Issue #2: The Originality Prompt
Hi friends,
Everyone’s obsessed with standing out in the AI flood.
The same conversations echo across Twitter, LinkedIn, newsletters, and team Slacks:
How do we avoid sounding like everyone else? How do we make AI content feel human?
And the answers?
Always the same tired chorus:
“Add proprietary data”
“Insert personal anecdotes”
“Conduct original research”
“Share unique insights”
Solid advice.
But it misses something crucial.
What if AI could actually help us generate original ideas, not just dress up generic ones?
So, I’ve been experimenting with a different approach.
The Originality Prompt
Here’s a prompt I’ve been playing around with lately:
“I’m writing an article on the topic of “X”. I’m looking for ideas to write on that have original information, reporting, research, or analysis. Keep in mind the audience for this article is “X” and that I don’t have a lot of time to do comprehensive research.”
That’s it. Simple, right?
But the results?
Night and day.
Instead of generic frameworks and rehashed bullet points, the AI starts suggesting:
Counterintuitive angles
Unexpected connections
Unique case studies
Thought experiments
Surprising questions
Why This Works?
The robot isn’t creative on its own.
It needs direction. Specific direction.
When you ask for “original ideas,” you’re essentially telling the AI: Don’t give me the first thing that comes to mind. Don’t give me what everyone else is talking about. Dig deeper.
It’s like telling a new intern: “Don’t bring me the obvious answer. Bring me something I haven’t thought of yet.”
The key phrase is “original information, reporting, research, or analysis.”
This pushes the AI past its comfort zone of general knowledge into suggesting specific elements that would make your piece stand out.
Plus, it follows Google’s content quality guidelines.
This Isn’t About Letting AI Write For You
Let’s be clear: I’m not advocating for robot-written content.
I’m showing you how to use AI as an idea generator—a springboard for your own thinking.
The AI suggests angles. You develop them.
The AI proposes questions. You explore them.
The AI offers connections. You validate them.
Try It Yourself
The prompt is adaptable.
For time-strapped writers, keep the “I don’t have time for comprehensive research” line.
For deeper pieces, remove it and see what happens.
You can also tailor it further:
Specify industry verticals
Define audience pain points
Name competitors to differentiate from
Use it to help you see angles and opportunities you might miss.
—
If you’ve tried this prompt or have your own variations, let me know.
I read every response.
Until next time,
— Carlos