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.