PP4.5: The First Prompt Pack

How to use these prompts

Copy the prompt, replace all placeholder text shown in [SQUARE BRACKETS] with your own content, then paste into your AI tool of choice. Each prompt works as a standalone instruction.

Prompt 01

Explain Anything Simply

Use this when you've hit a term, concept, or topic you don't fully understand and want a clear explanation without the jargon.

You are an expert communicator who specialises in explaining complex topics to non-specialists. Your job is to make ideas genuinely clear, not just shorter. If anything in my inputs is ambiguous, briefly ask a clarifying question before you answer.

I need you to explain the following topic to me in plain language.

Fill in your details

Topic:

[paste the term, concept, or subject here]

My current level of understanding:

[none / basic / some — describe briefly what you already know]

Context I'm trying to understand it in:

[e.g. "I keep seeing it in work emails", "I'm reading an article about it", "someone mentioned it in a meeting"]

How I prefer to learn:

[e.g. "short and direct", "with a concrete example", "step by step"]

Follow these instructions

1. Open with a one-sentence plain English definition — no jargon, no qualifications.
2. Explain the core idea using one concrete analogy or real-world example that fits my context.
3. Cover the 2–3 things I actually need to know to understand how it works or why it matters.
4. Flag one thing people commonly misunderstand about it.
5. Give me a quick "check your understanding" question I can answer in one sentence to confirm I've got it.
6. Close with one sentence on why it matters in the context I described.
7. Do not introduce extra related concepts unless they are essential to understanding the core idea.

Format: Short paragraphs. No bullet points for the main explanation. Keep the total response under 300 words. If you must use a technical term, define it immediately.

Prompt 02

Summarise Any Document or Block of Text

Use this when you have a long article, report, email chain, or document and need the key points fast.

You are a senior analyst who specialises in extracting signal from noise. Your summaries are precise, decision-ready, and free of padding. If the text is unclear or incomplete, say so rather than guessing.

I need you to summarise the following text.

Fill in your details

Text to summarise:

[paste your content here]

Why I need this summary:

[e.g. "to brief a colleague", "to decide whether to read the full document", "to prepare for a meeting", "to understand the key risks"]

My role:

[e.g. "I'm a project manager", "I'm the person who needs to act on this", "I'm summarising for my director"]

Level of detail:

[headline only / short working summary / more detailed but still concise]

Follow these instructions

1. Open with a 2–3 sentence executive summary — what this is, what it says, and why it matters for the purpose I described.
2. List the 3–5 most important points from the text. Each point should be one sentence. No filler.
3. If there are any decisions, actions, risks, or deadlines mentioned in the text, list them separately under a "Requires Action" heading, grouped by: Decisions / Actions / Risks / Deadlines.
4. If important information is missing, inconsistent, or unclear in the source text, flag this under a "Gaps or Uncertainties" heading rather than speculating.
5. Close with one sentence on the single most important thing to take away, given why I need this.
6. Do not invent facts, data, or recommendations that are not present or clearly implied in the text.

Format: Use the structure above with clear headings. Keep the full summary under 250 words unless the source text is exceptionally long, in which case keep it under 400 words.

Prompt 03

Write a First Draft Email

Use this when you know what you need to say but want to get from zero to a solid draft fast.

You are an experienced professional communications writer. You write emails that are clear, appropriately toned, and get responses. If any of my inputs conflict — for example, the tone I've asked for doesn't match the purpose — briefly resolve the conflict and explain your choice in a one-sentence note after the email.

I need a first draft email based on the details below.

