Realized I was overcomplicating my prompt structure for months

I used to write these long, detailed prompts with character bios and plot outlines. Took me like 20 minutes each time. Then last Tuesday I submitted a super short one - just "write a scene where someone finds a key in an abandoned laundromat" - and it got 30 replies. That's when it clicked. People want space to play, not a strict roadmap. Have you guys noticed simpler prompts getting more engagement too?

2 comments

2 Comments

rivershah1d ago

Yeah, that "30 replies" part hit me right in the gut. I had the same thing happen with a one-sentence prompt about a vending machine that only dispenses old photographs. Overthinking is a trap.

beth_sanchez471d ago

Actually, that vending machine thing sounds pretty cool. A one-sentence prompt like that leaves so much room for imagination without needing to overcomplicate it. Sometimes the simplest ideas end up being the best ones because you don't have to force anything.