AI Prompts Guidelines
16 Mar 2026
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ai
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Text prompts
Before submitting, check:
- Context - does the neural network know who I am, who I’m writing for, and why?
- Role - have I told it how it should present itself?
- Format - have I specified the length, structure, and tone?
- Prohibitions - have I listed the don’ts?
- Examples - have I shown how it should look?
- Facts - am I going to double-check the numbers and names?
- Iterations - am I prepared to ask for 2-3 rewrites?
After receiving, check:
- Style - does it sound like a living person or a soulless essay?
- Flavor - can it be shortened by 30% without losing the meaning?
- Facts - have I checked the links and statistics?
- Purpose - does the text solve the problem I set?
Visual prompts
Before submitting, check:
- Aspect ratio - did I specify –ar or choose a format?
- Style - did I choose a single style or am I hoping the neural network will figure it out on its own?
- Colors - did I limit the palette or allow a rainbow?
- Composition - did I say the entire object should be in the frame?
- Text - do I really want the neural network to write letters? (It’s better not to)
- Negative prompts - did I prohibit crooked hands, extra fingers, and other mutations?
After receiving, check:
- Anatomy - how many fingers? Are the eyes looking in the same direction?
- Composition - is anything important cut off?
- Text - if there are any text, are they legible?
- Style - is it a single style or a mixed bag?
- Details - do objects blend together?
Why errors happen?
- They happen because we’re too lazy to explain.
- Too lazy to add context.
- Too lazy to clarify the style.
- Too lazy to check the facts.
- Too lazy to ask for a redo.
Three main takeaways
- Specificity is paramount. Don’t just say “make it beautiful,” but “make it like this, like this, in this style.”
- The neural network is lying. Check the facts, even if it sounds convincing.
- The first version is not the last. Refine it, clarify, ask for revisions. The best result comes after 3-4 attempts.
References