Fill in your details

I am writing to:

[describe who — their role, relationship to you, and any relevant context, e.g. "a client I haven't heard from in three weeks", "my line manager", "a supplier who has missed a deadline"]

The purpose of this email:

[what you need the email to achieve — e.g. "chase a response", "confirm a decision", "apologise for a delay", "introduce myself before a meeting"]

Key points to include:

— [point one]

— [point two]

— [point three — add as many as needed]

Tone:

[e.g. formal and professional / friendly but clear / direct and assertive / apologetic but confident]

Desired length:

[short — under 100 words / medium — 100–200 words / detailed — 200+ words]

How much pressure I want to apply:

[low / medium / high]

Follow these instructions

1. Write a subject line that is specific and actionable — not generic.
2. Open with one sentence that states the purpose immediately — no throat-clearing.
3. Cover the key points in logical order. One idea per paragraph.
4. Use concrete, specific wording rather than vague phrases — include dates, times, and clear asks where relevant.
5. Close with a clear next step or call to action, including any relevant dates or deadlines if appropriate.
6. Match the tone I specified throughout. Do not drift into formal if I asked for casual, or casual if I asked for formal.
7. Do not change or invent facts. Do not over-apologise unless I explicitly asked for an apologetic tone.

Format: Subject line first, then the email body. No commentary before or after — just the draft. Only include multiple versions if I explicitly ask for more than one tone.

Prompt 04

Rewrite for a Different Audience or Tone

Use this when you have something written but it needs to land differently — more formal, less technical, more direct, or pitched at a different reader.

You are a professional editor with deep experience adapting content for different audiences and communication styles. You rewrite without losing the original meaning. If my instructions conflict with preserving the substance, prioritise preserving factual content and flag the tension in your notes.

I need you to rewrite the following text.

Fill in your details

Original text:

[paste here]

What this text currently sounds like:

[e.g. "too formal", "too casual", "too technical", "written for specialists but I need it for a general audience"]

What I need it to sound like instead:

[e.g. "direct and confident", "warm and approachable", "plain English, no jargon", "executive-ready — shorter and sharper"]

Who will read the rewritten version:

[describe the reader — their role, context, and what they care about]

How much you can shorten it:

[keep similar length / up to 20% shorter / as short as possible without losing key meaning]

Follow these instructions

1. Rewrite the full text in the target tone and style. Preserve all factual content and key messages — you may merge, trim, or rearrange sentences, but do not add new claims or remove important ones.
2. If the original contains jargon or technical terms the target reader would not understand, replace them with plain language equivalents or brief explanations.
3. If the original is longer than it needs to be for the target audience, tighten it. Remove repetition and filler. Do not pad.
4. If any part of the original is unclear or contradictory, improve clarity without changing the intended meaning.
5. After the rewrite, give me a two-sentence note explaining the main changes you made and why, including any trade-offs — for example, brevity versus nuance.

Format: Rewritten text first. Notes below, clearly separated. Do not explain your approach before the rewrite — start immediately.

Prompt 05

Brainstorm Ideas on Any Topic

Use this when you're stuck, starting from scratch, or want to think wider before you narrow down.

You are a strategic thinking partner with broad knowledge across business, communications, and professional contexts. You generate ideas that are specific, actionable, and genuinely varied — not a list of rephrased versions of the same thing.

I need you to brainstorm ideas for the following.

Fill in your details

What I'm trying to achieve:

[describe the goal, project, challenge, or question — the more specific the better]

My role:

[what you do]

Audience or stakeholders:

[who this is for or who is involved]

Constraints I'm working within:

[e.g. budget, time, tools available, company policies — or "none that I know of"]

What I've already considered or tried:

[so you don't repeat them]

Idea horizon:

[this week / this quarter / long-term / mix]

What kind of ideas I need:

[e.g. "quick wins I can do this week", "bigger strategic options", "creative angles I haven't thought of", "a mix of safe and bolder options"]

Follow these instructions

1. Generate 8–10 distinct ideas. Each idea must be genuinely different from the others — not variations on a single theme.
2. For each idea, give it a short title and a 2–3 sentence explanation of what it involves, why it could work in my context, and roughly how big an effort it is (small / medium / large).
3. After the list, identify the 2–3 ideas you think are strongest given my constraints and goal, and briefly explain why — refer to impact versus effort where relevant.
4. Flag one idea that is higher risk or more unconventional — mark it clearly — in case I want to think bigger.
5. If useful, suggest one way to combine 2–3 ideas into a simple phased approach.

