Michelle Moses | Social Media Management For Small Businesses

Prompt engineering might sound like technical jargon, but at its heart, it’s simply the art of asking AI the right kind of questions. I like to think of prompts as flushed-out summaries, basically a way to take what’s floating around in your head and shape it just enough for AI to understand and respond meaningfully.

Depending on what I’m trying to do, my approach to writing prompts tends to fall into one of two styles:

1. The Short-and-Sweet Prompt

This is the minimalist route. I use it when I want to explore ideas alongside AI when I don’t have all the answers yet, and I’m inviting it in as a collaborator.

Real-World Example

The other day, I knew I wanted to write a post on the intersection of creativity and technology, but I wasn’t quite sure where to begin. So I typed:
“Let’s brainstorm blog topics that explore how artists use AI tools.”
In seconds, I had a list of fresh angles like AI in visual storytelling, generative art ethics, and how artists are redefining authorship. That five-word prompt sparked an entire creative session that shaped the blog you’re reading now.

This kind of prompt is great for loosening creative knots or surfacing unexpected ideas. It doesn’t try to control the outcome; it opens the door to discovery.

2. The Highly-Detailed Prompt

When I want something specific—especially visuals or well-defined content—I go into detail. This is where I slow down and describe what I want, step by step.

For Example

When creating an image prompt, I’ll often write something like:
“Create a night-time scene of a glowing forest with bioluminescent plants, a crescent moon above, and soft mist drifting through the trees. The atmosphere should feel quiet and enchanted.”

Then I’ll always tack on: “Is there anything I’m missing?”

That final question is the key as it invites the AI to add detail I might have overlooked or to challenge my assumptions gently.

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Conclusion

At the end of the day, prompt engineering isn’t about perfection. It’s about learning to think out loud with the help of an AI companion. The way you shape your words has power not just to generate content, but to sharpen your thinking.