Guide2 min readFanFlow Editorial Team
Briefing an editor so revisions stop eating your week
The brief format that cut our revision rounds from four to one.
Most revision rounds are not the editor's fault. They happen because the brief was incomplete and the editor filled the gap with a reasonable guess.
The six fields
- Reference. One clip that is exactly the style you want. Not three.
- Length. Exact seconds. Not "short".
- Hook text. The literal words, written out.
- Caption style. Font, colour, position — or a reference clip.
- Cut list. Timestamps, if you are cutting existing material.
- What not to change. If the audio bed must stay, say so.
One rule that saves hours
Say when you are unsure. "I do not know what works for the transition here, surprise me" produces better work than a vague instruction both of you pretend is specific.
On turnaround
Agree the delivery time in the brief, not in a message afterwards. If a revision changes the scope, that is a new brief, not a fix.