Outro Lines & End Screen Picks for YouTube

It is easy to waste the last seconds of a video: a pile of asks, a random latest upload on the end screen, or a closing line that says one thing while the screen shows another. Outro Line & End-Screen Planner turns one paragraph about a video you are finishing (what it covers, how it ends, audience, language) plus a list of your other video or playlist titles into a plan for the last seconds: 3 ranked next-video picks taken only from your list, each with a reason, 8 alternative closing lines that lead into a pick (at most one ask each; you record the one it recommends), and an end-screen layout of up to 4 elements. It does not see your channel or analytics.

Phase 0 — Intake. Needs what this video covers and how it ends, your other titles (at least 1; 3 or more is best, and with 1-2 the empty pick slots become a subscribe element), and the language. Asks at most 3 questions, only if one is missing.

Phase 1 — Context. This video's last beat and the viewer's likely next question, audience and tone, and your titles listed exactly as given.

Phase 2 — The plan. 3 picks from your list with a link type (next step, deeper, answers the next question, contrast, same series) and reason, 8 alternative closing lines with at most one ask and a start time each, and an end-screen layout.

Phase 3 — Validation. Every pick is a real title from your list, real word counts and estimated seconds inside a 20-second working window, at most one ask per line, a real link between this video and the pick, say-show match, and honest wording.

Phase 4 — Review lenses. One model applies four review lenses in turn: Last-Seconds Viewer, Path Planner, Clutter Inspector, Policy & Tone Scout. For each finding, the other three lenses each write a challenge, corroborate or no-challenge line. A verdict tags each finding CONFIRMED, CORROBORATED, DISPUTED or NO CHANGE; fixes are applied and the line to record is named.

Sample output

Output from running this Skill on a sample problem (the input is a hand-written sample; the output is the Skill's unedited response):

Input ([HAND-WRITTEN FICTIONAL SAMPLE - invented for testing.]):

I'm finishing a 12-minute video "How I Repotted My Root-Bound Monstera Without Killing It". It ends with the plant in its new pot and me saying the first two weeks matter most because the roots are recovering. Audience: beginner indoor plant owners. Calm, friendly tone, English voiceover. My other videos:

• "Watering Indoor Plants: The Finger Test Explained" (8 min)
• "5 Signs Your Plant Needs a Bigger Pot" (6 min)
• "Monstera Care for Beginners - Full Guide" (15 min, my most complete one)
• "I Tried Propagating Pothos in Water for 30 Days" (10 min)
• Playlist: "Repotting & Soil" (4 videos)
• "My Plant Shelf Tour (Winter Edition)" (9 min)

Repotting a root-bound Monstera; ends with the plant in its new pot and "the first two weeks matter most" while the roots recover · 6 titles given · English · 3 picks · 8 lines · SFW

## Essentials

- Video: "How I Repotted My Root-Bound Monstera Without Killing It", 12 min (given)
- Last beat: plant in its new pot; "the first two weeks matter most because the roots are recovering" (given)
- Audience: beginner indoor plant owners (given)
- Tone: calm, friendly (given)
- Voiceover: yes, English (given)
- Language: English (given)
- Words to avoid: none (assumed)
- Face on screen during the end window: none, voiceover only (assumed)
- Titles: 6 [T01-T06]

## Context

- Topic: repotting a root-bound Monstera without harming it
- Last beat: plant in its new pot; the first two weeks matter most while the roots recover
- Likely next question: "What do I do during those two weeks, especially with watering?" (reasoned from the last beat)
- Audience: beginner indoor plant owners
- Tone: calm, friendly
- Language: English voiceover

- T01 "Watering Indoor Plants: The Finger Test Explained" (8 min)
- T02 "5 Signs Your Plant Needs a Bigger Pot" (6 min)
- T03 "Monstera Care for Beginners - Full Guide" (15 min, my most complete one)
- T04 "I Tried Propagating Pothos in Water for 30 Days" (10 min)
- T05 Playlist: "Repotting & Soil" (4 videos)
- T06 "My Plant Shelf Tour (Winter Edition)" (9 min)

