How to write a good edit prompt

The clearer your prompt, the closer the first cut lands. Describe the result you want, not the editing steps.

A simple formula

Make a [length] [format] for [platform or audience]. Focus on [topic or moments]. Keep it [style and pacing]. Leave out [anything to avoid].

Include what matters

• Length: "about 45 seconds", "under 3 minutes". This is how you set the target length.
• Shape: vertical (9:16) for TikTok, Reels and Shorts; widescreen (16:9) for YouTube; square or 4:5 for feeds.
• Must-keep moments: a quote, a reveal, a product shot, the ending.
• Things to cut: setup, retakes, small talk, a tangent.
• Finishing: captions, music mood, a title, your logo.

Examples

• "Make a 45 second vertical short for TikTok and Reels. Audience: web developers who have never heard of view transitions. Focus on the photo-album example. Keep it fast-paced with bold captions, end on the funniest line, and leave out the intro small talk."
• "Create a 3 minute YouTube recap of the trip. Keep scenic b-roll under the narration and remove dead air."
• "Make a clean 60 second product demo: the setup, the main feature and the final result."

Tips

• Novacut reads the speech and looks at every shot, so you can refer to things by what they show: "the shot of the kitchen island".
• If the first cut is close but not quite right, don't start over. Ask for changes in chat.