Prompts

Story time video hook prompts

These prompts set up the first 3 seconds of a story time video (a cliffhanger, "so I get a text from my landlord at 2am") and the cut into what comes next.

By Sulan Zhang, co-founder of Vyra · Updated 2026-09-24

Format: Story time video
Step: Hook
Length: 60-180s
Aspect: 9:16
Platforms: TikTok, Reels, Shorts, YouTube

Real examples from @sulansart

At a glance


Hook style	A cliffhanger, "so I get a text from my landlord at 2am"
First beat	0-3s: the cliffhanger line
Next beat	3-10s: minimum context, two names max
Caption style	Word-by-word or short phrases, high contrast

Prompt it in Vyra

Minimal:

Find the strongest opening moment in my footage and start my story time video with it.

Standard:

Open my story time video with this. A cliffhanger, "so I get a text from my landlord at 2am"
Keep the hook under 3 seconds, then go straight into minimum context, two names max.
No intro, no logo, no "hey guys".

Full:

Open my story time video with this. A cliffhanger, "so I get a text from my landlord at 2am"
Keep the hook under 3 seconds, then go straight into minimum context, two names max.
No intro, no logo, no "hey guys".
Put a bold caption on the hook line.
Before you cut, list the 3 strongest opening moments in my footage with timestamps so I can pick one.

Why these settings

People typically decide to stay or scroll in the first few seconds, so the hook gets its own instruction.
Saying what comes next (minimum context, two names max) keeps the video moving after a strong open.
An example of this kind of hook is "so I get a text from my landlord at 2am".
Asking for options with timestamps lets you choose the opening yourself.

Fixes

Hook starts late. "Cut the breath and the half second before I start talking."
Wrong moment. "Use the clip at 2:14 as the hook instead."
The video drags after the hook. "Cut straight from the hook into minimum context, two names max, no pause."

FAQ

How long should the hook be on a story time video? About 3 seconds, from the structure we use for this format. By then the video should already be into minimum context, two names max.

Can Vyra pick the hook for me? Yes. Ask for the strongest opening line. Ask for three options with timestamps if you want to choose.