Intro to ChatGPT for Writers + 30 Chat GPT Prompts to Help Your Writing

When ChatGPT first launched in November 2022 there was a huge backlash from the writing community in the face of fears that ChatGPT could replace human writers (and their jobs). But as ChatGPT has evolved, human writers are finding that this AI counterpart is an enormously useful tool for productivity, research, and actually improving their existing writing skills. This post is for you writers who haven't yet started using ChatGPT but are curious to give it a go. Learn exactly what it is, how to get started using it, and useful ChatGPT prompts for copywriters, SEO content writers, and creative writers.

This is based on my recent webinar on the subject. You can watch a recording of the webinar and download the slide deck over on Substack.

What is ChatGPT and why should writers care about it?

ChatGPT is a sophisticated AI tool designed to help professional writers by generating human-like text based on the prompts it receives. Leveraging deep learning and trained on a wide range of internet content, it can assist with brainstorming, drafting, and refining your writing, making it a valuable resource for enhancing your creative process.

Why ChatGPT is a tool for writers, not a threat

There's a common misconception that AI could replace human writers, but think of ChatGPT as a collaborator rather than a substitute. It excels at research, allowing you to save hours of Googling by providing essential knowledge quickly. ChatGPT can also handle routine or repetitive writing tasks, like crafting meta descriptions for blog posts. Additionally, it offers valuable suggestions and ideas, helping you overcome writer's block. Ultimately, ChatGPT is a tool that, when used wisely, can enhance your productivity and enrich the writing profession, rather than undermine it.

 5 Reasons why ChatGPT won't ruin your writing career

1. Human Emotion and Nuance

While AI can generate text, it does not have personal experiences, emotions, or the nuanced understanding that comes from living a human life. 

2. Creativity and Originality

AI can generate content, but its creativity is limited to what it has been trained on. Your ability to think outside the box, draw from diverse experiences, and connect ideas is a significant advantage over AI.

3. Audience and Context

Only you know your audience and the context in which your work will be received. Subtleties of culture, societal nuances, and human psychology are crucial for creating impactful writing and something AI can’t hack.

4. Ethical and Moral Considerations

Writers often navigate complex landscapes in their work, something AI does not inherently understand. Your capacity to contemplate the implications of your writing and imbue your work with a moral compass is something AI cannot replicate.

5. Collaboration and Adaptation

Our ability to collaborate, adapt, and grow from experiences is fundamental to writing. AI can help, but, the interpersonal skills, adaptability, and growth mindset of human writers are unique and irreplaceable.

How to Write Effective ChatGPT Prompts

Be Specific and Clear

Clearly define what you're asking ChatGPT to generate. Specific prompts lead to more accurate and relevant responses. For instance, instead of saying "write a blog post," say "write a 500-word blog post on the benefits of meditation for stress relief."

Provide Context

Giving background information can greatly improve the relevance of ChatGPT's responses. For example, if you're asking for a product description, include details about the target audience, product features, and the tone you're aiming for.

Use Follow-Up Questions

If the initial response isn't quite what you were looking for, use follow-up questions to refine the output. ChatGPT can maintain the context of a conversation, allowing for iterative improvements on the response.

Experiment with Different Styles

ChatGPT can generate text in various styles, from formal reports to creative stories. Specify the style you're aiming for in your prompt to guide the model's output.

Leverage Examples

If you have a specific outcome in mind, providing an example or template can guide ChatGPT to produce similar results. For instance, show a sample product review to generate similar reviews for different products.

Iterate and Refine

Don't expect perfection on the first try. It's often necessary to tweak your prompts, experiment with different phrasings, or ask for variations to get the ideal result.

10 ChatGPT Prompts for Copywriters

Product Description: Write a compelling 150-word product description for a new eco-friendly water bottle designed for outdoor enthusiasts. Highlight its durability, environmental benefits, and unique design features.

Email Campaign: Create an email campaign for a boutique clothing store that's launching a new line of sustainable fashion. Develop a subject line that grabs attention, an engaging opening line, and a call to action that encourages readers to check out the new collection online.

Brand Storytelling: Craft a short brand story for a start-up coffee shop that sources its beans from local farmers. Emphasize the shop's commitment to community, quality, and sustainability.

Ad Copy: Write a catchy headline and a concise, persuasive body copy for a digital ad promoting a new fitness app that offers personalized workout plans. Focus on the benefits of personalized fitness and the convenience of having workouts at your fingertips.

