⏳ This 15-Min Hack Makes AI Write Its Own Perfect Prompts

Have you noticed this? A lot of people think they need to become "prompt engineers" to get good results from AI. They spend hours writing long 500-word commands. They take expensive classes and try to remember hard rules.

But here is the truth: you don't need to do all of that.

There is a simple secret that can change how you work with AI. Instead of writing every command from the beginning, you can let AI write the prompts for you. And the best part? It only takes about 15 minutes to learn this trick, and it works very well.

In this guide, we will look at some different methods to make your prompts better. No hard words, no technical terms – just simple steps that anyone can follow.

Why Do Many People Write AI Prompts Wrong?

Before we look at the methods, let's talk about why "writing prompts" has become such a big deal.

When you see someone share their "perfect prompt" online, you are seeing the final result. You don't see the process they went through. They did not wake up and write that perfect prompt. They started simple and built on it slowly, testing and changing things.

That is the important lesson: Start small, then add more parts slowly. This way, you understand what each part of your prompt really does.

Think about it like learning to cook. You don't start with a hard recipe that has 30 ingredients. You start with something basic, get good at it, then add more things as you learn.

Or think about building with toy blocks. You can't build a big building right away. You put one block at a time. If you put 10 blocks at once and the building falls, you don't know which block caused the problem. But if you put one block at a time, you know exactly what works and what doesn't.

What Is A “System Prompt”?

You will hear the words "system prompt" a lot. It's important to understand what it is, because it is very useful.

Think of the AI as an actor.

• A System Prompt is like the "role" you give the actor. It tells the AI who it is and what its rules are.

• A normal prompt is like the "lines" or actions you ask the actor to do.

Easy Example:

Imagine you are hiring a chef.

• System Prompt (The Role): "You are an Italian chef. You only cook vegetarian food. You NEVER use garlic. You always talk in a friendly way."

• Normal Prompt (The Task): "What should I make for dinner tonight?"

Because of that "system prompt," the chef (the AI) will answer based on its role. It will say something like: "Hello! How about we make a nice pasta with tomatoes and mushrooms tonight? No garlic, and very delicious!"

If you did not have that "system prompt," the AI might suggest steak or a chicken dish with garlic.

A system prompt is a fixed guide for the AI. You set it one time, and the AI will remember that role for the whole conversation. You can find the "System Prompt" box in tools like the OpenAI Platform or the Anthropic Console. In the normal ChatGPT, you can use "Custom Instructions" to do the same thing.

Now, let's learn how to make the AI write these great "roles" for us.

Choosing Your Approach: Simple Vs. Complex

We have a few ways to make our prompts better. The question is: which one should you use?

Here is a simple rule:

Most of the time, you can use the simple method. If that doesn't give you what you need, then change to the complex way or use the optimizer tools.

Let's look at each method.

Method 1: Ask AI To Write Your Prompt (The Simple Way)

This is the fastest, easiest method, and it works well for most situations.

Here is exactly what you do:

Step 1: Open ChatGPT or your favorite AI tool.

Step 2: Use this prompt template:

I want you to make a 'system prompt' for [name of AI model], but I'm not sure where to start. The goal of that prompt is to [describe what you want the AI to do]. Can you research the best ways (best practices) for prompting this model as of [today's date]? After you have those best ways, please write a system prompt for me that meets that need.

Step 3: Fill in the blanks:

• Replace [name of AI model] with the model you are using (example: "ChatGPT 5" or "Claude 4").

• Replace [describe what you want the AI to do] with your goal (example: "help me write social media posts for my small coffee shop").

• Replace [today's date] with the real date.

The Results:

You are the social-media copywriter for a small, local coffee shop.  
Your job: Create engaging social-media posts (for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter) that reflect the brand’s voice and support the coffee shop’s goals.

