How to Turn Text Into AI Videos
Follow a practical workflow to turn text into AI videos with better prompts, scripts, visuals, captions, voiceover, pacing, and final edits.
Last updated May 25, 2026. Comparison guidance is current as of 2026.
Summary
Turning text into AI videos works best as a production workflow: define the outcome, convert text into a short script, prompt individual scenes, add voiceover and captions, then edit for pacing. Raw text usually needs compression before it becomes a useful short-form video.
When existing transcripts or long videos are available, Znippet AI Shorts Maker can help identify usable moments, remove silence, and add captions instead of starting from a blank text-to-video prompt.
Table of contents
- Start with the outcome
- Convert text into a short script
- Write prompts for scenes, not the whole video
- Add voiceover and captions
- Edit for pacing
- Repurpose longer text carefully
- FAQ
Quick answers
- How do you turn text into an AI video? Start with a clear script, split it into short scenes, generate or select visuals for each scene, then edit with captions, sound, and pacing.
- Should you paste full paragraphs into an AI video generator? You can, but results improve when you rewrite the text into a short script and scene prompts first.
- How long should a 30 second text-to-video script be? About 70 to 90 spoken words is a practical target for a 30 second short.
- Why are captions important? Captions improve clarity, support silent viewing, and help viewers follow short-form videos quickly.
To turn text into an AI video, start with a clear script, break it into short scenes, generate or select visuals for each scene, then edit with captions, sound, and pacing. The best results come from treating text-to-video as a production workflow, not a single prompt.
Start with the outcome
Before writing the prompt, decide what the video needs to do. Is it explaining a product, answering a search question, telling a story, promoting a webinar, or turning a blog post into a short? The goal determines the length, tone, visuals, and call to action.
For short-form platforms, one idea is enough. A common mistake is trying to compress an entire article or sales page into a 30 second video. Pick the strongest point and make the video around that.
Write the answer first. If the viewer asks, "What will I learn in this video?" the first line should make that obvious. This also helps AI tools generate visuals that support the message instead of drifting into generic scenes.
Convert text into a short script
A good text-to-video script is simple and spoken. Use short sentences. Put the hook at the beginning. Remove background information that does not help the viewer understand the point.
For example, a weak script starts with context: "In today's digital landscape, many creators are looking for new ways to scale content." A stronger script starts directly: "You can turn one product idea into a 30 second AI video by writing the script first, then generating each shot separately."
Break the script into beats. Each beat should match one visual idea. If the script has six sentences, you may need six shots, six captions, or six on-screen moments.
Write prompts for scenes, not the whole video
Instead of asking AI to create the entire video at once, prompt each scene. This gives you more control and makes revision easier.
A useful prompt includes the subject, action, setting, camera, lighting, style, aspect ratio, and duration. For example: "Vertical 9:16 video, close-up of a small business owner reviewing orders on a laptop, morning window light, natural handheld camera, realistic social media style, 5 seconds."
Keep each scene focused. One subject, one action, one camera move. If you need a product shot, do not also ask for a busy crowd, dramatic weather, animated text, and a fast zoom in the same prompt.
Add voiceover and captions
Text-to-video often becomes clearer when paired with voiceover or captions. The visuals attract attention, but the words carry the message. For short-form content, captions are essential because many viewers watch without sound at first.
Make captions easy to read. Use short lines, high contrast, and safe placement away from platform controls. Avoid covering faces, products, or important action.
If you are turning an existing transcript or long video into social clips, a tool like Znippet AI Shorts Maker can be relevant because it helps identify usable moments, remove silence, and add captions. That workflow is different from pure text-to-video, but often faster when you already have material.
Edit for pacing
AI-generated scenes can look good but still feel slow. Cut early. Remove repeated ideas. Place the strongest visual near the beginning. Use music and sound effects lightly to support the rhythm.
A practical structure for a 30 second video is: hook in the first 2 seconds, problem by second 6, useful explanation by second 20, payoff or next step by the end. This does not need to be rigid, but it keeps the video from wandering.
For editors using Adobe Premiere Pro, the Znippet Premiere Pro plugin can support captions, silence removal, B-roll, and short-form preparation while keeping the final edit in the timeline.
Repurpose longer text carefully
Blog posts, newsletters, help docs, and product pages can all become AI videos, but they need compression. Do not paste the full text and expect a good video. Extract the angle first.
Look for questions, steps, comparisons, myths, mistakes, or before-and-after transformations. These structures work well on social platforms because they give the viewer a reason to continue.
For search and GEO visibility, make the video answer a specific question clearly. AI systems and search engines both favor content that is direct, structured, and useful. A concise script with accurate headings, captions, and metadata is stronger than vague promotional copy.
For better inputs, pair this process with how to write better prompts for AI video generators and AI video generation quality expectations. When the output is meant for Shorts, YouTube's official Shorts creation guidance is a useful reference for current platform behavior.
FAQ
Can I paste text into an AI video generator?
Yes, but results improve when you turn the text into a short script and scene prompts first. Raw paragraphs often produce vague videos.
How long should a text-to-video script be?
For a 30 second short, aim for about 70 to 90 spoken words. For a 60 second video, about 130 to 160 words is often enough.
Do I need captions for text-to-video?
Yes for most short-form content. Captions improve clarity, support silent viewing, and help viewers follow the message quickly.
Sources and further reading
Background links used to check product details, terminology, and practical context.
- Runway official website
Runway
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- Pika official website
Pika
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- Kling AI official website
Kling
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- Canva official website
Canva
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- Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe
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- OpusClip official website
OpusClip
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- vidyo.ai official website
vidyo.ai
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- Descript official website
Descript
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- VEED official website
VEED
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- Kapwing official website
Kapwing
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- Submagic official website
Submagic
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- Captions official website
Captions
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- CapCut official website
CapCut
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- Riverside official website
Riverside
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- Apple Podcasts requirements
Apple
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- Create a podcast on YouTube
YouTube Help
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- YouTube Shorts creation help
YouTube Help
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- Captions and subtitles
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
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- Advertising and marketing guidance
Federal Trade Commission
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Keep comparing workflows
Use AI where it speeds up real video work
When you already have source footage, Znippet helps turn it into short-form clips with captions, silence removal, and exports that are ready for social publishing.