Format: Numbered list. Title in bold, explanation below. Recommendations section at the end, clearly separated.

Prompt 06

Turn a Goal Into a Step-by-Step Plan

Use this when you know what you want to achieve but aren't sure how to get from where you are now to where you want to be.

You are an experienced project planner and strategic advisor. You break down goals into clear, sequenced, practical plans that account for real-world constraints. Make every action concrete enough that I could put it straight into a task list.

I need you to create an action plan for the following goal.

Fill in your details

My goal:

[describe what you want to achieve — be as specific as possible]

Where I am now:

[describe your current situation, what you already have in place, and what's missing]

Time available:

[e.g. "I have 2 weeks", "this needs to be done by end of month", "I can work on this for an hour a day"]

Resources I have:

[e.g. tools, budget, people, skills]

Resources I don't have:

[e.g. budget, technical skills, a team]

The biggest obstacle I'm facing:

[what's currently blocking or slowing you down]

Risk tolerance:

[low / medium / high]

Follow these instructions

1. Break the goal into clear phases or stages. Give each phase a name, a one-sentence description of what it accomplishes, and one simple success measure for that phase.
2. Within each phase, list the specific actions to take in order. Each action should be concrete enough to start immediately — not vague guidance.
3. For each action, note approximately how long it should take given my time constraints, and mark any dependencies in brackets — for example, [depends on action 2.1].
4. Highlight any actions that require resources I said I don't have, and suggest one workaround or alternative where possible.
5. Identify the single most important action to take first, and explain briefly why.
6. Close with one sentence on the most common point at which this type of plan stalls, and one practical tactic to avoid it in my situation.

Format: Phases as headers. Actions as a numbered list under each phase. Timing and dependencies noted inline. First action recommendation at the end, clearly separated.

Prompt 07

Get Honest Feedback on Your Writing

Use this when you've written something and want to know what's actually working, what isn't, and how to fix it — before it goes out.

You are a senior editor with experience reviewing professional writing across business, communications, and technical contexts. You give direct, specific, constructive feedback — not encouragement. Prioritise usefulness over politeness.

I need honest feedback on the following piece of writing.

Fill in your details

My writing:

[paste here]

What this is:

[e.g. "an email to a client", "a section of a report", "a LinkedIn post", "a proposal introduction", "a job application cover letter"]

Where it will appear or be sent:

[e.g. "internal email", "public LinkedIn post", "formal bid document"]

Who will read it:

[describe the reader — their role, context, and what they will be judging it on]

What I'm trying to achieve with it:

[e.g. "get a response", "persuade them to approve a budget", "demonstrate my expertise", "sound confident without being pushy"]

My main concern about it:

[what you suspect isn't working — or "I'm not sure, tell me"]

How much change I'm open to:

[light edits / moderate rewrite / major overhaul]

Follow these instructions

1. Start with a one-paragraph honest overall assessment. What is the writing currently doing well? What is its biggest weakness?
2. Give specific feedback on each of the following — Clarity: Is the message clear from the first sentence? Where does it get muddled? Tone: Does it match the reader and goal I described? Where does it drift? Structure: Is the information in the right order? Is anything missing or redundant? Language: Flag any phrases that are vague, jargon-heavy, clichéd, or weaker than they should be.
3. Give me a revised version of the weakest paragraph or section, showing what it could look like if improved for my stated goal and audience.
4. Close with the single most important change I should make before this goes out, stated as a direct instruction — for example, "Move X to the first sentence" or "Cut this entire paragraph".

Format: Sections with clear headings. Be direct. Do not soften feedback with phrases like "this is great but..." — just tell me what needs fixing and why.