Brand / business context:  
• The coffee shop is called [Your Coffee Shop Name].  
• It serves specialty coffee, light pastries, and offers a cozy, friendly vibe.  
• The target audience: local community, coffee-lovers, people looking for a relaxed place to meet friends or work.  
• Brand voice: warm, authentic, slightly playful, down-to-earth (not overly trendy or “marketing-speak”).  
• Avoid clichés like “best coffee in town” or generic influencer language. Be real.

Task instructions:  
• For each prompt you create, produce:  
   1) A caption (for Instagram or Facebook) up to ~125 words.  
   2) A set of 2-4 relevant hashtags.  
   3) A short platform-adapted version (for X/Twitter) up to ~60 characters plus 1-2 hashtags.  
• Use a friendly tone, invite interaction (questions, calls to action), mention the shop environment or special offers when relevant.  
• Avoid over-using emojis; if you use any, limit to 1-2 per post.  
• Do not use jargon, or “AI style” phrasing (like “unleash your potential”).  
• Make sure each post sounds human, specific to the shop (e.g., mention “our house-roast”, “this Saturday’s pastry”, “bring your laptop and plug in”).  
• Provide 3 unique post ideas at a time.

Output format:  
Post #1:
Caption: …
Hashtags: …
Platform-X version: …

Post #2:
Caption: …
Hashtags: …
Platform-X version: …

Post #3:
Caption: …
Hashtags: …
Platform-X version: …

Why this works:

When you say the specific model name, the AI knows to look for the best methods for exactly that model. Different AI models work differently. What works for ChatGPT might not work well for Claude.

When you include today's date, you get the newest and best advice. AI is always getting better, and the ways to write prompts that worked six months ago might be old now.

Real Example:

Let's say I want AI to help me manage the Instagram for my coffee shop. I would type:

I want you to make a 'system prompt' for ChatGPT 4, but I'm not sure where to start. The goal of that prompt is for the AI to help me create ideas and captions for my small coffee shop's Instagram posts. My shop is called 'The Cozy Bean' and we want a friendly, warm, and welcoming feeling.

Can you research the best ways (best practices) for prompting this model as of October 20, 2025? After you have those best ways, please write a system prompt for me that meets that need.

What happens next:

The AI will think for a minute or two. During this time, it is actually looking for the best methods. Then, it will give you a better prompt that follows all those good practices.

It might look like this:

You are the social-media & content assistant for “The Cozy Bean” small coffee shop.  
Your job is to help generate ideas and Instagram captions that reflect the brand personality: friendly, warm, welcoming, casual, and community-oriented.  

**Brand voice & tone:**  
• Warm and friendly (like speaking to a neighbour)  
• Welcoming (invite people in)  
• Simple and honest  
• Slightly playful, but not overly quirky or weird  
• Avoid hype/jargon – no “revolutionary”, “game-changer”, etc.

**Context you always know:**  
• Shop name: The Cozy Bean  
• Location: Ho Chi Minh City (so references to local weather, coffee culture, VN vibe are okay)  
• You post for Instagram: images of coffee drinks, pastries, shop interior, customers relaxing, maybe local events.  
• Captions often include a call to action: e.g., “Come by”, “Tag someone”, “What’s your favourite?”, “Tell us below”.

**When asked, you will produce**:  
1. A content idea (short description of the post: photo suggestion + angle)  
2. An Instagram caption of up to 150 characters (so it fits visually and doesn’t require long reading)  
3. Up to two relevant hashtags (for example: #CozyBeanHCMC #VietnamCoffee)  
4. Optional: a short suggestion of when / what kind of image to use (for context)  

**Rules / constraints:**  
• No more than 150 characters for the caption.  
• Use simple language; no heavy acronyms or slang that local audience might not understand.  
• Avoid overly formal tone.  
• Avoid generic marketing phrases (“best coffee in town”, “unmatched quality”) – keep it grounded.  
• Do not mention brand history or business metrics in the caption (unless user asks separately).  
• Do not include emojis unless user requests them.  
• If you are unsure what image or angle is needed, ask the user a clarifying question.

