YouTube Chapters & Description From Your Outline

How it works

YouTube Description & Chapters Planner turns a video outline or transcript summary (with approximate timestamps or section lengths), a title and an audience into a checked YouTube description plan: an opening whose first 2 lines work above the fold, a chapter list in YouTube format, a keyword placement note and a links and credits block with clearly marked placeholders. It plans text; it cannot see the video, and it never invents a timestamp or a link.

Phase 0 - Intake. Needs the title, the audience and the section list with timestamps or durations (plus total length if only durations). Asks at most 3 questions, only if something is missing.

Phase 1 - Timing check. Converts every time to seconds, computes starts from durations and flags missing or inconsistent timestamps (not at 0:00, out of order, a chapter under 10 seconds, fewer than 3 chapters, past the end, durations that do not add up) and shows clearly labelled default fixes. If times are missing, it says TIMES NEEDED and leaves placeholders.

Phase 2 - Draft. Two opening lines (100 characters or fewer each), a short body, chapters (first at 0:00, titles of 6 words or fewer in words viewers search), a keyword placement note, and a links and credits block where every link, sponsor and credit is a bracketed placeholder unless you supplied it.

Phase 3 - Validation. Chapter rules computed from the numbers, title word counts, opening-line lengths, no invented links, every claim matched to your outline, keyword spread, SFW.

Phase 4 - Four review lenses (one model applying each in turn). Above-the-Fold Reader, Chapter-Rule Checker, Search-Wording Reader and Honesty & Disclosure Scout check the draft in turn (as separate sub-agents if your agent supports them), then cross-check each other's findings, and a verdict tags findings CONFIRMED, CORROBORATED or DISPUTED. Fixes are applied and listed.

Sample output

Output from running this Skill on a sample problem:

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

Title: Repot a Root-Bound Monstera Without Killing It. Audience: beginner houseplant owners with one big plant that stopped growing. Total length 11:40. Outline with rough timestamps: intro and why roots circle (0:12); signs it is root-bound (0:50); picking pot size and soil mix (2:30); taking the plant out safely (4:45); loosening and trimming roots (6:10); quick tip, save the old soil (6:16); repotting and watering (8:20); aftercare for the first month (10:05). Notes: the terracotta pot was sent free by a pot shop; the music is a track from a stock library; a link to the maker's second channel goes in the description.

Repot a Root-Bound Monstera Without Killing It - audience: beginner houseplant owners - 8 chapters - timing status READY WITH FIXES (2 flags) - SFW.

## Essentials
- Title: "Repot a Root-Bound Monstera Without Killing It" (46 characters; given).
- Audience: beginner houseplant owners with one big plant that stopped growing (given).
- Sections: 8 given with timestamps (labelled approximate by the user: "rough timestamps"); total length 11:40 = 700 s (given).
- Main phrase: "root-bound monstera" (taken from the title, assumed). Language: English (assumed from the title).
- Mentioned in the notes: a terracotta pot sent free by a pot shop, a stock-library music track, a link to the maker's second channel. No shop name, track name or URL was given, so all three stay placeholders.
- All essentials are present, so no questions were asked. Marked (assumed): the main phrase, the English language and the 3 hashtags chosen from the title.

## Timing check
| # | Section | Given | Start | Seconds | Length | Source | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Intro (added) | none | 0:00 | 0 | 12 s | assumed, see T-START | |
| 1 | Why roots circle | 0:12 | 0:12 | 12 | 38 s | approx | T-START |
| 2 | Signs it is root-bound | 0:50 | 0:50 | 50 | 100 s | approx | |
| 3 | Pot size and soil mix | 2:30 | 2:30 | 150 | 135 s | approx | |
| 4 | Taking the plant out | 4:45 | 4:45 | 285 | 85 s | approx | |
| 5 | Loosening and trimming roots | 6:10 | 6:10 | 370 | 6 s as given | approx | T-SHORT |
| 6 | Tip: save the old soil | 6:16 | 6:16 | 376 | 124 s | approx | merged into 5 |
| 7 | Repotting and watering | 8:20 | 8:20 | 500 | 105 s | approx | |
| 8 | Aftercare, first month | 10:05 | 10:05 | 605 | 95 s (to 700 s) | approx | |

