How to use this sheet
Choose a pattern, replace the story constraints, then compare and revise the drafts.
See Prompt Engineering for Creative Writing
for the full method.
Story and idea generation
| Pattern | Example prompt | Check for |
|---|
| Story ideas | Give me 10 short story ideas set in a near-future city dealing with climate change. | Check that each idea contains a distinct character choice and consequence. |
| Plot outline | Outline a three-act structure for a mystery novel set in Victorian London. | Check causality, escalation, clues, and resolution. |
| Alternate endings | Suggest 3 different endings for a story where the hero is betrayed by a close ally. | Check that each ending follows from an established choice. |
Character development
| Pattern | Example prompt | Check for |
|---|
| Character bio | Create a detailed character sheet for a space explorer, including strengths, flaws, and goals. | Check that traits affect choices and do not contradict each other. |
| Dialogue style | Write a conversation between a wise mentor and a reckless student. Keep the tone lighthearted. | Check speaker distinction, subtext, and tone. |
| Motivation | Describe the inner conflict of a villain who secretly wants to be loved. | Check competing goals, visible behavior, and consequences. |
Worldbuilding
| Pattern | Example prompt | Check for |
|---|
| Setting sketch | Describe a medieval market square at dawn, focusing on sights, sounds, and smells. | Check viewpoint, specific details, and period consistency. |
| Culture design | Invent a festival tradition for a desert-dwelling society. | Check material conditions, social purpose, and internal consistency. |
| Magic system | Design a simple magic system with three rules and clear limitations. | Check costs, limits, exceptions, and effects on the setting. |
Style emulation
| Pattern | Example prompt | Check for |
|---|
| Voice constraints | Rewrite this paragraph with short declarative sentences, concrete nouns, and no explanation of emotion. | Check each stated feature against the revision. |
| Genre mimicry | Write a scene of a detective arriving at a crime scene in the style of film noir. | Check period vocabulary, viewpoint, imagery, and cliches. |
| Poetic tone | Describe a sunset over the ocean in the form of a sonnet. | Check line count, meter, rhyme scheme, and imagery. |
Editing and rewriting
| Pattern | Example prompt | Check for |
|---|
| Conciseness | Rewrite this paragraph in a more concise and persuasive style. | Compare length, retained facts, and unsupported claims. |
| Tone adjustment | Rewrite this passage to sound hopeful and inspiring. | Adjusts emotional tone while keeping content intact. |
| Pacing | Edit this action scene to increase urgency and suspense. | Adds sharper, faster-paced language. |
Best practices
- Give the audience, genre, and intended use.
- Set length, format, and observable voice constraints.
- Request alternatives for structural decisions.
- Name the defect in each revision request.
Further reading