The Only 7 Prompts AI Authors Need to Write Their First Book
Education
Introduction
Writing a book can often seem like an overwhelming task, especially with the plethora of prompts available today. From videos claiming to showcase the "best" prompts to endless text on various writing platforms, it can be hard to know what to focus on. However, the key to leveraging AI in your writing process lies in mastering a select few prompts. In this article, we’ll delve into the seven most essential prompts you can use to write an entire book from scratch, illustrating how to engage in a productive dialogue with AI to achieve your writing goals.
1. Brainstorming Prompt
The first and most crucial prompt is a brainstorming prompt. This prompt can take many forms, but its focus is to generate ideas for your story's premise and ending. For instance, you could ask AI to provide ten premise ideas for an epic fantasy dragon-shifter book. Once you have a selection, you can request potential endings and ensure the AI understands the direction of your story. This clarity will enhance the quality of the generated content and aid in creating foreshadowing throughout your narrative.
Example:
“Give me ten premise ideas for an epic fantasy dragon-shifter book and a possible ending.”
2. Synopsis Prompt
Once you have a defined premise and ending, you can utilize the synopsis prompt. This is structured to ask AI for a detailed synopsis of your story, following a traditional three-act structure. By providing the relevant premise, ending, and style notes, you receive a cohesive synopsis that outlines the flow of your story.
Example:
“Given the following premise and story information, give me a highly detailed synopsis for an epic fantasy dragon-shifter story in the traditional three-act structure.”
3. Outlining Prompt
The outlining prompt is your next step. Using the synopsis generated earlier, you can request that the AI create a detailed outline of your story, breaking it down by chapters. You may specify your preferred outlining method—be it the hero's journey, Save the Cat, or a custom 24-chapter novel outline.
Example:
“Using the following synopsis, create a detailed summary of the story, breaking it down into parts using the 24 chapter novel outline.”
4. Character Prompt
Creating compelling and well-rounded characters is vital for any story. The character prompt asks the AI to develop character profiles for your protagonists, antagonists, or other key figures. You can specify physical traits, backstory elements, and unique characteristics that you envision.
Example:
“Write a character profile about the protagonist Thalrick, including physical description and backstory.”
5. Story Beats Prompt
The story beats prompt is essential for establishing what happens in each chapter. You can ask the AI to generate a list of detailed action beats based on the chapter summary you provide. Properly defining these beats ensures that the AI has a solid foundation from which to develop chapter content.
Example:
“Take the following chapter summary and generate a list of 12 highly detailed action beats for a script using proper nouns instead of pronouns.”
6. Style Prompt
As you progress, developing a style prompt tailored to your preferences is crucial. This will guide the AI in replicating your desired tone, point of view, and narrative style. You can be explicit about what you want—such as avoiding clichés or ensuring strong verbs—during this stage.
Example:
“First-person past point of view; show don’t tell; realistic dialogue; stronger verbs; lots of conflict and drama; avoid mushy descriptions.”
7. Constructing the Prose Prompt
Finally, you arrive at the importance of constructing your prose. This prompt asks the AI to generate text for a specific chapter based on all the previous inputs. By including your genre, tone, key characters, and story beats, you create a solid request that can yield quality content.
Example:
“Write 1000 words of a chapter in the epic fantasy genre with a dark tone, focusing on the story beats provided.”
By utilizing these seven essential prompts, you can effectively interact with AI to craft an entire book. Remember that while AI can generate valuable content, the magic often lies in your human touch—editing and refining the text to align closely with your vision.
Keywords
- Brainstorming
- Synopsis
- Outline
- Character Development
- Story Beats
- Narrative Style
- Prose Construction
FAQ
1. What are the seven essential prompts for writing a book with AI? The seven essential prompts are brainstorming, synopsis, outlining, character, story beats, style, and prose construction.
2. How can I ensure the AI understands my story direction? You can clarify your story's premise and potential endings when generating ideas, which helps the AI provide more coherent content.
3. What is the benefit of using a character profile prompt? Using a character profile prompt helps develop well-rounded characters essential to the story's depth and engagement.
4. Why is a style prompt important when writing with AI? A style prompt helps the AI understand your preferred narrative tone and style, ensuring consistency throughout the text.
5. How can I edit AI-generated content to fit my vision? It's important to review and refine AI-generated content, adding your unique touches, improving specificity, and addressing any clichés or generalities.
