5 Writing Prompts I Reach For

A good writing prompt isn't a magic trick. It's a checklist you don't have to remember, run by something that never gets bored.

Make the output reviewable

Ask for the reasoning, then the result. When the model shows its steps you can see exactly where to push back.

• Keep one ask per prompt — chaining beats cramming
• Save the prompt that worked so the next person reuses it
• Lower the reading level, then check what broke

Reuse the recipe

Treat the first output as a draft, not a verdict. The prompt does the typing; you keep the judgment about what ships.

• Compare two outputs instead of trusting one
• Lower the reading level, then check what broke
• Keep one ask per prompt — chaining beats cramming

Name the failure modes

Ask for the reasoning, then the result. When the model shows its steps you can see exactly where to push back.

• Lower the reading level, then check what broke
• Have the model flag what it could not cover
• Ask for three angles, then cut to the one worth shipping

Treat the first output as a draft, not a verdict. The prompt does the typing; you keep the judgment about what ships.