A prompt is the message you send to an AI, and writing a good one is the most useful AI skill there is. This guide shows you what a prompt is, how to write your first proper one, and why full sentences beat a handful of keywords.
Beginner3 min read
ResearchBeginner
Brainstorm Partner
Generate a wide range of fresh ideas on any topic, then have the AI pressure-test the strongest ones so you leave with options worth pursuing.
Make it yours
Fill in the boxes and the prompt updates as you type. Then copy it and paste it into your AI tool of choice.
The question or challenge you want ideas for
Constraints, goals, or details that shape which ideas will fit
Roughly how many you want to start with
Your prompt
I'd like to brainstorm ideas about names for a new coffee shop / ways to reuse old jars. Here's some context that matters: no particular constraints Please start by giving me 15 varied ideas. Aim for range rather than safety, so include a few unexpected ones alongside the obvious choices. Once you've listed them, pick the three you think are strongest, and for each one briefly note why it could work and what might get in its way.
Tips
When an idea in the list catches your eye, reply with "give me ten more like number four" to dig deeper into that seam rather than accepting the first batch. If everything feels a bit safe, ask the AI to include a few ideas it thinks you will reject, which often loosens up the more interesting suggestions.
What a good result looks like
A varied list of ideas ranging from the obvious to the unexpected, followed by the AI's pick of the three strongest, each with a quick note on why it might work and what could hold it back.
Works well with
ClaudeChatGPTGemini
Related reading
Context is the background you hand the AI so it can answer for your situation, not a generic one. This guide explains why context matters so much, what kinds are worth giving, audience, purpose, examples, and limits, and how it helps keep the AI honest.
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