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A Field Guide to Writing Prompts

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Cyrus Creator
Apr 15, 2026 · 4 min read
promptdock.ai/blog

The trap with writing prompts is asking for the finished thing. Ask for options instead, then bring your taste to the edit.

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.

Generate options, not answers

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

Start with the smallest version

Lock the parts that never change and leave one slot for the variable. Now every run shares a family resemblance instead of starting from scratch.

Lock the parts that never change and leave one slot for the variable. Now every run shares a family resemblance instead of starting from scratch.

The prompt behind this post
Premium
Decision Matrix

List your options and the criteria that matter, and get a weighted decision matrix that scores each choice transparently and points to a winner. Replaces going back and forth in your head with a structure you can see, defend, and revisit.

View promptClaude Opus 4.8
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