The art of crafting prompts : unlocking AI for everyone, from students to your mom

Ever heard someone gripe, “AI doesn’t work, it’s garbage”? Maybe you’ve said it yourself, frustrated when your AI-generated essay reads like a middle schooler’s draft or your code crashes spectacularly. But here’s the truth: the AI isn’t broken, and it’s not the one messing up. It’s your prompt. Those few words you type into the chat box are the difference between a mind-blowing result and a total flop. Whether you’re a student wrestling with homework, a developer itching to speed up coding, or my mom dreaming of organizing her recipes, a great prompt can work wonders. Crafting a prompt is an art, and the good news ? Anyone can master it.

This article will show you how, with practical tips and real-world examples to turn your AI from a dud to a superstar.

Why prompts are everything (now)

Using an AI, Claude, Grok, ChatGPT, whatever, is like working with a brilliant assistant who knows everything but needs clear directions. Say “make me something cool,” and it’s like telling a chef “cook something” without specifying pizza or sushi. Result? A weird stew. A prompt is your order: it tells the AI what to do, how, and for whom. People who complain that AI “doesn’t work” are usually giving vague instructions to a machine that thrives on specifics.

Would it ever cross your mind to give a super vague order to a brand-new employee in your company without explaining the company, how it works, or the goal you’re aiming for through their work ?

In 2025, AI’s everywhere, students writing essays, developers prototyping apps, my mom planning her menus. But the gap between a mediocre output and something amazing? Your prompt. Whether you’re a pro or a newbie, learning to prompt well makes you more efficient, more creative, and honestly, kind of a wizard.

So, how do you craft a prompt that slaps ?

What makes a great prompt ?

A great prompt is clear, precise, and packed with context.

Think of it like briefing a friend on a project: you tell them what you want, why, and what it should look like.

The core ingredients:

Clarity: The AI needs to get it instantly. “Write a text”? Lame. “Write a 500-word essay on climate change”? Solid.
Context: Set the scene, who are you, who’s it for, what’s the goal ? “An essay for my high school history teacher” helps the AI nail it.
Specificity: More details, fewer surprises. “Include 2024 stats and an engaging tone” avoids a bland output.
Tone and format: Say how it should sound, serious, fun, formal, and what shape (list, paragraph, table).

A bad prompt is vague or assumes the AI’s a mind-reader. A great prompt is a roadmap, the AI knows exactly where to go.

And yes, AI doesn’t yet excuse you from using your brain.

Common beginner mistakes

Why do so many people struggle with AI ? They fall into these traps:

Too vague: “Make an app.” Is it a game, a tool, a social network? You get junk.
No context: “Write an email.” To your boss, a friend? Without it, the AI guesses, and it’s often wrong.
Too short: “Code a function.” No language or purpose? You might get Python when you needed JavaScript.
No iteration: If the output sucks, people give up. But a prompt’s a draft, tweak it, try again.
Unrealistic expectations: Asking for “a perfect app in one go” without guidance is like expecting a novel from “write a book.”

These mistakes are normal at first. Spot them, and the AI becomes your secret weapon.

How to craft a killer prompt: the steps

Here’s how to write a prompt that rocks, whether you’re a student, a dev, or my mom. Follow these steps:

Set the goal: What’s the point? A text, code, a list? Be clear. Example: “I want a tool to track my expenses.”
Add context: Who are you, who’s it for, why? “I’m a business student, it’s for a personal project.”
Include details: Design, features, style. “A minimalist look with a monthly expense chart.”
Specify constraints: Limits or preferences. “No login, simple tone, table format.”
Ask for a clear format: “Give me a bulleted list” or “a text in 3 paragraphs.”
Iterate: If it’s off, refine, “make the design bolder” or “fix this error.”

Student example:

Bad: “Write an essay on ecology.”
Good: “Write a 500-word essay on climate change’s impact for a high school class, with 2024 stats, an engaging tone, and a catchy intro.”

Dev example:

Bad: “Code an app.”
Good: “Create a web to-do list app in JavaScript, with add/delete tasks, local storage, clean design, and commented code, like a senior dev would write.”

My mom example:

Bad: “Organize my recipes.”
Good: “Create a list of my favorite recipes, sorted by type (appetizer, main, dessert), with an ingredients section, in a simple table, for a 60-year-old who wants it clear and easy.”

Real-world examples: before and after

To show how a great prompt transforms everything, here are three cases with before-and-after:

1. Student: Writing an essay

Before (bad): “A text on space.”
Result: A vague ramble about stars, no structure, useless for class.
After (good): “Write a 600-word essay on space exploration for a college course, with an intro on SpaceX, 3 points on scientific benefits, 2023, 2025 sources, MLA format.”
Result: A polished, cited essay, ready to submit.

2. Developer: Coding a feature

Before: “Make a login function.”
Result: Shaky code, no clear logic, crashes.
After: “Write a login function in Python for a Flask app, using JWT, with email/password validation, error handling, and detailed comments.”
Result: Clean, production-ready code.

3. My mom: Organizing a personal project

Before: “Plan my vacation.”
Result: A generic list of places, not personal.
After: “Create a 10-day Italy vacation plan for a 60-year-old woman, budget €2000, with cultural activities (museums, local food), a day-by-day itinerary, in a clear table.”
Result: A neat table with Florence museums and Rome restaurants, ready to print.

A great prompt turns a sketch into a masterpiece.

Advanced tips to level up your prompts

Once you’ve got the basics, these pro techniques take your prompts to the next level:

Step-by-step prompts: Break down big tasks. Example: “1. Write an article outline. 2. Draft the intro. 3. Flesh out each section.” Keeps the AI on track.
Set the tone: “Write like an excited teacher” or “like a minimalist dev.” The AI nails the vibe.
Provide examples: “Write an email like this: [paste a sample].” Gives a perfect template.
Ask for explanations: “Generate code and explain each part in 2 sentences.” Great for learning.
Set limits: “Max 300 words” or “no external dependencies.” Keeps things tight.
Talk back to the AI: “My text feels flat, why?” or “Check this error.” Makes the AI analyze itself.

Why it’s worth it

Mastering prompts is like unlocking a superpower. For a student, it’s hours saved on homework with results that wow teachers. For a dev, it’s skipping tedious boilerplate to focus on the fun stuff. For my mom, it’s independence: organizing recipes, planning a trip, or dreaming up a project without needing help.

But it’s bigger than time-saving. Great prompts put you in the driver’s seat — you go from “ugh, AI’s useless” to “I’m running this show.” You get more creative (dream up wild ideas), more productive (ditch boring tasks), and more confident (the AI works for you). Whether you’re writing a novel, building an app, or helping your mom manage her book club, a killer prompt makes you unstoppable.

Conclusion: go prompt and look ahead

Crafting a great prompt isn’t rocket science, it’s a skill, and like any skill, it grows with practice.

Start simple: a clear goal, some context, a few details. If it flops, tweak and retry. You’ll soon see the AI go from “meh” to “holy crap.” Student, dev, or just someone with an idea, the AI’s your partner, if you speak its language.

But here’s the thing: what I’m teaching you today is gold for 2025, but AI’s evolving at lightning speed. In the long run, we won’t need to sweat our prompts as much. The future’s heading toward AI that gets us intuitively, where crafting a prompt feels less like work and more like a quick chat.

That’s the vision we’re chasing at Scabld, building a world where creating is as natural as dreaming. For now, though, these skills will make you an AI rockstar.

So, what’s your next prompt ? An essay, some code, a plan for your mom ? Wanna build an app just by describing your idea ? Check out the beta at scabld.com.

Thanks for the insane welcome, see you sooooon!