- [T-START] The first given time is 0:12, but chapters only count if the first one is at 0:00 (the video starts at 0:00 by definition). The gap is 12 seconds (10 or more), so the default fix is applied, labelled (assumed): a chapter "0:00 Intro". Please confirm what the first 12 seconds really are.
- [T-SHORT] "Loosening and trimming roots" at 6:10 runs only 6 seconds before the next section at 6:16. Fix: merged with the tip that follows it; the merged chapter keeps the earlier start 6:10 and its length is 130 s (to 8:20). No time was stretched or invented.
- No T-ORDER, T-OVER, T-FEW or T-MISSING flags. No T-SUM flag: total length was given, not section durations.
- Status: READY WITH FIXES.

## Paste-ready description
```
Repot a root-bound monstera step by step: spot the signs, pick a pot and soil, trim the roots.
For beginners whose one big plant has stopped growing, plus first-month aftercare.

This video walks through repotting a root-bound monstera in the order it happens: why roots circle, how to tell the plant is root-bound, picking a pot size and soil mix, taking the plant out safely, loosening and trimming roots, repotting and watering, and aftercare for the first month.

A short tip on saving the old soil sits inside the trimming chapter. The terracotta pot was sent free by a pot shop (disclosure below).

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:12 Why roots grow in circles
0:50 Signs of a root-bound monstera
2:30 Pick pot size and soil mix
4:45 Remove the plant safely
6:10 Trim roots and save old soil
8:20 Repot and water
10:05 Monstera aftercare, first month

Links and credits
[DISCLOSURE: the terracotta pot was sent free by [SHOP NAME] - add wording that matches your platform's paid-promotion setting and your local rules]
[LINK: pot shop - only if you want to link it]
[LINK: your second channel]
[CREDIT: music - track title, artist, stock library name]

#monstera #repotting #houseplantcare
```

## Keyword placement note
- Main phrase "root-bound monstera": title (given), description line 1, body (once), chapter "Signs of a root-bound monstera" (once) = 3 uses in the description, which is the limit. Hashtags are not counted.
- Secondary phrases (taken from the outline): "pot size and soil mix" sits in the body and in chapter 4 (2 uses); "monstera aftercare" is in the last chapter title (1 use); "old soil" is in the body and the 6:10 chapter (2 uses).
- Line 1 carries the main phrase plus the promise; line 2 carries the audience and a reason to keep watching. Nothing in either line is a link, a hashtag or a greeting.
- Variants such as "repotting", "root-bound" alone and "trim the roots" are plain wording, not repeated target phrases.

## Validation
1. Chapter rules, computed from seconds (separate arithmetic pass, written out):
   | Chapter | Start (s) | Length (s) | Title words |
   |---|---|---|---|
   | 0:00 Intro | 0 | 12 | 1 |
   | 0:12 Why roots grow in circles | 12 | 38 | 5 |
   | 0:50 Signs of a root-bound monstera | 50 | 100 | 5 |
   | 2:30 Pick pot size and soil mix | 150 | 135 | 6 |
   | 4:45 Remove the plant safely | 285 | 85 | 4 |
   | 6:10 Trim roots and save old soil | 370 | 130 | 6 |
   | 8:20 Repot and water | 500 | 105 | 3 |
   | 10:05 Monstera aftercare, first month | 605 | 95 | 4 |
   First start is 0 s; 8 chapters (at least 3); strictly ascending; shortest chapter 12 s (at least 10); all starts below 700 s; every line is M:SS because the video is under 1 hour. Pass.
2. Titles: all 6 words or fewer (maximum 6), all different, none ends in punctuation (the comma in the last title is inside it, not trailing). Pass.
3. Above the fold: line 1 = 94 characters, line 2 = 82, whole opening = 176 characters (limits 100 / 100 / 200). The main phrase is in line 1. Pass. Changed after review, see below.
4. Body = 424 characters (limit 600); whole description = 1184 characters (well under 5,000); title = 46 characters (limit 100). Pass.
5. Links: 0 URLs in the text. 5 placeholders, including the inner [SHOP NAME]: DISCLOSURE, LINK pot shop, LINK second channel, CREDIT music. Pass.
6. Claims, each against the outline: "walks through ... in the order it happens" matches the outline order; "pot size and soil mix", "taking the plant out safely", "loosening and trimming roots", "repotting and watering", "aftercare for the first month" are the outline's own section names; "a short tip on saving the old soil" is the 6:16 section; "terracotta pot was sent free by a pot shop" is in the notes. No result, speed or guarantee claims. Pass after the change listed below.
7. Keyword spread: main phrase 3 (limit 3); secondary phrases 2, 1, 2 (limit 2). Pass.
8. SFW and honesty: general-audience houseplant topic; no medical, legal or financial advice. Pass.