**Example**  
Content idea: “Late-afternoon sunshine streaming through our window, almond croissant beside a flat white.”  
Caption: “Sun’s golden hour + flat white = perfect unwind. Pop by The Cozy Bean. #CozyBeanHCMC #VietnamCoffee”  

---

End of instruction.

Important tip: Sometimes the AI can write a lot. If the prompt it gives you feels too long or hard, don't worry. You can:

• Ask it: "Can you make this prompt shorter and simpler?"

• Start with only the main parts and add more later.

Remember: less is often more. You always want to start with a smaller prompt and add to it over time. This helps you understand what each part does.

Method 2: The Reverse AI Interview (For Important Tasks)

This method takes a little more time, but it is worth it when you really need to get things right.

Use this method when:

• The task is very important.

• You have a general idea but can't explain it clearly.

• You need the AI to understand many specific details about your situation.

Think of this as having a talk with the AI, where it asks you questions to understand exactly what you need.

Step 1: Start with this prompt:

I want you to interview me, asking one question at a time. Each answer I give should help you ask the next question. This is very important - please ONLY ask ONE question at a time, and use my answers to guide the talk.

The reason you are interviewing me is to make a final 'system prompt' for [name of model]. My goal is to make a system prompt for an AI that can [describe your goal].

Step 2: Answer the AI's questions honestly and with detail.

Step 3: Keep talking back and forth (usually 10-15 questions).

Step 4: When you are ready to finish, say:

After we finished this interview, can you now please make the 'system prompt' based on all the information I gave you?

Why the "one question at a time" part is important:

If you don't say this, the AI will give you 50 questions at once. That is too much and not helpful. When it asks one question at a time and builds on your answers, it can guide the talk to what really matters for your situation.

Real Example:

Let's use a different example: helping a student make a study plan.

I want you to interview me, asking one question at a time. Each answer I give should help you ask the next question. This is very important - please ONLY ask ONE question at a time, and use my answers to guide the talk.

The reason you are interviewing me is to make a final 'system prompt' for Claude 3. My goal is to make a system prompt for an AI that can act as a personal study tutor for a high school student.

What the talk might look like:

AI: "Great, I can help with that. First, what grade is the student in, and what subject are they having trouble with?"

You: "They are in 10th grade and are having trouble with Biology, especially the part about genetics."

AI: "Got it. What is the student's learning style? Do they learn best with pictures, by reading, or by doing practice problems?"

You: "They learn best with pictures and real-life examples. They find the textbook very boring."

AI: "That's helpful. What is the student's final goal? Do they just want to pass the test, or do they want to understand the topic deeply?"

...and it continues...

Two big benefits of this method:

1. You get clarity for yourself. Often, we think we know what we want, but when the AI asks us specific questions, we realize we need to think more. This process helps you understand your own needs better.

2. AI gets exactly what you need. By the end of the interview, the AI has a complete picture of your situation. The prompt it makes will be perfect for your specific needs, not just a general one.

Method 3: Use Free Prompt Optimizer Tools

Here is something most people don't know: OpenAI and Anthropic (the companies that made ChatGPT and Claude) have tools to help make prompts better. And they are basically free!

These tools take your basic prompt and automatically make it better using the newest best methods for their models.

OpenAI's Tool (For ChatGPT)

This tool is in their Playground.

How to get there:

1. Go to platform.openai.com

   

2. Log in to your account (you might need to add a small amount of money, like $5, to use the Playground, but it is very cheap).

   

3. On the left side, click "Playground."

4. You will see a big box labeled "System". This is where you put your prompt.

   

How to use it (Here is a little trick):

There isn't a special "optimize" button here. You use the AI itself to optimize. You will use Method 1, but inside this special tool.

Step 1: In the "System" box, write a basic prompt. Don't worry about making it perfect.

Example:

I want you to help me plan my meals for the week. Make them healthy. I don't like fish.

Step 2: Now, delete that and use a version of Method 1, asking it to optimize the bad prompt.

Before we start, please help me make a better 'system prompt'.

