Iterate, don't restart — Prompt Craft
The first answer is a draft
Pros treat AI like a talented collaborator: the first answer is a starting point. The real magic is in follow-ups — specific, targeted feedback.
"Make it better" gives the AI nothing to work with. "Cut it by half, make the opening a question, drop the corporate words like 'leverage'" does.
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The first answer is a draft
Pros treat AI like a talented collaborator: the first answer is a starting point. The real magic is in follow-ups — specific, targeted feedback.
"Make it better" gives the AI nothing to work with. "Cut it by half, make the opening a question, drop the corporate words like 'leverage'" does.
Follow-ups that work
- Be specific: "The second paragraph is too formal — make it sound like a text to a friend."
- Ask for options: "Give me 5 different openings; I'll pick one."
- Make it critique itself: "What are the 3 weakest points in this? Fix them."
- Change the lens: "Rewrite this for a skeptical reader who hates hype."
- Keep what works: "Keep the structure, just change the examples."
The self-critique loop
One of the most powerful patterns: draft → critique → revise. Ask the AI to review its own work against criteria you care about, then fix what it found.
"Review this proposal as a skeptical CFO. List the 5 strongest objections. Then revise the proposal to address them." You get a sharper draft and a preview of the pushback.
Try it: the skeptical reviewer
Here's something I wrote: [paste]. Review it as a tough, skeptical reader. List the 5 biggest weaknesses, ranked. Then rewrite it fixing them, keeping my voice.
Part of ✍️ Prompt Craft in the free AI Bootcamp.