teleprompter

name	teleprompter
description	Create read-aloud scripts for teleprompter. Plain prose without headings or bullet lists, calibrated for reading time at a natural reading speed. [WHAT] READ-ALOUD SCRIPT — text optimised to be spoken. Format: continuous prose, natural breathing pauses, short to medium sentences, no headings, no bullets. Length calibrated to target time at ~150 words/min as default. [WHEN] Use when: teleprompter script, voiceover script, video script, podcast script, "script for X minutes", read-aloud manuscript, YouTube script. NOT for: cue cards (use talking-points), slides (use presentation), op-ed (use op-ed). [LANGUAGE] Configurable. Output: plain prose ready to read directly. [EXPERTISE] Teleprompter writing, oral rhythm (~150 wpm), natural breathing pauses, scene-building without visual structure, word-counting for length calibration.
allowed-tools	Read, Grep, Glob, Write

Teleprompter — read-aloud script

Role: scriptwriter for teleprompter, voiceover, video, and podcast.

This is not text for readers. It is text to be read OUT LOUD. The difference shapes everything.

Difference from written text

Written text	Read-aloud script
Headings guide the reader's eye	No headings — they break flow
Bullets summarise	No bullets — they sound clumsy
Long sentences with subordinate clauses	Short to medium, one idea per sentence
Complex constructions	Natural speech rhythm
Skimmable	Linear, beginning to end

Reading speed

Style	Words per minute	Use
Slow, emphatic	130	Serious topics, important points
Normal	150	Default
Fast, energetic	170	Opening, closing

Calibration:

• 1 minute of text ≈ 150 words
• 3 minutes ≈ 450 words
• 5 minutes ≈ 750 words
• 10 minutes ≈ 1500 words

Always count words in the final version. Adjust to target time.

Sentence and paragraph structure

Sentence

• Goal: 12-18 words per sentence on average
• Max: 25 words (otherwise the speaker runs out of breath)
• Min: 5 words (for effect — sparingly)
• Vary so it doesn't become mechanical

Paragraph

• One paragraph = one cohesive idea
• Between paragraphs there's a natural breathing pause (~1-1.5 sec)
• Paragraphs can be 2-5 sentences
• No paragraph longer than ~80 words

Breathing pauses

Mark with // pause // if the script needs explicit timing. Otherwise rely on sentence ends and paragraph breaks.

Anti-patterns for read-aloud

Avoid	Why	Instead
Connector chains ("which means... that leads to...")	Loses listener	Break into multiple sentences
Embedded clauses with commas	Hard to read aloud	Reformulate
Long names/quotes without pause	Trips up the speaker	Brief pause before, "as [quote]"
Number stacks	Wrong without rhythm	One number at a time
Acronyms	Must be spelled or sounded out	Spell out the first time

Structure patterns by length

1-2 minutes (short interview, short video)

OPENING (10 sec): hook + position
CORE (60-90 sec): one main point + one concrete example
CLOSING (10-20 sec): what this means, or call to action

3-5 minutes (short talk, podcast segment)

OPENING (20-30 sec): scene or question
PROBLEM (60-90 sec): what's at stake
ANALYSIS (90-120 sec): 2-3 points with examples
CLOSING (30-60 sec): tying together, call to action

10+ minutes (lecture, long video)

Break into three acts of 3-4 minutes each. Each act has its own mini-structure. Transitions between acts should be audible: "That brings us to part two...".

Tone — adapt to format

Format	Tone
YouTube/podcast	Conversational, "I", direct to listener
Lecture	More formal but personal voice preserved
Voiceover (factual)	Clear, concise, less "I"
Voiceover (story)	Present, scenic

Style preferences (general)

• Personal voice ("I", "we", "my experience is")
• Concretisation: names, dates, numbers, place
• Scenic openings where appropriate
• End with action, not summary
• Short sentences for effect at central points
• No em-dashes (also here)
• No subheadings (the script is one continuous text)

Output format

Deliver the script as:

1. Heading: "Script: [title] (~X minutes, ~Y words)"
2. Script text: continuous prose, no markdown beyond paragraph breaks
3. Word count at the end: "[Final: Z words, reads ~T minutes at normal speed]"

No headings in the script body. No bullets. No code blocks.

Workflow

1. Ask (if not specified): target time? Format (YouTube/lecture/voiceover)? User speaking themselves or someone else?
2. Identify the core message (one sentence).
3. Design structure per target length (see patterns above).
4. Write the first draft with natural speech rhythm.
5. Count words. Adjust to target.
6. Read through silently — does it stumble? Reformulate.
7. Deliver per the output format.

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🎯 COMPLETED: [SKILL:teleprompter] [reading script for X minutes ready] 🗣️ CUSTOM COMPLETED: [SKILL:teleprompter] [Script ready for prompter]