Reels Script
A Reels script is the written plan for a short video, usually built as a hook, setup, body and close, with each part designed to keep viewers watching. For Instagram creators, structure often matters more than production quality. The guides below break down how long each section should run, where to put your strongest point and which closing lines earn saves and shares.
Curated by Shivank Goura, co-founder of Octupie · Last updated October 14, 2026
What to know about Reels Script
- Keep the setup to roughly 3 to 8 seconds and never past 15, or the tension your hook created fades before the body delivers.
- Put the most surprising point at about the two-thirds mark of the body, where it pulls viewers through earlier points and can trigger rewatches.
- Lead each body point with the insight and follow with context, and give more time to the point that's most surprising or actionable.
- Close by returning to the question your hook raised, so the video feels resolved before your save or share ask lands.
Common questions.
01How long should each part of a Reels script be?
For a 60 to 90 second Reel, a working split is 0 to 3 seconds for the hook, 3 to 8 seconds for the setup, 8 to 75 seconds for the body and a 5 to 10 second close. Inside the body, give the easiest point 10 to 15 seconds and the most surprising one 15 to 20 seconds.
02What should the setup of a Reel say?
It should tell the viewer exactly what they're about to get and why it matters to them. It isn't an introduction to you; think of it as a contract with the viewer. A specific number, timeframe or result builds credibility fast, and a numbered structure gives people a reason to stay to the end. Keep it under 15 seconds.
03What's a better Reel CTA than 'follow for more'?
Ask for a save or a share framed around the viewer. Lines like 'save this for the next script you write' or 'send this to a creator friend stuck on retention' give people a reason to act. Instagram weights saves and shares more heavily than comments or likes, so these closes target the signals that push a Reel further.