## Next-video picks

| P | Title (T#) | Link type | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | "Watering Indoor Plants: The Finger Test Explained" (T01) | Q | This video ends on the two weeks of root recovery. Watering is the main thing a beginner will do in that time, and the finger test helps them decide when to do it. |
| P2 | "Monstera Care for Beginners - Full Guide" (T03) | N | Once this Monstera has settled in its new pot, the viewer needs ongoing care for the same plant. The note calls this the most complete guide. |
| P3 | Playlist: "Repotting & Soil" (T05) | S | The viewer just watched a repot. This playlist stays on repotting and adds soil, the other half of what went into the new pot. |

## Closing lines

| ID | Line | Leads to (P# or `SUB`) | Ask | Starts at | Words / est. s | Checks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C01* | Those two weeks mostly come down to watering, so watch my finger test video first. | P1 | watch P1 | -18 s | 15 / 6.0 s | LEN PASS / ASK PASS (fixed in Phase 3) / LINK PASS / MATCH PASS / HONEST PASS |
| C02 | If you're unsure when to water during recovery, the finger test video is on the left. | P1 | watch P1 | -18 s | 16 / 6.4 s | LEN PASS / ASK PASS / LINK PASS / MATCH PASS / HONEST PASS |
| C03 | Those first two weeks mostly come down to one thing: knowing when the soil actually needs water. | P1 | none | -20 s | 17 / 6.8 s | LEN PASS / ASK PASS / LINK PASS / MATCH PASS / HONEST PASS |
| C04* | While the roots heal, watering is the part to get right, so watch my finger test video. | P1 | watch P1 | -18 s | 17 / 6.8 s | LEN PASS / ASK PASS / LINK PASS / MATCH PASS / HONEST PASS |
| C05* | My finger test video on the left shows how to check the soil before watering. | P1 | watch P1 | -17 s | 15 / 6.0 s | LEN PASS / ASK PASS (fixed in Phase 3) / LINK PASS / MATCH PASS / HONEST PASS |
| C06 | Once your Monstera settles in, watch my full beginner guide for everyday care. | P2 | watch P2 | -18 s | 13 / 5.2 s | LEN PASS / ASK PASS / LINK PASS / MATCH PASS / HONEST PASS |
| C07 | For more on pots and soil, the Repotting and Soil playlist is at the bottom. | P3 | open playlist | -17 s | 15 / 6.0 s | LEN PASS / ASK PASS / LINK PASS / MATCH PASS / HONEST PASS |
| C08 | If this helped with your repot, the subscribe button is at the top. | `SUB` | subscribe | -16 s | 13 / 5.2 s | LEN PASS / ASK PASS / LINK PASS (SUB, names no video or playlist) / MATCH PASS / HONEST PASS |

## End-screen layout

| E | Element | Position | Frame behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | video T01 (P1) | left side, middle height | Wide shot of the repotted Monstera in its new pot, plant centred. Keep leaves and any text out of the left area. |
| E2 | video T03 (P2) | right side, middle height | Same shot. Keep the right area clear of leaves and text. |
| E3* | playlist T05 (P3) | bottom, centre | Same shot, framed slightly wider so the new pot and soil line sit fully above this element. Keep the bottom edge clear of text. |
| E4 | `SUB` | top, centre | Same shot. Keep the top edge clear of text. No face on screen (assumed, voiceover only). |