## Review
Reviewers ran as separate passes in order (no subagent tool was available), each over the draft before the fixes below. The draft they saw: line 1 "Repot a root-bound monstera step by step: signs, pot size, soil, root trimming and aftercare." line 2 "Made for beginners whose one big plant has stopped growing, with a plan for the first month after." last chapter "10:05 Aftercare for the first month", body sentence "The terracotta pot shown was sent free by a pot shop (disclosure below)."

### Findings per lens
1. Above-the-Fold Reader
   - #1 Line 2 "...with a plan for the first month after." The word "after" dangles; it is unclear what the first month follows.
   - #2 Line 1 "...step by step: signs, pot size, soil, root trimming and aftercare." Five nouns in a row read like a keyword string, not a promise.
2. Chapter-Rule Checker
   - #1 Recomputed from the table: starts 0, 12, 50, 150, 285, 370, 500, 605 s; lengths 12, 38, 100, 135, 85, 130, 105, 95 s; 8 chapters; ascending; all M:SS; title word counts 1, 5, 5, 6, 4, 6, 3, 5; no duplicates. Every rule passes. One note: "0:00 Intro" is an assumed 12-second chapter and passes the 10-second rule by 2 seconds; it holds only if the user confirms the opening is really about 12 seconds long.
3. Search-Wording Reader
   - #1 Line 1 "...signs, pot size, soil, root trimming and aftercare." A list of bare nouns is how people search, but it reads as stuffing in a sentence; use a verb phrase.
   - #2 Last chapter "10:05 Aftercare for the first month" has no plant word; the searchable phrase is "monstera aftercare".
4. Honesty & Disclosure Scout
   - #1 Body: "The terracotta pot shown was sent free by a pot shop." The outline never says the pot is shown; "shown" adds a claim about the video.
   - #2 Line 2 "...whose one big plant has stopped growing" next to the chapter "Signs of a root-bound monstera" can imply that any plant that stopped growing is root-bound.
   - #3 The title "...Without Killing It" is an outcome promise that no video can guarantee. The description does not repeat it.

### Cross-examination
- [Reviewer 1 #1, line 2] corroborated by 3: "'first month after' has no search value; 'aftercare' is the word people type". No challenge.
- [Reviewer 1 #2, line 1] corroborated by 3 (their own #1 is the same point): "five bare nouns read like stuffing". No challenge from 2 or 4.
- [Reviewer 2 #1, chapter 0:00] corroborated by 4: "an assumed chapter should be said so in Notes". No challenge.
- [Reviewer 3 #1, line 1] same finding as Reviewer 1 #2; corroborated by 1.
- [Reviewer 3 #2, last chapter] challenged by 1: "adding the plant name lengthens the title" - not concrete (4 words, under the limit). No concrete challenge.
- [Reviewer 4 #1, body "shown"] no challenge; 1: "I did not rely on the claim either way".
- [Reviewer 4 #2, line 2] challenged by 3: "'stopped growing' is the audience's own phrase in the input and the phrase people search; line 2 names who the video is for, not a cause, and the chapter says 'Signs of', not 'Cause of'." Corroborated by 1: "'stopped growing' leads line 2, so a reader may take it as the diagnosis."
- [Reviewer 4 #3, title] challenged by 1: "the title is the user's input, not drafted text" - this does not dispute that the promise exists. Corroborated by 3: "viewers search 'without killing' phrases; it is the user's call".

