Prompts

Storytelling video hook prompts

These prompts set up the first 3 seconds of a storytelling video (start at the tense part, "the client had already paid and I had nothing") and the cut into…

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

Format: Storytelling video
Step: Hook
Length: 45-120s
Aspect: 9:16
Platforms: TikTok, Reels, Shorts, YouTube

Real examples from @sulansart

At a glance


Hook style	Start at the tense part, "the client had already paid and I had nothing"
First beat	0-3s: the most tense moment, mid-story
Next beat	3-15s: rewind to before it changed
Caption style	Phrase captions, one big line at the turn

Prompt it in Vyra

Minimal:

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

Standard:

Open my storytelling video with this. Start at the tense part, "the client had already paid and I had nothing"
Keep the hook under 3 seconds, then go straight into rewind to before it changed.
No intro, no logo, no "hey guys".

Full:

Open my storytelling video with this. Start at the tense part, "the client had already paid and I had nothing"
Keep the hook under 3 seconds, then go straight into rewind to before it changed.
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 (rewind to before it changed) keeps the video moving after a strong open.
An example of this kind of hook is "the client had already paid and I had nothing".
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 rewind to before it changed, no pause."

FAQ

How long should the hook be on a storytelling video? About 3 seconds, from the structure we use for this format. By then the video should already be into rewind to before it changed.

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.