## Validation

1. **Counts:** PASS.
   - 3 picks [P1, P2, P3], 8 lines [C01-C08], 4 elements [E1-E4].
   - Every P and element is a real T-number [T01, T03, T05] or `SUB` [E4, C08].
2. **LEN:** PASS. Rate is 2.5 words/s, an estimate; time the real take. Every line finishes inside the 20 s window.
   - C01: Those|two|weeks|mostly|come|down|to|watering,|so|watch|my|finger|test|video|first = 15 / 6.0 s
   - C02: If|you're|unsure|when|to|water|during|recovery,|the|finger|test|video|is|on|the|left = 16 / 6.4 s
   - C03: Those|first|two|weeks|mostly|come|down|to|one|thing:|knowing|when|the|soil|actually|needs|water = 17 / 6.8 s
   - C04: While|the|roots|heal,|watering|is|the|part|to|get|right,|so|watch|my|finger|test|video = 17 / 6.8 s
   - C05: My|finger|test|video|on|the|left|shows|how|to|check|the|soil|before|watering = 15 / 6.0 s
   - C06: Once|your|Monstera|settles|in,|watch|my|full|beginner|guide|for|everyday|care = 13 / 5.2 s
   - C07: For|more|on|pots|and|soil,|the|Repotting|and|Soil|playlist|is|at|the|bottom = 15 / 6.0 s
   - C08: If|this|helped|with|your|repot,|the|subscribe|button|is|at|the|top = 13 / 5.2 s
3. **ASK:** fixed in two draft rows [C01, C05]. All lines now have at most one ask. C08 points only to `SUB`, and no video or playlist line points to `SUB`.
4. **LINK:** PASS.
   - P1 links the recovery-weeks beat to the finger-test title.
   - P2 links the same plant (Monstera) to the title and the "most complete" note.
   - P3 links the repot to the "Repotting & Soil" title.
5. **MATCH:** PASS.
   - C01, C02, C04 and C05 point to E1.
   - C06 points to E2.
   - C07 points to E3 (bottom).
   - C08 points to E4 (top).
   - C03 names no element and no position.
6. **HONEST:** PASS. No urgency, guilt, contest or comment-to-get wording.
7. **Avoid list and SFW:** PASS. No avoid list was given (assumed); all content is SFW.

**Changes (Phase 3), draft rows changed [C01, C05]:**
- C01, ASK fix:
  - Before: "Those two weeks mostly come down to watering, so watch my finger test video before you water again."
  - After: "Those two weeks mostly come down to watering, so watch my finger test video first."
  - Reason: "before you water again" could be heard as a second instruction.
- C05, ASK fix:
  - Before: "My finger test video, right here on the left, shows how to check the soil before watering."
  - After: "My finger test video on the left shows how to check the soil before watering."
  - Reason: two pointers ("right here", "on the left") count as two asks.

**Counts (final version):**
- Picks: 3 [P1 T01, P2 T03, P3 T05]
- Lines per pick: P1 5 [C01-C05], P2 1 [C06], P3 1 [C07], `SUB` 1 [C08]
- Subscribe asks: 1 [C08]
- No-ask lines: 1 [C03]
- Longest lines: C03 and C04 [C03, C04], 17 words / 6.8 s

## Review lenses

### Findings per lens

**Lens 1 - Last-Seconds Viewer**
- **1a** C04 (draft): "While the roots heal, watering is the part to get right. Watch my finger test video." The stand-alone command sentence lands like a tacked-on ad. Join it into one sentence with "so".
- **1b** P3 / T05 Playlist: "Repotting & Soil" (4 videos). If this video is one of the 4, the viewer may be sent back into what they just watched. Confirm whether it is in the playlist (flag).

**Lens 2 - Path Planner**
- **2a** P1 T01 "Watering Indoor Plants: The Finger Test Explained" is the best next step from "the first two weeks matter most". T02 "5 Signs Your Plant Needs a Bigger Pot" would step backward for someone who just repotted. No change.
- **2b** P2 T03 "Monstera Care for Beginners - Full Guide" (15 min, my most complete one) may re-cover the repotting this viewer just watched. Confirm the overlap (flag).

**Lens 3 - Clutter Inspector**
- **3a** E3 playlist T05 at "bottom, centre" sits under a centred plant and may cover the new pot, which is the last beat. Frame wider so the pot sits above E3.
- **3b** C06 "Once your Monstera settles in, watch my full beginner guide for everyday care." gives no position. Adding one would make two asks, so keep it as is. No change.

**Lens 4 - Policy & Tone Scout**
- **4a** C05 "My finger test video on the left shows how to check the soil before watering." This describes T01's content from its title only. Confirm T01 actually shows checking the soil, or it becomes a misleading promise (flag).

