Aug 26 • General discussion
Learning to Prompt Well: Skip the Generators, Master the Fundamentals
One of the most common questions I get is: "What's the best prompt generator?"
My answer might surprise you: I rarely use prompt generators.
Why? Because the best prompt iteration happens inside the AI tools themselves.
When you're working with Claude, ChatGPT, or any modern AI, you can refine your prompts in real-time based on the outputs you're getting. You see what works, what doesn't, and you iterate immediately. It's faster, more contextual, and teaches you to think like the AI thinks.
The Real Skill: Understanding Prompt Architecture
Great prompting isn't about finding the "perfect template" - it's about understanding how to structure your requests for maximum clarity and effectiveness:
- Context first: Give the AI the background it needs
- Role assignment: Tell it what expert perspective to take
- Specific outcomes: Be crystal clear about what you want
- Constraints: Include what you DON'T want
- Examples: Show, don't just tell
But Here's a Cool Free Resource
While I don't rely on prompt generators, there's one tool worth checking out to see how optimal prompts are structured: https://shumerprompt.com/
Browse through their examples not to copy-paste, but to study the patterns. Notice how the best prompts are structured, what elements they include, and how they guide the AI toward specific outcomes.
My Approach: Conversational Iteration
Instead of crafting the "perfect" prompt upfront, I:
- Start with a clear but simple request
- Analyze the AI's response for gaps or misunderstandings
- Refine my next prompt based on what I learned
- Build context and specificity with each exchange
- Save the winning patterns for future use
This approach has helped me generate hundreds of thousands of impressions on LinkedIn, create client deliverables for Fortune 500 companies, and build AI-powered business processes.
The Bottom Line
Don't get trapped thinking you need the "perfect prompt." Get comfortable having a conversation with AI, iterating as you go, and building your understanding of what works through practice.
The best prompt engineers I know don't use generators - they use curiosity, iteration, and pattern recognition.
What's your experience with prompting? Are you overthinking it, or have you found your groove?
-Dan
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Learning to Prompt Well: Skip the Generators, Master the Fundamentals