Social Media Post: Develop a series of engaging social media posts for a pet adoption agency. The posts should highlight different pets available for adoption, using emotional storytelling to encourage people to visit the shelter.

Landing Page Content: Create content for a landing page that introduces a new online course on digital marketing. The content should outline the course's key benefits, what learners will achieve, and a clear call to action encouraging sign-ups.

Blog Post Idea: Generate an idea for a blog post for a travel website specializing in eco-friendly vacations. Outline the main points you would cover, focusing on how travelers can make sustainable choices while exploring new destinations.

Tagline Creation: Come up with a memorable tagline for a startup that's launching a series of smart home devices. The tagline should convey innovation, convenience, and the idea of a connected home.

Press Release Introduction: Write the opening paragraph of a press release announcing the merger of two leading tech companies. The introduction should convey the significance of the merger and hint at the benefits for customers and the industry.

Product Naming: Brainstorm a list of potential names for a new line of herbal teas that aim to promote relaxation and sleep. The names should evoke a sense of calm and wellness.

10 ChatGPT Prompts for SEO Content Writers

Keyword-Optimized Blog Post: Write a 1,000-word blog post for a gardening website, optimizing for the keyword "sustainable gardening tips." Ensure the keyword is naturally integrated into the title, headings, and throughout the content.

SEO Product Descriptions: Create product descriptions for an online fashion retailer. Focus on a product category, like "men's sustainable sneakers," and include relevant keywords without sacrificing readability and appeal.

Meta Descriptions and Titles: Craft engaging and keyword-rich meta descriptions and titles for a series of web pages for a travel agency specializing in eco-friendly tours. Ensure each meta description is under 160 characters and titles under 60 characters.

SEO Case Study: Write a brief case study highlighting how a particular SEO strategy improved a website's search engine ranking and increased organic traffic. Include data points and specific SEO tactics used.

Service Page Content: Develop content for a dental clinic's service page focusing on "teeth whitening services." Incorporate local SEO elements by including the clinic's city and nearby locations, ensuring the content remains informative and engaging.

Internal Linking Strategy: Create a content piece for a cooking blog where you seamlessly integrate internal links to other blog posts or pages, enhancing the site's SEO structure and user experience.

Keyword Research Task: Conduct keyword research for a new pet supply online store. Identify at least five key phrases they should target and suggest content ideas based on these keywords.

Competitor Analysis: Analyze a competitor's website in the health supplement industry. Identify what they're doing well in terms of SEO and what gaps your client could exploit. Propose a content strategy based on your findings.

SEO-Friendly FAQ Section: Write an FAQ section for a technology provider, focusing on common questions about cloud storage solutions. Optimize your answers with relevant keywords without compromising the answer's value.

Link-Building Article: Craft an article designed to attract backlinks for a financial advisory website. The content should be authoritative, provide unique insights, and be relevant enough that other sites would want to link to it.

10 ChatGPT Prompts for Creative Writers

Alternate Reality: Imagine a world where a fundamental aspect of daily life is reversed or drastically different. Write a story set in this world, exploring how your characters interact with this changed reality.

Character Secret: Create a character with a secret that they believe is well hidden. Write a story about the day this secret comes to light and how it affects their life and relationships.

First Encounter: Write a scene where your protagonist meets an important character for the first time. This encounter should significantly impact the protagonist's journey or change their perspective on a crucial issue.

Lost Object: Your character finds an object that they haven't seen in years, triggering a flood of memories. What is the object, and what story does it tell?

Dialogue-Driven Scene: Craft a scene driven entirely by dialogue between two characters. Through their conversation, reveal their relationship, the scene's setting, and the conflict they're facing without using narrative exposition.

Mysterious Letter: Your character receives a letter with no return address, containing a message that changes their life. What does the letter say, and how does your character respond?

Unlikely Friendship: Write a story about the formation of a friendship between two characters who appear to have nothing in common. Explore how they connect and what they learn from each other.

Time Travel Mishap: A character attempts to time travel to fix a past mistake but ends up in the wrong time period. Describe their experience and how this mishap impacts their perspective or situation.

Non-Human Perspective: Write a story from the perspective of a non-human entity (an animal, a plant, an inanimate object). How does this perspective change the way you tell the story?

Futuristic Society: Imagine a future society with one major technological or societal advancement. Write a story exploring the implications of this advancement on individual lives and the society as a whole.