Gig
$25 per script
TBD
May 24, 2026
Hey!
I run a faceless YouTube channel built around exploring the world through satellite imagery, historical maps, and geographic research — without ever leaving a desk. Every video investigates one specific place: somewhere real, somewhere strange, somewhere that raises a question most people have never thought to ask.
I'm looking for a scriptwriter and researcher who can bring these places to life — and keep an audience hooked from start to finish. Here are some examples of the type of content we create
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**The tone**
Think of an enthusiastic teacher who just found something genuinely weird on a map at midnight and cannot wait to show you. Not a documentary narrator. Not a YouTube host doing an intro.
First-person. Conversational. Plain English — if a 14-year-old can't follow it, rewrite it. Enthusiastic but never over the top. The discovery is the story. The facts are what you find along the way.
No generic openings. No "Hey guys, today we're looking at...". No "Buckle up!" No BBC documentary voice.
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**Retention is everything**
My viewers currently drop off around the 5–6 minute mark. That needs to change.
I need a writer who can structure tension across an entire 8–12 minute video — not just nail the first 30 seconds. That means:
— A hook that starts in the middle of something, not at the beginning of an explanation
— A new surprise, twist, or "wait — really?" moment every 90–120 seconds throughout the video
— A mid-video re-hook around the 3–4 minute mark that gives people a reason to keep watching
— A payoff at the end that makes the viewer feel like staying was worth it
Good storytelling structure. Not tricks.
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**Requirements**
— Scripts of at least 1,800 words per video
— Delivery within 5–7 days per script (with room to discuss pace as we scale)
— Each script includes both the written narration AND a full research/visual package (see below)
— Fluent English — natural and conversational, not formal or journalistic
— Genuine interest in maps, geography, exploration, or history
— Available for ongoing collaboration — this is not a one-off hire
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**What you deliver with every script**
**1. The script**
First-person, plain English, structured for retention. Editor cues embedded throughout — every scene should tell the editor exactly what to show and which layer to use.
**2. Visual research package**
A curated list of images, maps, satellite stills, and archival material. Public domain or Creative Commons only. Every item listed with source URL and licence type. The editor opens this list and immediately knows what to use.
**3. Map and layer notes**
Which historical map overlays are relevant. Where to find them. Which imagery dates to use. Which data layers to activate. Specific, not vague.
**4. Source list**
Every factual claim verified and cited. Wikipedia is fine as a starting point — primary sources preferred where available. No fabrication. No unverified theories presented as fact.
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**What I do NOT want**
— Generic openings of any kind
— Complex vocabulary or academic tone
— Narration that describes what the viewer can already see on screen
— Padding — every sentence must earn its place
— Listicle structure
— Speculation presented as confirmed fact
— AI-generated content without real research and editorial judgment behind it
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**To apply**
Don't send a cover letter about your general experience. Don't send a Google Drive folder full of scripts from other channels.
Instead, send me **one Google Drive link** with a single document inside: a sample script written specifically for this format.
Pick any real-world location that fits what's described above — somewhere verifiable, genuinely strange, worth investigating. Write the opening and first act only — roughly 400–500 words. It must:
— Open in the middle of something, not with context or setup
— Be written in first-person discovery voice
— Include at least two editor cues (what's on screen, which layer is active)
— Reference at least one historical map or archival source with a real URL
— Sound nothing like a documentary
The Drive link should contain **only this one document**. Not a portfolio. Not previous work for other channels. One document, written for this brief. If I have to search for it, I'll move on.
**Questions I'll ask every applicant:**
— Have you written for a YouTube channel in the same niche before? If yes, share the link.
— Do you have experience sourcing historical maps and archival visual material?
— What's your realistic turnaround time for a full script + research package?
Make sure all samples are shared as Google Drive links — no attachments.
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**Budget**
$25 per completed script and research package.