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
CreativeBeginner
Story Starter
Kick off a story from a genre and a premise, with an opening you can build on and a few directions the plot could take next.
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 kind of story you want to tell
A character, a situation, or a spark of an idea to build from
The feeling you want the writing to carry
Your prompt
I'd like your help getting a story started. The genre is cosy mystery / science fiction / fairy tale, and here's the premise I have in mind: a lighthouse keeper finds a message in a bottle addressed to them I'd like it to feel intriguing. Please write an opening of a few paragraphs that draws the reader in and sets the scene. After the opening, suggest three different directions the story could go next, so I can choose where to take it. Leave room for me to keep writing rather than wrapping anything up.
Tips
Pick one of the three suggested directions and reply "continue with option two", and the AI will carry the story on from there, so you can shape the plot without writing every word yourself. If the AI's style does not match yours, paste a paragraph of your own writing and ask it to continue in that voice instead.
What a good result looks like
An opening of a few paragraphs that sets the scene and pulls the reader in, followed by three different directions the plot could take, left open for you to choose one and keep writing.
Works well with
ClaudeChatGPTGemini
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