Master ChatGPT Video Scripts: The RACEF Formula

If there is one thing I’ve learned in my 15 years working in SEO and automation, it’s that “Blank Page Syndrome” is the enemy of productivity. We’ve all been there. You need to create viral video content for TikTok or YouTube, but you’re staring at a blinking cursor. Then came AI.

When ChatGPT first launched, I spent hundreds of hours testing it. My initial results? Mediocre at best. The output was robotic, generic, and frankly, unusable. I realized the problem wasn’t the tool; it was the input.

Most people treat AI like a search engine. To use it as a professional YouTube script generator, you need to treat it like a junior employee. You need to give it a framework.

Today, I am going to share the exact framework I use to scale content production: the RACEF formula. This isn’t theoretical fluff; this is the practical, battle-tested method I use to generate high-ranking content. If you want to know how to write scripts with AI that actually sound human and convert, you are in the right place.

The Reality of AI Script Writing (Why Most Prompts Fail)

Before we dive into the “how-to,” let’s address the elephant in the room. Why do 90% of ChatGPT video scripts fail?

It comes down to context blindness. If you type “Write a script about content marketing,” ChatGPT will scour its database and give you the average of everything it finds. In the SEO world, “average” means page 10 of Google. It means zero engagement on TikTok.

To build a winning AI content marketing strategy, you need specificity. This is where the RACEF formula—derived from the very best prompt engineering practices—changes the game.

What You Need Before We Start (Preparation)

You don’t need a degree in computer science to do this, but you do need the right setup. Here is my personal checklist before I start a scripting session:

1. OpenAI Account: I highly recommend ChatGPT Plus (GPT-4 or GPT-4o). The reasoning capability is significantly higher than the free version (GPT-3.5 or 4-mini), which is crucial for understanding nuances in tone.

2. Target Audience Persona: You must know who you are talking to. Is it Gen Z? Corporate CEOs? Stay-at-home moms?

3. A “Gold Standard” Sample: Have a paragraph of your own writing or a transcript of your best video ready. We will use this for the “Example” part of the formula.

The RACEF Formula Explained: The Secret to Perfect Prompts

Based on the visuals and my own extensive testing, RACEF stands for Role, Action, Context, Example, and Format. This structure forces the AI to stop guessing and start executing.

Let’s break down each component with the technical depth required for a professional workflow.

1. Role (R): Define the Persona

This is the most skipped step, yet it is the most critical for AI script writing. You need to prime the Latent Space (the AI’s internal knowledge map). By assigning a role, you restrict the AI to a specific cluster of vocabulary and expertise.

The Mistake: “Write a script…” The Fix: “You are a TikTok channel owner sharing knowledge about content and marketing for Gen Z.”

When I assign the role of an “SEO Expert with 15 years of experience,” the AI stops using generic words like “good” and starts using terms like “SERP,” “Backlinks,” and “Schema.”

2. Action (A): The Explicit Command

This is the verb. What exactly do you want the machine to do? In our case, we aren’t just writing text; we are creating a visual narrative.

The Fix: “I want to create a 90-second short video script about the skills needed for a content writer.”

Pro Tip: Be specific about the duration. A “90-second script” tells the AI to aim for roughly 200-240 words (since the average speaking pace is 130-150 words per minute). This prevents the AI from writing a 2,000-word blog post when you needed a Reel.

3. Context (C): The Structural Blueprint

This is where you differentiate yourself from the amateurs. Context provides the “Why” and the “How.” You need to dictate the flow of the video.

In the RACEF materials, the structure is clear:

• Impressive Title: To grab attention.

• The Hook: The first 3 seconds are do-or-die.

• Key Content: The meat of the script.

• Retention Hook (Hook #2): To keep them watching halfway through.

• CTA (Call to Action): Follow and comment.

If you don’t provide this context, ChatGPT prompts for video usually result in a lecture format: “Hello, today I will talk about…” That is the kiss of death for social media retention.

4. Example (E): The Tone Matcher

This is the “One-Shot Learning” technique in technical terms. By feeding the AI a sample of the desired output, you drastically reduce the variance in quality.

