AI Prompt Refining: 3 Hacks for the Best Results

“Our intelligence is what makes us human, and AI is an extension of that quality.” –Yann LeCun, computer scientist

Learning how to craft and evaluate AI prompts is an essential skill for improving your writing, marketing, and publishing processes as an indie author.

Writing effective prompts is the foundation of getting the most out of AI, but the process doesn’t stop there. AI prompt refining is even more critical. Evaluating the AI’s output and iterating on your prompts to refine them is crucial to producing results that meet your expectations.

In this part of our writer’s guide series on AI for Authors, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to write a strong AI prompt, evaluate the quality of the output, and refine your approach for better results. You’ll discover how to make AI work for you, whether you’re crafting a blurb, generating marketing copy, or writing scenes for your novel.

When John, a new indie author, started using AI to help him draft marketing copy for his first book. His initial results weren’t quite what he’d hoped for. His first prompt: “Write a promotional post for my sci-fi novel”—produced a generic, uninspired output.

Determined to improve the results, John revised the prompt: “Write a 100-word promotional post for my sci-fi novel that highlights the protagonist’s fight for survival on a hostile alien planet.” The second output was better, but it still lacked the urgency he wanted. After another iteration, adding “use an urgent and suspenseful tone,” the final result captured the exact emotion and tone he needed.

Through trial and error, John learned that AI prompt refining led to vastly improved outputs. It’s a lesson you, too, can master by the end of this series.

Practical Uses of AI for Indie Authors

Using AI effectively requires more than writing a basic prompt—it involves evaluating and refining that prompt to get useful and relevant results. Whether you’re summarizing feedback from beta readers or generating social media content, refining your prompt is key to getting the most from AI tools.

1. Writing an Effective Prompt

Let’s start by revisiting the critical components of an effective prompt. In earlier articles, we covered the five essential elements of prompt writing:

1. Persona: Identify your role.
   Example: “I am an indie author preparing a synopsis for my upcoming mystery novel.”
2. Aim: Clearly state your objective.
   Example: “I need a compelling, suspenseful synopsis that highlights the central mystery and keeps readers intrigued.”
3. Recipients: Specify the audience.
   Example: “Write this synopsis for fans of gripping whodunit mysteries with strong female protagonists.”
4. Theme: Describe the style, tone, or relevant parameters.
   Example: “Use a tense, suspenseful tone focusing on unraveling secrets.”
5. Structure: Note the desired format of the output.
   Example: “Write the synopsis in 150 words.”

These elements provide a foundation for your prompt. However, writing a strong initial prompt is just the first step—you’ll often need to evaluate the output and iterate on your prompt to refine it.

2. Evaluating AI Output

Once you’ve written a prompt and received the AI output, the next step is to evaluate how well the result aligns with your expectations. Here are key areas to assess:

• Accuracy: Is the information in the output factually correct? For example, if you’re generating a character description, are the details aligned with your character’s backstory and traits?
• Relevance: Does the output meet your objective? If you’re writing a blurb for your book, does it capture the key themes and tone you’re aiming for?
• Clarity: Is the output easy to read and understand? For example, if you asked the AI to generate a blog post, does it flow well and communicate the intended message clearly?
• Consistency: If you ask the AI the same prompt multiple times, do the responses stay consistent in tone and format?

3. AI Prompt Refining for Better Results

If the initial output isn’t what you expected, don’t worry! The beauty of AI prompt writing is that it’s an iterative process. Here are a few tips to help you learn AI prompt refining:

• Be more specific: If the output is too general, provide more details in your prompt. For example, if your AI-generated blurb lacks critical plot points, you can revise the prompt to specify which plot aspects should be highlighted.
• Add context: If the output seems disconnected or unclear, add more context to help the AI understand your goal. For instance, you might specify, “Focus on the protagonist’s internal conflict and how it drives the plot.”
• Use examples: Including examples of the kind of output you expect can guide the AI toward a more suitable response. This technique, called “shot prompting,” provides a model for the AI to follow.

