newsletter-to-video

Newsletter to YouTube Video Outline

Repurpose a newsletter issue into a high-level YouTube video outline. The output is topic-level only — no scripts, no talking points, no actual content. Just the topics you'll cover, structured for video.

Why This Exists

Newsletter and YouTube are different mediums. Newsletters reward scanners — readers jump to what interests them. YouTube rewards retention — viewers watch linearly, and every moment competes with the back button. A straight 1:1 port of newsletter structure usually makes for a boring video. This skill restructures the content to match how people actually watch.

When to Use

Use this skill when:

Converting a newsletter issue into a YouTube video plan
The user asks to repurpose newsletter content for YouTube
Planning a video based on an existing newsletter issue
The user mentions "video outline from newsletter" or similar

Process

digraph newsletter_to_youtube { "Read newsletter issue" [shape=doublecircle]; "Extract core topics" [shape=box]; "Identify the tension" [shape=box]; "Drop non-video sections" [shape=box]; "Reorder for retention" [shape=box]; "Generate hook via skill" [shape=box, style=bold]; "Structure the outline" [shape=box]; "Present to user" [shape=doublecircle];

"Read newsletter issue" -> "Extract core topics";
"Extract core topics" -> "Identify the tension";
"Identify the tension" -> "Drop non-video sections";
"Drop non-video sections" -> "Reorder for retention";
"Reorder for retention" -> "Generate hook via skill";
"Generate hook via skill" -> "Structure the outline";
"Structure the outline" -> "Present to user";

}

Step 1: Read the Newsletter Issue

Read the full newsletter issue. Identify:

The core thesis (what's the one main idea?)
All distinct topics/subtopics covered
The most surprising or counterintuitive finding
Any limitations, trade-offs, or honest takes (these create tension)
Personal experience and real results (these build credibility on camera)

Step 2: Adapt for Video

Drop these — they don't translate to video:

P.S. lines and email-specific CTAs (forward, reply)
Preview text / subtitle
Subject line options
"Getting started" setup sections (install steps, config JSON) — unless the video is a tutorial
Sections that only work as scannable text (comparison tables can become talking points, but raw tables don't work on screen)

Promote these — they work better on video than in text:

Personal stories and anecdotes (these are gold on camera)
Surprising findings or limitations (great for hooks and retention)
Before/after comparisons (visual, easy to demonstrate)
Live demos or walkthroughs (newsletter screenshots become video demos)

Reorder for retention:

YouTube viewers decide to stay or leave in the first 30 seconds. The newsletter hook might work as-is, but often the most interesting finding is buried in the middle or end of the newsletter. Pull it forward.

Newsletter pattern Video adaptation

Hook → Context → Content → Limitation → Close Hook with the limitation → Why it matters → How it works → Limitation deep-dive → What's next

Hook → Problem → Solution → How-to → Close Hook with the result → The problem → The solution → Quick demo → What's next

Hook → Feature overview → Cost → Limitations → Close Hook with the tension (cost/limitation) → What it does → How it actually works → The honest trade-offs → Verdict

The general principle: lead with tension or surprise, deliver value in the middle, end forward-looking. Tension is what keeps viewers watching. The newsletter can afford a slow build because readers scan ahead. Video can't.

Step 3: Generate the Hook

Invoke creator-stack:hook to craft the video's opening hook.

Feed the skill this context from Steps 1–2:

The working title (or a placeholder title describing the video topic)
The most surprising or counterintuitive finding from the newsletter — this is almost always the best hook material
The core tension (limitation, trade-off, honest take) identified in Step 1
The content type (YouTube video) so the skill loads references/youtube-hooks.md

The skill will produce a hook that:

Extends curiosity beyond the title (doesn't just repeat it)
Lands within 5–15 seconds
Avoids forbidden patterns (title repetition, welcome-first, unrelated tangent)
Passes its own 7-point verification checklist

Include the skill's hook output in the outline's Hook section. The hook should be 2–3 sentences: what the viewer sees/hears and why it creates urgency to keep watching.

Step 4: Build the Outline

Structure every outline with these sections. The Hook section comes from Step 3. The rest is topic-level only — 1-2 lines per section, not actual content.

Hook (0:00–0:15)

[Generated by creator-stack:hook skill — 2-3 sentences describing the opening: what the viewer sees/hears, the hook pattern used, and the curiosity it creates]

Setup

[What context the viewer needs to understand the rest — 1 sentence]

Main Topics

[Each topic as a bullet — just the topic name and what aspect of it you'll cover]

Topic 1: ...
Topic 2: ...
Topic 3: ... [Usually 3-5 topics. More than 5 means the video is trying to cover too much.]

Close

[How the video wraps — what the viewer should take away or do next]

Keep it tight. The outline for a 10-minute video should fit in under 15 lines (excluding the hook). If you're writing more than that, you're going past topic-level into content territory.

Output Format

Present the outline as a single markdown block. Use the template structure above. No commentary outside the outline unless the user asks for it.

If a newsletter issue covers too many topics for one video, say so and suggest splitting into 2 videos with a recommended split point — but still produce the outline for the primary video.

Brand Compliance

When creating video outlines for The AI Launchpad, invoke creator-stack:brand-guidelines to verify the hook and outline align with brand standards.

Quality Checklist

Verify completion before finalizing:

Newsletter issue fully read and core thesis identified
Non-video sections dropped (P.S., subject lines, setup steps)
Video-friendly elements promoted (stories, demos, surprises)
Content reordered for retention (tension/surprise leads)
creator-stack:hook invoked for hook generation
Hook passes the skill's 7-point verification checklist
Outline uses the template structure (Hook → Setup → Main Topics → Close)
3-5 main topics (not more)
Each topic is a label + angle, not talking points
Outline fits under 15 lines (excluding hook)

Common Mistakes

Mistake Fix

Writing talking points instead of topics Each bullet should be a topic label + angle, not what you'd say about it

Mirroring the newsletter order exactly Reorder — lead with whatever creates the most tension or curiosity

Including 7+ main topics Pick 3-5. A focused video outperforms a comprehensive one.

Keeping email-specific sections Drop P.S., subject lines, reply CTAs — they don't exist in video

Writing the hook inline instead of using the skill Invoke creator-stack:hook — it catches forbidden patterns you'll miss

Generic hook ("Today we're going to talk about...") The hook skill will prevent this — feed it the tension/surprise and let it pick the right pattern

Forgetting the close Every video needs a clear ending — verdict, next steps, or a forward look