to HR or your school thesis.
🛠️ The Anatomy of a Killer Prompt (With Examples)
Alright, let’s roll up our sleeves.
Here’s a basic (meh) prompt:
“Write a video script about how to save money.”
Cool. You’ll probably get something like:
“In this video, we’ll talk about 5 ways to save money. First, make a budget…”
Yawn.
Now let’s engineer that bad boy:
🔥 Upgraded Prompt:
“Write a 2-minute YouTube video script that’s casual and funny, like a friend giving advice over coffee. The topic is ‘5 money-saving hacks for people who hate budgeting.’ Make it feel relatable, with a bit of dry humour and some Gen Z references.”
Boom. Now you’re cooking.
💡 Want it shorter?
Add: “Make it TikTok-style, under 60 seconds, fast-paced, and snappy.”
💬 Want dialogue?
Add: “Include a back-and-forth between a skeptical friend and a know-it-all roommate.”
The more specific you are, the more your AI-generated scripts will feel like you, not like some default setting.
🧪 Real-Life Prompt Experiments (Tested and Approved)
Here’s a few that have worked for me and folks in the course:
- The “Creator Vibe” Prompt:
“Write a YouTube short script in the tone of a sarcastic content creator who’s sick of productivity hacks. The topic is: ‘Why waking up at 5 AM won’t fix your life.’ Keep it funny, honest, and under 60 seconds.”
👉 Result? A hilarious, slightly chaotic script that sounds human AF.
- The “Mini-Story” Prompt:
“Write a 90-second video script that starts with a personal story about someone who used AI to grow their small business. Make it inspiring but not cheesy. First-person style.”
👉 Perfect for explainer or testimonial videos.
- The “Character Duo” Prompt:
“Create a short skit between a panicked social media manager and an AI assistant who’s way too chill. Topic: repurposing old content. Make it funny but helpful.”
👉 Add voices, act it out, go viral. You’re welcome.
🎯 Pro Tips for Next-Level Prompt Engineering
Let’s sprinkle in some real-world advice:
🧭 1. Always Include the Vibe
Tell the AI how you want it to “sound.” Casual? Witty? Melancholic? Like you had too much Red Bull? Use pop culture references, creator names, or even your own past content.
⏱️ 2. Set Time and Format Limits
Say things like:
- “Keep it under 90 seconds.”
- “Format it like a TikTok script: Hook → Value → CTA.”
- “Make it a vlog intro.”
Structure is your friend.
💬 3. Ask for Variations
Not sure what you want? Ask:
“Give me three versions of this script—one serious, one funny, one sarcastic.”
Gold mine. Pick your fav or remix them.
🪞 4. Feed It Your Stuff
Want it to sound more like you? Copy-paste one of your old posts or scripts and say:
“Mimic this tone and voice, but apply it to the topic: how to build a brand with video.”
Honestly, this one’s a game-changer.
😬 Common Mistakes (I’ve Made Most of These)
Let’s be honest. Prompting can go sideways.
- ❌ Too vague: “Make a video about Instagram”
→ What about it? Growth? Filters? Existential dread? - ❌ Too robotic: “Please provide a formal educational video regarding…”
→ Unless you’re doing a TED Talk, chill a little. - ❌ No tone guidance: You end up sounding like Siri wrote a script for your grandpa.
Fix? Just pretend you’re texting a friend. Seriously. That mindset shift changes everything.
😄 True Story: That Time AI Saved My Butt
I had a client deadline. They wanted a 3-minute script about AI in marketing—in a conversational tone.
My brain? Empty. Coffee? Cold. Clock? Ticking.
I fed ChatGPT this:
“I need a 3-minute video script about how small businesses can use AI in marketing. Make it sound like someone talking on a podcast—natural, thoughtful, a little quirky. Include one personal story and a simple 3-step tip.”
What I got? A full script that just needed a few edits, my voice layered in, and we were off to the races.
Not gonna lie—I felt like I’d just unlocked some secret cheat code.
🧘 A Little Mindset Shift Before You Go
If you take away one thing from this article, let it be this:
AI won’t replace your creativity. But it can make your creativity faster, sharper, and way less stressful—if you guide it well.
Prompt engineering is about learning to ask better questions.
That’s it. No magic wand. Just clearer communication = better content.
So play around. Get weird. Ask the AI to write like “a Gen Z barista explaining NFTs to a golden retriever.” Seriously. Try it.
The best scripts happen when you combine your voice with AI’s speed.
🚀 Try This Homework Prompt (Seriously, Do It)
Here’s a challenge for you:
- Pick a video topic you want to create.
- Write two different prompts for it—one basic, one detailed.
- Compare the results.
- Edit the best version until it sounds like you.
- Post it. (Yes. Actually post it.)
Then DM me or share it in the course group. I want to see what you come up with.
AI’s not here to take over. It’s here to collaborate, like a writing buddy who works fast, doesn’t get offended, and never flakes on a deadline.
So go ahead. Start prompting like a pro. And if it all goes sideways, hey—at least you’ve got a story to tell in your next video. 😉Bottom of Form