Prompt Engineering Secrets: Writing Prompts That Actually Work

The Magic Sentence That Changed Everything

A few years ago, a developer friend of mine asked me a seemingly simple question:

“Why does ChatGPT sometimes give me amazing answers and sometimes complete nonsense even when I ask the same thing in slightly different ways?”

That was my first real glimpse into the hidden art of prompt engineering. The same AI model, with the same knowledge, could be transformed from “unhelpful intern” into “genius consultant” just by tweaking the words you feed it.

And that’s when it clicked:
AI isn’t about knowing everything it’s about knowing how to ask.

In today’s newsletter, we’re diving deep into the secrets of writing prompts that actually work the strategies professionals use to consistently get powerful, reliable, and creative outputs.

Why Prompt Engineering Matters (and Why Most People Get It Wrong)

Think of prompt engineering as the modern version of “Googling skills.” Remember in high school when some people could type two words into Google and magically find the answer, while others spent hours clicking random links?

AI works the same way. The quality of your output depends on the precision and clarity of your input.

Most people make three common mistakes when writing prompts:

1. They’re too vague. Asking AI to “write me a business plan” will usually result in a generic, cookie-cutter template.
   

2. They give no context. Without role assignment (e.g., “Act as a financial advisor”), the AI doesn’t know what perspective to take.
   

3. They stop too soon. The best outputs often come from iterative prompting layering refinements instead of expecting perfection on the first try.
   

But once you know how to avoid these traps, you unlock an entirely new level of productivity.

Prompt Secret #1: Role Assignment Is Everything

One of the easiest ways to supercharge your prompts is by giving the AI a role. Instead of asking, “Can you edit this email?” try this:

“Act as a senior copywriter at a tech startup. Rewrite the following email to sound persuasive, professional, and friendly without losing clarity.”

See the difference? The second prompt tells the AI:

• Who it should be.
  

• What tone it should use.
  

• What constraints matter.
  

Why this works: AI is trained on patterns of human communication. Assigning a role narrows its “search space” to the behaviors of that role. Suddenly, your results are sharper, more consistent, and more aligned with your intent.

💡 Pro tip: Try experimenting with hyper-specific roles like “a lawyer who specializes in startup contracts” or “a chef creating a Michelin-level vegetarian recipe.” You’ll be surprised how much better the answers get.

Prompt Secret #2: The Magic of “Constraints + Freedom”

The best prompts balance two things:

1. Constraints → specific rules the AI must follow.
   

2. Freedom → room for creativity within those rules.
   

For example, let’s say you’re brainstorming social media posts. Compare these two prompts:

❌ Bad prompt:

“Write a LinkedIn post about leadership.”

✅ Strong prompt:

“Write a 120-word LinkedIn post about leadership, told through a short story from history. Make it conversational but insightful, ending with a single thought-provoking question.”

Notice what happened?

• You gave a constraint (120 words, conversational tone, end with a question).
  

• You also gave freedom (choose any historical story).
  

The result: Something creative, but still useful for your purpose.

This principle applies everywhere marketing, coding, teaching, or even planning a vacation itinerary.

Prompt Secret #3: Iteration Beats Perfection

Here’s the biggest secret of all: the first answer is never the final answer.

Professional prompt engineers rarely type one perfect sentence and walk away. Instead, they treat AI like a collaborative partner.

Example workflow:

1. Start broad → “Write a rough outline for a course on public speaking.”
   

2. Refine → “Great. Now expand Module 2 into three lessons with practical exercises.”
   

3. Polish → “Make the tone more engaging and add humor suitable for college students.”
   

By iterating like this, you layer instructions until the output is exactly what you want.

💡 Think of it like sculpting. The first block of marble is rough, but with each iteration, the statue emerges.

Beyond the Basics: Advanced Prompt Tricks

Now that you’ve got the fundamentals, let’s push further.

1. Use Examples Inside Your Prompt

Instead of saying, “Write me a blog post introduction,” show the AI what you mean:

“Here’s an example of a blog intro I love: [insert text]. Now write a new intro about [topic] in the same style.”

AI learns best through pattern imitation. By feeding it a style guide, you’re teaching it your taste.

2. Ask for Multiple Variations

Never settle for the first draft. Try this:

“Give me 5 different headlines for this article, ranging from serious to playful.”

This lets you choose the best or even blend them together.

3. Use “Chain of Thought” Instructions

Want the AI to reason more deeply? Say:

“Think step by step. Before giving the final answer, explain your reasoning in 3–4 sentences.”

This forces the model to slow down and generate more thoughtful responses, especially for analysis or problem-solving.

My Personal Take: Learning to “Talk” to AI

Here’s something I didn’t expect when I first started experimenting with AI:

Prompting changed the way I communicate with people.

When I learned to give AI more context, clearer constraints, and step-by-step instructions, I realized I was becoming a better communicator in real life, too. Suddenly, my emails were more precise. My meeting requests were more actionable. My writing became sharper.

It’s like learning a new language except this one helps you talk to both machines and humans more effectively.

And honestly? That’s why I believe prompt engineering isn’t just a “tech skill.” It’s becoming a life skill.

Quick Recap (Because TL;DR Is Real)

Here are the big takeaways from today’s deep dive:

• Assign roles to the AI → It helps anchor responses in expertise.
  

• Balance constraints + freedom → Structure without killing creativity.
  

• Iterate, don’t settle → Great outputs come from step-by-step refinement.
  

• Use examples, variations, and reasoning prompts to level up your results.
  

If you start practicing these consistently, you’ll notice your AI interactions becoming smoother, sharper, and a lot more productive.

Until next time remember, it’s not about having the smartest AI. It’s about asking the smartest questions.

That’s it for today! ✨
Great prompts mean great results AI only gives back what you ask for.
Start practicing clear, specific prompts and watch your output transform.
Remember: the secret is not the AI, it’s how you talk to it.

— The AI Surface