How to Make Reddit Stories on TikTok

Turning wildly popular Reddit stories into bite-sized TikTok videos is one of the biggest content trends on the platform right now, and for good reason - it works. This guide gives you the complete blueprint to create these videos, from finding the perfect story to editing your final product and growing your account.

Why Reddit Stories on TikTok Work So Well

Before jumping into the "how," it helps to understand the "why." This format taps directly into human psychology and TikTok's algorithm in a few powerful ways:

• Voracious Storytelling: People are hardwired to love stories, especially ones with drama, conflict, and a resolution. Subreddits like r/AmItheAsshole and r/ProRevenge are treasure troves of modern-day fables.
• Passive Consumption: The video format combines an interesting story (audio) with visually stimulating but low-effort content like mobile gameplay (visual). Viewers can listen while doing other things or get mesmerized by the hypnotic gameplay, leading to insane watch times.
• High Watch Time = Viral Potential: TikTok’s algorithm heavily favors videos that people watch all the way through. A compelling story that unfolds over 60-90 seconds is a perfect recipe for high completion rates, telling the algorithm to push your content to a wider audience.

Step 1: Find the Perfect Reddit Story

The foundation of a great Reddit story TikTok is, unsurprisingly, a great Reddit story. Not every post is suitable for this format. You're looking for content that grabs a listener's attention immediately and holds it.

Best Subreddits to Source From

Start your search in subreddits known for personal anecdotes and dramatic situations. Here are some of the most popular goldmines:

• r/AmItheAsshole (AITA): The ultimate source for moral dilemmas and interpersonal conflict. The classic "AITA for..." headline is an instant hook.
• r/AskReddit: Look for threads that ask for personal stories, like "What's the riskiest thing you've ever done?" or "Chefs of Reddit, what's a major red flag at a restaurant?" These threads provide endless unique content.
• r/tifu (Today I F****d Up): Hilarious and cringe-worthy stories that are highly relatable and shareable.
• r/ProRevenge & r/MaliciousCompliance: Stories with a satisfying conclusion where someone gets what they deserve. Viewers love seeing justice served.
• r/relationships & r/relationship_advice: Packed with compelling drama, though be mindful of the sensitivity of the content.
• r/nosleep: Perfect for a horror or spooky niche. The storytelling here is top-notch and designed to be suspenseful.

What Makes a Story "TikTok-Worthy"?

As you browse, check stories against this mental list:

• A Killer Hook: Does the title or first sentence make you immediately want to know what happens next? Look for shocking, unbelievable, or highly relatable opening lines.
• Clear Conflict: A good story has a clear problem or conflict. A boring story with no stakes won't keep anyone watching.
• A Satisfying Ending: The story needs a resolution, update, or clear outcome. Cliffhangers can work, but a full story arc is often more fulfilling for the viewer.
• Manageable Length: A colossal, multi-part epic might be too long. Look for stories that can be read aloud in 60 to 180 seconds. A good rule of thumb is 500-1500 words.

Step 2: Get Your Visual & Audio Assets Ready

Your video has two main components: the background visual (usually gameplay) and the story narration (usually a text-to-speech voice). Think of them as the stage and the actor.

Source Your Background Video

The background video isn't the star of the show, its job is to be visually engaging enough to keep eyes on the screen without distracting from the story. This is why mobile gameplay footage is so popular.

Good Gameplay Choices:

• "Satisfying" or ASMR-style games: Think power washing simulators, virtual car detailing, or organizing games. The repetitive, satisfying nature is almost hypnotic.
• Endless runners: Games like Subway Surfers or Temple Run are perfect. They are fast-paced, familiar, and the action rarely stops.
• Minecraft Parkour: This has become the genre standard. The constant movement, skill-based jumping, and risk of falling create a mild, continuous tension that holds attention.
• Racing games: Games like Asphalt or Mario Kart provide constant forward momentum.

How to Get the Footage:

Option 1 (Best): Record it yourself. Use your phone's built-in screen recorder to capture 5-10 minute clips of you playing one of these games. This guarantees your content is 100% original and you won't run into copyright issues. No need to be a pro gamer - just play.

Option 2: Find it online. Search YouTube for "no copyright Subway Surfers gameplay" or "Minecraft parkour royalty-free." Be very careful to only use footage that is explicitly marked for free public use, or you risk getting your video taken down.

Create the Narration Audio

You need a voice to read the Reddit story. Again, you have two primary options.

Option 1: Text-to-Speech (TTS)

This is the most common method. The robotic, recognizable TikTok voices are part of the genre's aesthetic. You don't need to be fancy, you can use TikTok's built-in text-to-speech function or a third-party app.