My bad prompt was: "I want you to help me plan my meals for the week. Make them healthy. I don't like fish."

Please rewrite that prompt for me, using the best methods for ChatGPT 4. Please use clear sections (like using #) and give specific rules so you can help me best.

Step 3: Press "Run."

What you will get back:

The AI will answer (in the chat box) with a much better version for your prompt. It might look like this:

Of course! Here is a better 'system prompt' you can put in the system box:

---
# ROLE
You are a meal planning and nutrition expert.

# GOAL
To help the user create a healthy, easy-to-make 7-day meal plan.

# RULES
1.  **Food Preference:** The user does not like fish. NEVER suggest any meals with fish.
2.  **Health Focus:** Give priority to balanced meals with vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.
3.  **Simple:** Recipes should be simple and take less than 30 minutes to make.
4.  **Format:** When the user asks for a plan, show it as a clear table with columns: Day, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
5.  **Ask Questions:** Before making the first plan, ask the user if they have any other allergies or specific calorie goals.
---

What got better:

• Better structure: Instead of one paragraph, the new prompt has clear parts using the # symbol. These are called "delimiters," and they help the AI understand what each part is for.

• Clear rules: Instead of "healthy," it says "vegetables, lean protein, whole grains."

• Output format: It knows exactly how to show the answer (a table).

Anthropic's Tool (For Claude)

Anthropic's tool is a little more direct and is built-in.

How to get there:

1. Go to console.anthropic.com

   

2. Log in (You also might need to add a small amount of money, like $5, to start).

   

3. Click "Workbench."

4. You will see a box to type your prompt. At the top right of that box, there is a button that says "Generate Prompt".

   

How to use it:

Step 1: Write your basic prompt in the box.

Example:

Rewrite this paragraph for me. Make it more professional.

Step 2: Click the "Generate Prompt" button.

What's different about Anthropic's tool:

Instead of using # symbols, Anthropic likes to use XML tags. Don't let that scare you – XML is just a way to organize text that Claude understands very well.

It will turn your simple prompt into something like this:

You are a professional editor. Your job is to rewrite the text from the user to make it more clear, formal, and professional.

Please follow these rules:
- Keep the main meaning of the original text.
- Fix all grammar and spelling mistakes.
- Change casual language (slang) to correct business words.
- Only give the rewritten text, with no explanation before or after.

The user will give you the text inside <text_to_rewrite> tags.

<text_to_rewrite>
[User's original text will go here]
</text_to_rewrite>

Here is your rewritten version:

Tags like <text_to_rewrite> work just like the # symbols. They just help Claude understand which part is the instruction and which part is the content to work on.

Method 4: Improve With Examples (The Fast-Learning Way)

This is a new and very strong method. Sometimes, the best way to tell AI what you want is to show it.

This is called "few-shot prompting" (prompting with a few examples).

Think of it like this: You don't just tell a new employee, "Write professional emails." You show them 2-3 emails you already wrote and say, "Write like this."

How to do it:

You give the AI a few "Before" and "After" pairs.

Real Example:

Let's say you want AI to help you turn your messy thoughts into clear sentences for a report.

Here is your prompt:

I will give you a "messy note." You will rewrite it as a professional, clear sentence. Please follow the examples below.

---
EXAMPLE 1
Messy note: need meeting about budget, everyone is spending too much money.
Professional sentence: We need to schedule a meeting to review the quarterly budget, as it appears department spending is high.

---
EXAMPLE 2
Messy note: project is late, because marketing didn't send us the pictures.
Professional sentence: The project timeline is delayed. We are waiting for the creative assets from the Marketing department to move forward.

---
EXAMPLE 3
Messy note: customer complained about the button not working.
Professional sentence: We received feedback from a customer reporting a bug; specifically, the 'Submit' button is not working.

---

Now it's your turn:

Messy note: nobody knows how to use the new software, need training.
Professional sentence:

What happens next:

The AI will see your pattern. It will immediately create the answer that follows your style:

"It seems employee adoption of the new software is low. We should organize a training session to make sure everyone understands how to use the tool."

