Better Prompts Start With This One Sentence

A year ago, I almost gave up on using ChatGPT.

I’d open the app, type a vague idea like “help me write a blog post,” and get something… meh. Boring. Robotic. Flat.

Then I tried to get clever: I read prompt engineering threads, copied 12-line mega-prompts full of “act like X” and “use Y framework.”

Still? Same deal. Too generic. Not me.

What I found is that the best prompts don’t come from advanced prompt engineering.

They come from clarity.

I’ll explain how I stumbled on a dead-simple method for creating better prompts (without learning any complex systems) and how it changed my writing workflow forever.

But first...

Let me tell you about the worst prompt I ever wrote.

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The Prompt That Flopped

It was early 2023. I had this idea for a newsletter issue on “creative burnout.”

I told ChatGPT: “Write an article about burnout for creators.”

What I got back felt like a college essay. Zero personality. Zero voice. It was technically “correct,” but emotionally tone-deaf. Like it was written by someone who read about burnout but never felt it.

And that was the problem: my prompt had no soul.

No context. No story. No spark.

So I flipped the script.

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The One Sentence That Changed Everything

Instead of asking for an article, I wrote this:

What came back? Pure and raw diamond.

ChatGPT gave me an outline that made me nod, wince, and laugh out loud. I didn’t just want to write that article… I needed to.

You know, that wasn’t a better prompt in the technical sense.

It was a better intention.

Why Use This Prompting Approach?

If you think writing great prompts means learning secret formulas and 100-line templates, you’re already setting yourself up to fail.

What matters more than prompt structure? Prompt story.

The best prompts…

• Contains real context

• Have emotional clarity

• Be specific about tone and intention

• Talk to the AI like it’s a thinking partner, not a vending machine

ChatGPT (or any other LLM) is a reflection machine. If you give it something lifeless, it mirrors that back.

So the goal isn’t to learn better syntax. It’s to communicate like a clear, intentional human.

The Secret to Creating Better Prompts

It’s not universal. But I use this 3-step method every time:

1. Say What You’re Really Trying to Do

Not “summarize this article.” Say: “Summarize this article like I’m prepping for a podcast and want to sound smart without reading the whole thing.”

That difference? Night and day.

2. Add Context

Where will this be used? Who’s the audience? What style do you want?

For example:

Now the AI knows how to help you.

3. Use Your Voice

You know what makes you different? Your quirks. Your energy. The weird way you talk to friends.

Inject that.

Example:

You don’t need 10 prompts. You need one honest one.

Best Use Cases

This method works especially well when:

• You’re writing content (emails, threads, posts, sales pages)

• You’re brainstorming ideas or naming things

• You’re editing or rewriting your own work

• You want help sounding like you

Here’s where it doesn’t shine: if you’re doing technical coding or rigid instructions. For that, structure matters more.

But for anything creative, conversational, or opinion-driven? It’s what you want.

The Prompt (Copy & Paste)

Here’s my go-to template. You can tweak it depending on your context:

That’s it.

A little detail. A little soul. A clear ask.

Tips for Better Results

• Don’t fake it. If you’re not clear, say that. Start with “I’m not sure what I want this to be yet.”

• Use metaphors. Want it to feel like a pep talk? A Netflix doc intro? Say so.

• Iterate. Don’t expect perfection. Use the first draft as a base. Refine with feedback.

• Break the fourth wall. Literally tell ChatGPT, “Talk to me like I’m stuck.” It helps.

• Be messy. Clarity beats polish. You’re not writing for it—you’re writing with it.

I used to think I was bad at prompting.

Now I realize I was just bad at being honest about what I wanted.

Better prompts aren’t about better commands. They’re about better conversations.

Think of ChatGPT like a creative friend. The more you tell it about you, your style, your goal, and your audience, the more powerful it becomes.

So go ahead. Forget the jargon. Stop copy-pasting “perfect prompts” from Twitter threads.

Say what you really want.

Talk like a human.

Thanks for reading!

Best,

Miroslav from The Zilahut

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