How to do it:

1. Copy the text of the Reddit post.
2. Use a free online tool like Veed.io, ElevenLabs, or any of the hundreds of TTS websites.
3. Paste the story, choose a voice, and download the finished MP3 file. A calm, clear male voice is often the standard for this type of content.

Pro Tip: Break up the story into smaller paragraphs (Part 1, Part 2, etc.) to create a series. This encourages viewers to follow your account to hear the rest of the story.

Option 2: Record Your Own Voiceover

Using your own voice can help you stand out. A human voice can convey emotion and personality that a TTS bot can't, helping you build a stronger connection with your audience. Just be sure to use a decent microphone and speak clearly and at a consistent pace.

Step 3: Edit Your Masterpiece (The Easy Way)

This is where everything comes together. You can use any video editing software, but a mobile editor like CapCut is free, powerful, and perfectly suited for this type of content.

Your Step-by-Step Editing Workflow in CapCut:

1. Start a New Project: Open CapCut and import your files: the gameplay video and your narration audio file (the MP3 you downloaded or recorded).
2. Set Up Your Tracks: The gameplay clip will be your main video track. Go to the "Audio" tab and add your voiceover narration. Drag the narration to start at the beginning of the video.
3. Trim to Fit: Your narration audio will likely be shorter than your gameplay clip. Once the narration ends, trim the gameplay clip to match the audio length perfectly. This ensures your video doesn't have an awkward moment of silence at the end.
4. Add the Story On-Screen (Optional but Recommended): Take one or two screenshots of the original Reddit post (title and the first paragraph).
   • In CapCut, use the "Overlay" feature to add the screenshot image on top of your video.
   • Position it near the top of the frame. You don't need it on screen for the entire video - just for the first 5-10 seconds to establish credibility and show where the story is from.
5. Generate Auto-Captions: This is the most important part for engagement! People often watch TikToks on mute, and captions ensure they can still follow along.
   • In CapCut, go to "Text" > "Auto captions." The app will listen to your narration audio and automatically generate synchronized text on the screen.
   • Select a bold, easy-to-read font and style for the captions. You can edit the text to fix any mistakes the AI made and adjust the size and position. A clean, blocky font placed in the center of the screen works great.
6. Add Background Music (Optional): You can add a subtle, non-distracting background track. In the "Audio" menu, choose a piece of mellow, instrumental lo-fi or chill-step music. Lower its volume to around 10-20% so it doesn't overpower the narration.
7. Export: Export your video in high resolution (1080p) and you're ready to post.

Step 4: Post and Optimize for Growth

Creating the video is only half the battle. How you post it on TikTok matters immensely.

Craft a Hooking Caption

Your caption should generate curiosity. Don't give away the ending! Use a line from the story or ask a question. For example, if the story is from AITA, a great caption would be, "AITA for telling my sister the truth about her fiance? You won't believe what he did. 🤯"

Use the Right Hashtags

Hashtags help TikTok categorize your video and show it to people interested in this type of content. Use a mix of broad and specific tags. A good set would be:

#redditstories #reddit #askreddit #aita #redditreadings #minecraftparkour #storytime #satisfying

Embrace the Series Format

If a story is longer, split it into multiple parts. End each video with a strong cliffhanger and a clear call to action like, "Follow for Part 2!" airdropped on the screen via captions. This is one of the fastest ways to gain followers in this niche, as people will follow just to see the conclusion.

Be Consistent

The key to success in the Reddit stories niche is volume. The most successful accounts post 1-3 times per day. Once you have your workflow down, you should be able to create a video in under 30 minutes. The consistency signals to the algorithm that you are a serious creator in this space.

Final Thoughts

Creating viral Reddit story videos for TikTok is a straightforward process when you break it down into finding a story, preparing your visuals and audio, and assembling it all in an editor. This content format has proven longevity because it taps into an endless supply of drama and our innate love for stories, all while perfectly leveraging the TikTok algorithm's preference for high watch time.

Staying consistent with several daily video posts, especially once your account gains traction, can feel like a full-time job. Juggling that volume of content requires a solid plan. At Postbase, we designed a simple, modern social media management tool made specifically for today's video-first world. We provide a visual calendar that helps you see your entire TikTok schedule at a glance, making it easy to plan out your Reddit story series for weeks ahead without getting lost in spreadsheets. With rock-solid reliable scheduling for short-form video, Postbase helps you keep your content flowing without the headaches of older, clunkier tools that just weren't built for creators like you.