Zero-Shot, One-Shot, and Few-Shot Prompts

1. Zero-shot prompting: No examples are included in the prompt. It’s best for simpler tasks or brainstorming.
   Example: “Generate five potential titles for a dystopian novel.”
2. One-shot prompting: Includes one example of the desired output to help guide the AI.
   Example: “Write a short social media post about my fantasy novel. Example: ‘Dive into a world of dragons and magic with Dragonfire—the adventure begins now!’”
3. Few-shot prompting: Offers two or more examples to help guide the AI, useful for more complex tasks.
   Example: “Create two promotional email subject lines for my upcoming book release. Example 1: ‘Unlock the mystery in The Midnight Murders—available now!’ Example 2: ‘Your next great read is here—discover The Silent Witness!’”

An Example of AI Prompt Refining

Let’s walk through a scenario where you use AI prompt refining for better results:

Initial Prompt:
“Write a 200-word description of my new fantasy novel.”

Initial Output:
The AI generates a description, but it’s too vague and lacks the intrigue you want to create.

Revised Prompt:
“Write a 200-word description of my fantasy novel, focusing on the protagonist’s quest to save their kingdom and the magic they must learn along the way.”

Revised Output:
The output is now more detailed, but it still lacks a sense of urgency or excitement.

Further Iteration:
“Write a 200-word description of my fantasy novel, focusing on the protagonist’s urgent quest to save their kingdom from a dark force and the dangerous magic they must master to succeed. Use an epic, high-stakes tone.”

Final Output:
The final output captures the key plot points, the protagonist’s journey, and the high stakes, all in an exciting and suspenseful tone.

AI Prompt Refining for Success

Writing an effective AI prompt is often not always a one-and-done process. You can achieve better, more relevant results by evaluating the output and refining your prompt. This iterative approach allows you to tailor AI outputs to your specific needs as an indie author, whether working on your manuscript, marketing materials, or other writing tasks. Keep experimenting with AI prompt refining. Don’t be afraid to adjust them as needed—each iteration brings you closer to the perfect result.

We hope you found these strategies helpful and inspiring. They’re intended to provide the necessary tools and insights to succeed as an indie author.

For more help, see the first part in this series, AI Empowers New Indie Authors: 5 Best Hacks. You might also like Outcome-Based Management: 7 Steps to Writing Success.

If you have a draft and want to explore how AI can help you self-publish, read, Is Your Book Ready to Self-Publish? Lastly, for help writing a non-fiction book, read Write Your First Non-Fiction eBook: a 30-Day Workbook for Getting It Done.

Although writing is an ongoing adventure involving continuous learning and improvement, you don’t have to go it alone. We are excited to accompany you every step of the way, providing you with support and motivation. We aim to give you the necessary knowledge and practical advice to confidently navigate the writing world.

Don’t wait. Start today! How can we help? To let us know, please fill out our Contact form. Happy writing!

FAQs for AI Prompts and Evaluating Output

Here are some frequently asked questions about writing and evaluating AI prompts. These answers will help you refine your approach and improve your results.

How can I tell if my AI output is accurate?

Always review the content critically and cross-check any factual information or claims made by the AI.

Why do I need to iterate on my AI prompt?

AI tools may not always provide the perfect result on the first try. Iterating allows you to refine your prompt until the output meets your expectations.

What should I do if my AI output is too vague?

Add more specific details to your prompt, such as crucial plot points, character traits, or desired themes, to guide the AI toward a more focused response.

Can I use examples to improve my AI output?

Yes! Including examples (one-shot or few-shot prompts) can help the AI understand your expectations and produce more accurate results.

How do I refine a prompt for marketing materials?

Be clear about the tone, audience, and structure you want. For example, specify that the output should be engaging, concise, and target your reader demographic.