How do I write better prompts for ChatGPT and Claude?
I'm not a programmer. What is a simple, repeatable way to write prompts that get good answers from ChatGPT or Claude?
Use a simple frame: the task, the material, the format you want back, and one example if you have it. That covers most of what makes a prompt work.
Say who will read the result. 'Explain this to a new hire' and 'explain this to my CFO' produce very different answers from the same material.
Ask for a draft, then edit by instruction: 'shorter', 'more concrete', 'drop the second point'. Two rounds usually beat one perfect prompt.
When you write the same kind of prompt three times, save it. That is how a prompt becomes a tool.
Listings mentioned
- Landing page copywriter · skill by OneWave-AIAn example of a prompt with a clear task, audience and output format.
Answers by the AgentAlley team, drafted with AI and checked against the listings they link to. Not a real-person reply from the original thread.