Prompt Types

Creative Prompting

New to prompting?
Before diving in, check out the prompt co-authoring guide and review the common mistakes. The LLM can help—but it mirrors assumptions too easily if you're not careful.

Image generation, fleshing out ideas, writing stories, creating social media content and experimenting with absurdity. The LLM is a great partner in your creative endeavors.

I've created thousands of images with ChatGPT using a whole host of methods. You can see some examples in my AI images gallery. Each different image page includes a sample prompt for you to experiment with.

Here are some other types of sample prompts for inspiration.

Context to consider while creating:

  • Output type: Are you creating an image, story, poem, slogan, character, or scene?
  • Style or genre: Surrealist, noir, baroque, anime, photorealistic, cyberpunk, etc.
  • Mood or tone: Whimsical, dark, romantic, eerie, absurd, joyful, sarcastic?
  • Audience: Who is this for—kids, adults, niche fans, yourself, a client?
  • Constraints: Time period, camera angle, color scheme, length, word count, tools allowed?
  • Inspiration or references: Specific artists, tropes, memes, scenes, or works to echo or avoid?
  • Creative goal: Do you want to amuse, provoke, soothe, experiment, or explore a concept?
How to get better at creative prompting (not just play)

I have a sandbox project where I create stories and games, try to stretch constraints or do weird mash ups, like what happens when a toaster and a tennis ball go out for dinner. I'm not an author, but I support authors who use the tool to assist them in generating consistent canon, to generate ideas and to act as a copy editor.

It's easy to say, "Go be creative!" But how? You could ask the LLM "Amuse me. Be creative." and see what happens. Then you can build on that. You can ask for ideas! Try bending the rules of physics, creating fantastic worlds or blending genres.. what happens when a skier goes underwater volcano skiing with a llama?

Refine as you go. If something fell flat, explain that in your next prompt. The LLM will lean towards the familiar unless you tell it to stretch beyond the normal patterns it finds.

Tell me a short story 
Write a short story (under 1000 words) about a quiet, solitary man who adopts a stray cat.  
The cat disrupts his routine in small but meaningful ways—leading to unexpected personal growth or change.  
Keep it grounded and realistic; no magic or talking animals. The emotional shift should feel subtle but genuine.
Food group social media prep: National Food Days 
I run a playful foodie Facebook group and want to create social media posts tied to national food holidays—like National Hot Dog Day or National Ice Cream Day.

Give me a comprehensive list of all food-related holidays (U.S.-based preferred, but international welcome if relevant).

For each entry, include:

The name of the holiday

The date it falls on (or rules for calculating it)

The type of food celebrated

A fun post idea or suggested caption to match the day’s vibe

Bonus: Note any food holidays coming up in the next 30 days so I can prepare posts in advance.
Social media post ideas for National Ice Cream Day 
I run a playful foodie Facebook group and want to create social media posts for National Ice Cream Day.

Give me 2–3 fun, engaging post ideas to celebrate the day. Each post should include:
- A light-hearted caption or question to get people talking (e.g., favorite flavor, cone vs. cup)
- A hashtag suggestion (e.g., #NationalIceCreamDay)
- An idea for a photo or image to include
- Optional: a poll question, recipe link, or silly trivia fact to boost engagement

Keep the tone casual and fun—nothing too promotional or formal.
Character Development Prompt 
   
Create a new character in my story about [insert story premise here]. I want help fleshing them out in a way that fits the tone and structure of the story.

    
Please include the following:

    
    
      
  • Full name
    • 
      
  • Gender identity
    • 
      
  • Age (or age range)
    • 
      
  • Role in the story (e.g., protagonist, rival, mentor)
    • 
      
  • Physical appearance
    • 
      
  • Personality traits (3–5 core traits)
    • 
      
  • Backstory or defining life experience
    • 
      
  • Internal conflict or emotional flaw
    • 
      
  • Primary skill, talent, or superpower (if applicable)
    • 
      
  • Relationships to other characters (optional)
    • 
      
  • Any secrets or contradictions they carry
    • 
    

    
Optional: Add a quote or catchphrase that captures their essence.
How absurd! (Bending logic) 
I want to explore what happens when an entire vegetable garden becomes sentient.

Give me a short story setup, world rules, and a few key characters—like a manipulative tomato, a paranoid squash, or a carrot who’s discovered religion. The plants should have conflicting personalities, strange motivations, and a growing awareness of their fate.

Make it weird, but keep the logic internally consistent. Bonus if there’s a human involved who doesn’t realize their garden is planning something.