Prompt Templates & Frameworks
Reusable prompt patterns you can use every day.
Prompt Templates & Frameworks
Stop writing prompts from scratch every time. If you find yourself doing a similar task more than twice, you should have a template for it. The five templates below are battle-tested frameworks you can start using immediately -- and they will save you significant time.
Prompt templates are reusable prompt structures with placeholders you fill in for each use. They ensure consistent, high-quality output and eliminate the "blank page" problem when you sit down to work with AI.
Template 1: The Mega Prompt
This is your go-to for complex, high-stakes tasks where you need comprehensive output on the first try.
ROLE: [Expert type with years of experience]
CONTEXT: [Background information]
TASK: [What you need done]
REQUIREMENTS:
- [Requirement 1]
- [Requirement 2]
- [Requirement 3]
FORMAT: [How you want the output structured]
TONE: [Communication style]
CONSTRAINTS: [Limits and things to avoid]Filled-in Mega Prompt:
ROLE: Experienced copywriter specializing in e-commerce product descriptions
CONTEXT: I sell handmade leather wallets on Etsy. My target customer is men aged 30-50 who value craftsmanship. Average price point is $85.
TASK: Write a product description for our new "Voyager" bifold wallet made from Italian full-grain leather.
REQUIREMENTS: Mention the 10-year warranty, hand-stitched construction, and RFID blocking. Include 3 sensory details about the leather.
FORMAT: A headline (under 10 words), a 3-sentence hook paragraph, then 5 bullet points for features.
TONE: Confident craftsman, not salesy. Think workshop, not showroom.
CONSTRAINTS: Under 200 words total. No superlatives like "best" or "ultimate." No exclamation marks.
Template 2: Before/After Transformer
Use this whenever you need to transform existing content rather than create something new. It is perfect for rewriting, reformatting, and adapting content.
Transform the following [content type] from [current state] to [desired state].
Current version:
[paste content]
Requirements for the new version:
- [Change 1]
- [Change 2]
- [Change 3]
Keep unchanged: [what should stay the same]The "Keep unchanged" line is critical -- without it, the AI might rewrite parts you were happy with.
Template 3: Batch Processor
This template shines when you need to apply the same transformation to many items. Combine it with few-shot prompting for best results.
Process each item below according to these rules:
[Rule 1]
[Rule 2]
Example:
Input: [example input]
Output: [example output]
Now process these items:
1. [item]
2. [item]
3. [item]The Batch Processor is one of the biggest time-savers in your toolkit. Need to rewrite 20 product titles? Categorize 50 customer support tickets? Convert 30 meeting notes into action items? Write the template once with one good example, then paste in your items. What would take an hour of manual work takes two minutes.
Template 4: Critic/Improver
Use this to get honest, actionable feedback on anything you have written -- emails, reports, presentations, even code.
Review the following [content type] and provide:
1. Three strengths
2. Three weaknesses
3. Specific, actionable improvements for each weakness
4. A revised version incorporating all improvements
[paste content]Template 5: Decision Matrix
When you are stuck between options, this template forces a structured analysis that often reveals the right choice.
Help me decide between these options: [list options]
For each option, analyze:
- Pros (at least 3)
- Cons (at least 3)
- Cost/effort estimate
- Risk level (low/medium/high)
- Best-case outcome
- Worst-case outcome
Then provide your recommendation with reasoning.How to Build Your Own Templates
- 1Notice when you repeat similar prompts
- 2Identify the variable parts (the stuff that changes each time)
- 3Create a template with [placeholders]
- 4Save it somewhere accessible (notes app, Notion, a text file -- anywhere you can quickly grab it)
- 5Iterate -- improve the template based on the results you get over time
Do not over-engineer your templates. A template with 15 placeholders is harder to use than writing a prompt from scratch. Aim for 3-7 variable sections. If a template is getting unwieldy, split it into two simpler templates instead.
Exercises
0/3Use the "Critic/Improver" template to have AI review a piece of your own writing (email, report, or document). Did the AI find legitimate issues?
Hint: Paste something you actually wrote. The AI should find both strengths and real areas for improvement.
Use the "Decision Matrix" template to analyze a real decision you're facing (which software to buy, which project to start next, etc.).
Hint: The more specific you are about the options and criteria, the more useful the analysis will be.
Create your own prompt template for a task you do frequently. Include placeholders [like this] and at least one example of the template filled in.
Hint: Think about recurring tasks: weekly reports, client communications, content creation, etc.