Talking to AI:
The Art of the Prompt.

You're a home cook who specializes in fast, budget-friendly meals. I need a dinner plan for five weeknights. Family of four, budget of $75 total for groceries. Two of us are picky eaters who won't eat mushrooms or fish. Give me the five meals with a combined grocery list organized by store section.

You're a travel agent specializing in family vacations. Plan a 5-day trip to [destination] for two adults and [X] kids ages [ages]. Budget is [amount] not including flights. We want a mix of tourist highlights and off-the-beaten-path local experiences. Present it as a day-by-day itinerary with estimated costs.

Explain [complex topic] to me like I'm a smart adult who knows nothing about this subject. Use everyday analogies. Don't use jargon. If you must use a technical term, define it immediately in parentheses. Keep it under 300 words.

I need a gift for [person's relationship]. They're [age], they love [interests], they hate [things to avoid], and my budget is [amount]. Give me 10 ideas ranging from practical to creative, with a one-sentence explanation of why each one fits.

Write a [tone: professional/casual/friendly] email to [recipient and relationship] about [topic]. Include [specific points to cover]. Keep it under [word count]. End with [specific call to action].

I have a meeting about [topic] with [who]. Help me prepare: give me 5 key talking points, 3 questions I should ask, and 2 potential objections I should be ready for. Format as a one-page cheat sheet I can glance at during the meeting.

Summarize this [document/report/article] in three sections: key findings, action items, and things I should be skeptical about. Write it for someone who has 2 minutes and needs to sound informed in a meeting. [Paste the text below.]

Help me write constructive feedback for [person's role]. They did great at [strengths] but need improvement on [areas]. I want the tone to be encouraging but honest. Use the format: what's working well, what could be improved, specific suggestions for growth.

You're a patient tutor for a [grade level] student. My child is struggling with [subject/topic]. Don't give them the answer, instead, guide them step by step with questions that help them figure it out themselves. Start with the first guiding question.

Explain [topic] in a way that a [age]-year-old would understand. Use examples from their world, school, friends, games, animals. Keep it to 3-4 sentences. Make it fun if possible.

You're a creative parent. I have a [age]-year-old who's bored on a rainy Saturday. Give me 5 indoor activities that require only stuff we probably already have at home. Each activity should keep them engaged for at least 30 minutes. No screens.

You're a college admissions consultant. My teenager is interested in [field/major] and has [relevant experience/grades/activities]. Help them brainstorm ideas for their personal essay. Don't write the essay, give them 5 unique angles they could explore, with a one-sentence explanation of why each one could work.

You're a social media manager for a small [type of business] in [location]. Write 5 social media posts for this week. Mix of promotional and engaging content. Our brand voice is [describe tone]. Include a call to action in each post. Keep each post under 100 words.

A customer left this review: [paste review]. Write a professional, empathetic response that acknowledges their concern, explains what we're doing about it, and invites them to contact us directly. Don't be defensive. Keep it under 100 words.

Write a job description for a [position] at a small [type of business]. We offer [benefits/perks]. The ideal candidate has [qualifications]. Keep it conversational, we're a small team, not a corporation. Include a section on company culture that sounds human, not like it was written by HR software.

You're a business strategist. I own a [type of business] in [location]. My main competitors are [names or descriptions]. Analyze what they're doing well that I should learn from and where there might be gaps I could fill. Present it as a SWOT analysis in a simple table.

I'm writing a [type of piece: blog post, story, article] about [topic]. Here's what I have so far: [paste your draft]. Help me improve it: strengthen the opening, tighten the language, and suggest a better ending. Keep my voice, don't make it sound like someone else wrote it.

I need creative ideas for [project/problem]. Give me 15 ideas, 5 safe and conventional, 5 creative but doable, and 5 wild cards that might be crazy enough to work. Don't filter yourself on the wild cards.

I need to create a [flyer/logo/social media graphic] for [purpose]. My audience is [describe]. The vibe should be [describe]. Describe exactly what this design should look like, layout, colors, fonts, imagery, so I can create it myself or hand the brief to a designer.

Edit this piece of writing for clarity, grammar, and flow. Don't change my voice or style, just make it cleaner. Point out any sentences that are confusing or any arguments that don't land. Be specific about what to fix and why. [Paste your text below.]