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