In the source material, the user provides a raw, authentic paragraph: “I think anyone working in content needs these skills… writing is editing your own thinking…”

By pasting this into the prompt, you are telling the AI: “Don’t sound like a robot; sound like this guy.” This is how you achieve that 99% human-like tone.

5. Format (F): The Output Constraint

Finally, tell the AI how to present the data. Do you want a table? A code block? A continuous text?

The Fix: “Present an output of 300 words, text format.”

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Your Viral Video Script

Now, let’s put it all together. I’m going to walk you through the exact workflow I use.

Step 1: Assemble Your RACEF Prompt

Open your preferred notepad or editor. We are going to build the “Super Prompt” before pasting it into ChatGPT.

Drafting the Prompt:

• Role: You are a veteran content creator for Gen Z.

• Action: Write a 90-second video script about “Top Skills for Content Writers”.

• Context: Use a catchy hook, 3 main points, a retention hook in the middle, and a strong CTA.

• Example: [Paste your sample text here].

• Format: Text format, under 300 words.

![INSERT SCREENSHOT OF NOTEPAD WITH THE DRAFTED PROMPT HERE]

Step 2: Input and Iterate

Paste the full prompt into ChatGPT.

Crucial Warning: The first result is rarely perfect. In my experience, it’s usually 80% there. Read through the output. Does the hook feel punchy? Is the language too formal?

If it’s too formal, reply with: “Rewrite the ‘Action’ section. Make it punchier and use more slang appropriate for Gen Z.”

Step 3: The Human Polish

Even the best YouTube script generator prompts require a human touch. I always scan for “AI-isms”—words like “delve,” “landscape,” “transformative,” or “unleash.” I delete these immediately.

I also ensure the formatting fits the platform. If it’s for YouTube Shorts, I break big paragraphs into single lines for easier reading on a teleprompter.

Expert Troubleshooting: Common Errors & Fixes

After generating thousands of scripts, I’ve categorized the most common failures. Knowing these will save you hours of frustration.

1. The “Hallucination” of Facts

Problem: ChatGPT invents a statistic or quotes a fake source. Why: LLMs (Large Language Models) are predictive text engines, not truth engines. Fix: Always verify facts. In your Context (C), add the instruction: “Do not invent statistics. If you don’t know a fact, place a [INSERT FACT] placeholder.”

2. The “Robot Voice”

Problem: The script sounds stiff and academic. Why: You likely skipped the Example (E) step of RACEF. Fix: Provide a “Temperature” instruction (if using API) or simply say: “Rewrite this to sound like you are talking to a friend at a coffee shop. Use contractions and short sentences.”

3. Ignoring Length Constraints

Problem: You asked for 300 words, it gave you 600. Why: LLMs struggle with counting words exactly because they process “tokens,” not words. Fix: Instead of word counts, prompt by section. “Write just the Hook first.” Then, “Now write the Body.” Breaking it down keeps the AI focused on length.

Pro Tips: Getting to Top 1 Quality

These are the strategies I charge clients to implement.

• Chained Prompting: Don’t try to get the final script in one go. Use RACEF to generate the outline first. Once you approve the outline, use RACEF again to expand each section.

• The “Anti-Constraint”: Tell the AI what not to do. Add to your Context: “Do not use emojis in the script text. Do not start the video with ‘Hello guys’.”

• SEO Integration: Ask the AI to identify Secondary Keywords like “AI script writing” or “create viral video content” and ensure they are naturally woven into the spoken dialogue, which helps with auto-caption indexing on platforms like YouTube.

Conclusion

The RACEF formula isn’t just a mnemonic; it’s a protocol for communication with intelligence. By clearly defining the Role, Action, Context, Example, and Format, you move from gambling with AI to engineering success.

Using ChatGPT Video Script workflows is no longer optional for serious marketers; it is a survival skill. The creators who master how to write scripts with AI while maintaining a human soul are the ones who will dominate the feed.

Don’t let the technology intimidate you. Open ChatGPT, type in your Role, and start creating.

Ready to scale? Copy the RACEF prompt provided above, swap in your niche, and generate your next 5 video scripts right now.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)