This method is great for:

• Changing the tone (how it sounds).

• Re-formatting text (example: changing a bullet list into a table).

• Changing hard words into simple language.

How To Test And Save Your New Prompts

Just because the AI wrote a prompt doesn't mean it's perfect. You need to "test drive" it.

Step 1: Test It

Take your new prompt (from any method) and try it. But don't just try it once.

• Try it 3-5 times with different tasks.

• If you have the coffee shop prompt, try:

  

  1. "Write about our latte."

  2. "Write about us closing early on Friday."

  3. "Write about a customer who dropped their cup."

  

Step 2: Adjust It

If it doesn't work, change it.

• If it forgets to be friendly, add a rule to the prompt: "IMPORTANT: Always use a friendly tone."

• If it writes too much, add: "Always keep answers under 50 words."

Step 3: Save It (Build Your Prompt Library)

When you have a prompt that works well, don't lose it.

Make a "prompt library." This is not something hard. It's just a text file (Notepad), a Google Doc, or a notes app.

Organize it simply:

================================
Prompt Name: Coffee Shop Instagram Captions
Goal: Writes 3 friendly caption options for a topic.
Prompt:
[Paste your whole system prompt here...
### ROLE AND GOAL
You are 'Bean,' the friendly social media manager...
...]
================================
Prompt Name: Meal Planner Expert
Goal: Creates a 7-day healthy meal plan with no fish.
Prompt:
[Paste your prompt here...
# ROLE
You are a meal planning and nutrition expert...
...]
================================

This saves you a lot of time. Next time you need to write an Instagram caption, you just copy and paste your prompt that you know already works.

Common Problems (And How To Fix Them)

What if you do all this and the AI still doesn't work well?

Problem 1: The AI ignores my rules.

Sometimes, if your prompt is too long, the AI will "forget" the rules at the beginning.

• Fix: Put the most important rule at the end of the prompt. The AI often pays more attention to the last thing you said. You can also use CAPITAL LETTERS: "IMPORTANT: NEVER suggest fish."

Problem 2: The AI gives a different format every time.

• Fix: You need to be very specific. Don't say "give me a list." Say: "Give me the answer as a bulleted list. Each bullet point must be a full sentence." Using Method 4 (examples) is the best way to fix this.

Problem 3: The AI sounds like a robot.

• Fix: Add rules about the tone. Don't just say "friendly." Be more specific: "Write like a helpful friend. Use simple words. Use a few (emojis) when it fits. Do not use hard business words."

Putting These Methods Together

Here is how you can use all these methods together:

1. Start with an idea: "I need AI to help me learn English vocabulary."

2. Use Method 1 (Simple Ask): Ask the AI "write a prompt for a vocabulary tutor."

3. Get the result: The AI gives you a good prompt.

4. Test it: You try it and find it's helpful, but it gives you words that are too easy.

5. Adjust it (Method 4): You add to the prompt: "Always give B2 level words. For example: (Word: Accommodate, Meaning: to provide a place to stay, Example: The hotel can accommodate 200 guests)."

6. Test it again: Now it works perfectly.

7. Save it: You save it in your prompt library as "B2 English Vocabulary Tutor."

Wrapping It All Up

You don't need to become an expert in writing prompts. You don't need to remember hard rules.

You just need to know how to ask the AI for help.

1. Method 1: Ask AI to Write Your Prompt – Fast and easy for most tasks.

2. Method 2: Let AI Interview You – When you need something very specific and detailed.

3. Method 3: Use Optimizer Tools – To quickly clean up and structure your prompt.

4. Method 4: Improve With Examples – When the tone or format is most important.

The key is to start simple and get better over time by testing.

Now go try it. Pick one method, create your first better prompt, and see the difference it makes in your results.

If you are interested in other topics and how AI is transforming different aspects of our lives or even in making money using AI with more detailed, step-by-step guidance, you can find our other articles here:

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