### Cross-check

- `[1a, C04] Lens 2: no challenge / Lens 3: corroborate - "a second sentence adds an extra beat in a crowded window" / Lens 4: no challenge`
- `[1b, P3, T05, C07, E3] Lens 2: corroborate - "a loop back into this video is a path that repeats this video" / Lens 3: no challenge / Lens 4: no challenge`
- `[2a, P1] Lens 1: no challenge / Lens 3: no challenge / Lens 4: no challenge`
- `[2b, P2, C06, E2] Lens 1: challenge - "the reason sends the viewer to everyday care after recovery, not to repotting; a broad guide that also mentions repotting is still the right next step" / Lens 3: no challenge / Lens 4: no challenge`
- `[3a, E3] Lens 1: corroborate - "the plant in its new pot is what the viewer just waited for; covering it feels like the ending was cut" / Lens 2: no challenge / Lens 4: no challenge`
- `[3b, C06] Lens 1: no challenge / Lens 2: no challenge / Lens 4: no challenge`
- `[4a, C05] Lens 1: no challenge / Lens 2: no challenge / Lens 3: no challenge`

### Verdict

- **1a** CORROBORATED (applied). Raised by Lens 1, corroborated by Lens 3 in the cross-check for 1a.
- **1b** CORROBORATED, flag (see Notes). Raised by Lens 1, corroborated by Lens 2 in the cross-check for 1b. The fix is a confirmation, so no table change.
- **2a** NO CHANGE.
- **2b** DISPUTED.
  - Lens 2: T03 may repeat repotting content.
  - Lens 1: the pick's reason is ongoing care, so overlap does not make it wrong.
  - The user decides.
- **3a** CORROBORATED (applied). Raised by Lens 3, corroborated by Lens 1 in the cross-check for 3a.
- **3b** NO CHANGE.
- **4a** CONFIRMED, flag (see Notes).

Phase 3 re-run on the changed items [C04, E3]:
- C04: 17 words / 6.8 s from -18 s, LEN PASS, one ask (watch P1) ASK PASS, MATCH PASS (E1).
- E3: position unchanged, so MATCH PASS for C07.

### Changes applied

- **1a CORROBORATED (applied), C04 Line:**
  - Before: "While the roots heal, watering is the part to get right. Watch my finger test video."
  - After: "While the roots heal, watering is the part to get right, so watch my finger test video."
  - Words / est. s: before 16 / 6.4 s, after 17 / 6.8 s.
- **3a CORROBORATED (applied), E3 Frame behind it:**
  - Before: "Same shot; keep the bottom edge clear of text."
  - After: "Same shot, framed slightly wider so the new pot and soil line sit fully above this element. Keep the bottom edge clear of text."

### Line to record

**C02**: "If you're unsure when to water during recovery, the finger test video is on the left." It is clean: no finding or flag is attached.

**Recommendation**
[P1 T01, P2 T03, P3 T05]
- P1 T01: 2a NO CHANGE; C04 1a CORROBORATED (applied); C05 4a flag (see Notes); C02 clean (recorded line).
- P2 T03: 2b DISPUTED (the user decides); C06 3b NO CHANGE.
- P3 T05: 1b flag (see Notes); E3 3a CORROBORATED (applied).

## Notes

- **Assumptions to confirm:**
  - No words to avoid.
  - No face on screen during the end window (voiceover only).
  - 1b: whether this video is one of the 4 in "Repotting & Soil". If it is, the playlist still works, but consider swapping P3 in a future plan.
  - 4a: T01 actually shows checking the soil with the finger test. If not, drop C05.
  - 2b: how much T03 covers repotting.
- Confirm current end-screen limits in your platform's own help or studio.
- After publishing, compare which end-screen element your own analytics show viewers used.
- Limits: picks are reasoned from your titles and notes only, and seconds are estimates at 2.5 words/s, so time the real take.
- I can also plan the endings for your next 3 videos, suggest a playlist order, or write closing lines for a text-only video.

Use cases

• Choosing which of your own videos to send viewers to next, for a stated reason
• Replacing a pile of asks at the end with one clear closing line
• Making sure what you say at the end matches what is on the end screen
• Planning an end screen without covering faces or text in the frame

FAQ

Does it look at my channel or analytics? No. Picks are reasoned from the titles and notes you paste. Check your own analytics after publishing.

Does it know the platform's end-screen rules? It plans with its own working frame (last 20 seconds, up to 4 elements) and tells you to confirm current limits in your platform's own help.

Will it invent video titles? No. Picks come only from your list.

Is it safe for work? Yes. SFW only, no fake urgency, guilt or giveaway wording.

Which tools? Written for SKILL.md agents: Claude Code, Codex CLI and OpenClaw. One-time download, no hosting, no API key, no network calls.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by YouTube or Google; platform names are used only to describe what the plan is for.