### Verdict
- CORROBORATED: line 1 is a noun list (Reviewers 1 and 3). Line 2 dangling "after" (Reviewers 1 and 3).
- CONFIRMED: last chapter lacks the plant word (Reviewer 3 #2). Body "shown" adds an unsupported claim (Reviewer 4 #1). Assumed "0:00 Intro" must be flagged to the user (Reviewer 2 #1). Title outcome promise, note only (Reviewer 4 #3).
- DISPUTED: line 2 "stopped growing" may imply the plant is root-bound (Reviewer 4 #2 vs Reviewer 3, with Reviewer 1 leaning to 4). Left as written. Reviewer 4's side: say "may be root-bound" or drop "stopped growing". Reviewer 3's side: it is the audience's own words and describes the viewer, not the cause. Your decision.

### Changes applied
- Line 1 now: "Repot a root-bound monstera step by step: spot the signs, pick a pot and soil, trim the roots." (94 characters; was 93).
- Line 2 now: "For beginners whose one big plant has stopped growing, plus first-month aftercare." (82 characters; was 98; the disputed phrase "stopped growing" was kept).
- Last chapter now "10:05 Monstera aftercare, first month" (4 words; was "Aftercare for the first month").
- Body sentence now: "The terracotta pot was sent free by a pot shop (disclosure below)." ("shown" removed).
- Notes extended (below) for the assumed Intro and the title promise.
- Not changed: line 2 phrase "stopped growing" (disputed); the title (yours).
Phase 3 re-run on the changed items: line 1 = 94, line 2 = 82, opening = 176 characters; last chapter 4 words, length 95 s; body 424 characters; keyword counts as in the placement note; 0 URLs. All pass.

**Recommendation:** Needs your decision on 1 disputed item (line 2 "stopped growing"); otherwise ready to paste once you fill the 4 placeholders and confirm the 12-second Intro.

## Notes
- Confirm the assumed items: the 0:00 Intro chapter (is the first 12 seconds really an intro or a cold open?), the main phrase "root-bound monstera", the 3 hashtags.
- Fill every bracket before publishing: the shop name inside DISCLOSURE, the pot shop link (or delete that row), your second-channel link, and the music credit (track, artist, library). Nothing here was invented; sponsored or free-product wording should follow your platform's paid-promotion setting and your local rules (this is not legal advice).
- Your timestamps were rough. Open the finished video and check each chapter at its real moment; if the 6:10 and 6:16 sections later turn out to be 10 seconds or longer apart, they can be split back into two chapters.
- The title promises an outcome ("Without Killing It") that no video can guarantee; the description does not repeat it. Consider whether you want it.
- Confirm the current chapter rules, the opening-line display and the length limits on the platform's own help page and upload form; the 100 / 200 / 600 / 5,000 character figures here are working numbers.
- Planning only: it cannot see or hear the video and does not predict views or search placement.
- Want a shorter version for Shorts, or the same description in a second language?

Use cases

• Turning a finished video outline into a description and chapter list you can paste in one go
• Checking that your chapters follow the usual rules (start at 0:00, at least 3, each at least 10 seconds) before you publish
• Writing an opening that says what the video is and who it is for, not "welcome back"
• Keeping links, sponsor wording and credits as placeholders until you fill them with real ones

FAQ

Does it watch the video or edit it on the platform? No. It works only from the outline and times you paste. It cannot see or hear the video, and it does not upload or change anything. Check each chapter at its real time.

What if my timestamps are missing or wrong? It flags them (missing, out of order, too short, past the end) and shows the result as "TIMES NEEDED" or "READY WITH FIXES". It does not make times up.

Will it add links or sponsor names? No. Anything you did not give it becomes a bracketed placeholder such as a link, disclosure or credit slot. It does not give legal advice about disclosure.

Will this get more views or better search placement? No guarantees. It improves clarity and wording; it cannot predict views, ranking or revenue, and the rules and character limits it uses are working numbers you should confirm on the platform's own help page.

Is it safe for work? Yes. The Skill is SFW-only.

Which tools? Any SKILL.md-compatible agent (Claude Code, Codex CLI, OpenClaw). One-time download, no hosting, no API key, no network calls.

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