Apparently, there are “secret tricks” to talking to AI now. Hidden words, frameworks, magical commands that make ChatGPT write like Shakespeare on a caffeine rush.
Funny thing, though (well, funny in a not so funny kind of way) I don’t use any of them, and somehow, my stuff still turns out better than a lot of the dreadful AI slop out there.
That’s because prompting isn’t the problem. Thinking is.
The Myth of the Magic Prompt
The internet is drowning in “prompt gurus” flogging their BS frameworks and cheat sheets like snake oil salesmen yapping away about their secret formulas.
“Act as an expert,”
“Use this one secret format,”
“Unlock the hidden power of AI.”
Bollocks.
These tricks don’t make you a better writer, they make you dependent. It’s like learning to paint by number and calling yourself a bloody artist.
Sure, it looks tidy, but it’s empty and just regurgitated s-h-i-t underneath.
Real content starts with thought (yes, use yer noddle), not templates. You don’t need to trick an AI like ChatGPT or Gemini into being useful. You need to talk to it like a human being.
I have always believed that and it’s always worked very well for my own writing and for extensively researched content for clients.
I Don’t Prompt, I Talk
My process is simple but it takes time (time is what so many of these ‘frameworks’ aim to avoid – that and actually doing some thinking and knowing what to do and why you’re doing it).
I chat with the tool (yes, I said ‘tool’ because that’s what these things are; tools). I pick at ideas, give loads of original input, explore counterpoints, fact-check (everything), and only then start writing.
It’s called thinking and actually working.
The irony is that people who brag about “prompt engineering” are often the ones producing the dullest, most predictable writing. The kind that sounds like it came from a flipping manual, not someone’s mind.
Yes, structure helps beginners. But if you’re still clinging to templates six months or several years later, you’re not creating – you’re still playing the paint-by-numbers game.
The Real Secret is: There Isn’t One
The only “trick” is to stop searching for tricks. If you found something on Facebook or YouTube you can almost be sure it’s part of a sales pitch for more ‘expertise’.
Talk, question, and challenge your ideas with ChatGPT (or your chosen LLM) as a TOOL. Don’t bark orders at a machine and expect content brilliance to be spat out.
Writers write. Thinkers question. Gurus sell.
I know which one I’d rather be – whether I’m working on my own content or yours.
Read the full version on 28 Pixels
Why Real Content Writers Don’t Need Secret Prompting Tricks
Straight Talk: Questions About Prompting and AI
Why Do You Say Prompting Tricks Are Nonsense?
Because they teach people to follow scripts instead of think. AI isn’t a genie waiting for magic words, it’s a tool that mirrors the quality of your thinking.
What’s Wrong with Using Templates or Frameworks?
Nothing, if they help you get started. But when you depend on them, your writing loses depth and originality. They become a crutch, not a skill.
Isn’t This Just About Getting Faster Results?
If your goal is quantity, sure. But quality comes from reasoning, conversation, and curiosity. AI speeds things up, but it can’t think for you.
Can ChatGPT Really Replace Human Creativity?
No. It can assist, refine, and organise your thoughts, but it can’t originate emotion or insight. That part still comes from you.
What’s Your Method for Using AI Effectively?
I talk to it. Ask questions, challenge the answers, dig deeper. The value isn’t in the first output, it’s in what happens after.
Do You Ever Use Prompt Frameworks Yourself?
Occasionally, but only as scaffolding when I’m testing something new. Once the structure’s there, I throw it away and think for myself.
What Advice Would You Give New AI Users?
Stop chasing hacks. Start having better conversations. AI doesn’t reward commands, it rewards curiosity.