50 ChatGPT Prompts for Writers: Brainstorming, Editing & Headlines

Every writer has experienced it: staring at a blank page, struggling to find the right words, or wondering if what you've written is any good. ChatGPT won't write for you, but it can be an incredible brainstorming partner, editor, and creative catalyst.

These 50 prompts will help you generate ideas, overcome blocks, polish your prose, and create headlines that grab attention. Use them to enhance your writing process while keeping your unique voice intact.

Brainstorming and Ideation Prompts

Generate ideas and overcome the dreaded blank page.

1. Topic Brainstorm

"I write about [your niche/topic area] for [your audience]. Generate 20 blog post ideas that would be valuable and interesting to my readers. Include a mix of how-to posts, opinion pieces, listicles, and deep dives."

2. Unique Angle Finder

"I want to write about [common topic]. Give me 10 unique angles or perspectives on this topic that haven't been covered to death. Help me stand out from the hundreds of other articles on this subject."

3. Content Gap Identifier

"In the [niche/industry] space, content usually focuses on [common topics]. What topics are underserved? Give me 10 content ideas that fill gaps in what's currently available."

4. Trend Connector

"Connect [trending topic or news] to [your niche]. How can I write about current events in a way that's relevant to my audience of [describe audience]? Give me 5 angles."

5. Personal Experience Mining

"I have experience with [your experiences/expertise]. Help me brainstorm 10 article ideas that turn my personal experiences into valuable content for readers interested in [topic]."

6. Contrarian Take Generator

"The common wisdom in [your field] is that [common belief]. Help me explore the opposite view. What contrarian takes could I write about? Are there cases where the common wisdom is wrong?"

7. Series Planner

"I want to create a content series about [topic]. Outline a 5-part series with titles and brief descriptions for each part. Make sure each post stands alone but also builds on the previous ones."

8. Evergreen vs. Timely Mix

"For my blog about [topic], suggest 5 evergreen content ideas that will stay relevant for years and 5 timely content ideas tied to current events or trends."

9. Question-Based Topics

"What questions does my audience of [describe audience] likely have about [topic]? Give me 15 questions I could answer in blog posts, organized from beginner to advanced."

10. Story Mining

"I want to write more narrative-driven content. Here's something that happened to me: [describe an experience]. How could I turn this into an article that teaches something valuable? What's the universal lesson?"

Writing and Drafting Prompts

Get help with the actual writing process.

11. Outline Creator

"Create a detailed outline for an article about [topic]. Target length: [word count]. Audience: [describe]. Include: introduction hook, main sections with subpoints, examples to include, and a conclusion approach."

12. Introduction Writer

"Write 3 different introductions for an article about [topic]. Style 1: Start with a provocative question. Style 2: Start with a surprising statistic or fact. Style 3: Start with a relatable scenario. Each should hook the reader immediately."

13. Analogy Generator

"I'm trying to explain [complex concept] to readers who aren't experts. Give me 5 analogies or metaphors that would make this concept click. Make them vivid and relatable."

14. Example Developer

"I'm writing about [topic/principle]. Give me 5 specific, concrete examples I could use to illustrate this concept. Include real-world scenarios my audience of [describe audience] would recognize."

15. Transition Improver

"Here are two paragraphs that don't flow well together: [paste paragraphs]. Write 3 transition sentences I could use between them to improve the flow."

16. Conclusion Crafter

"My article about [topic] makes these main points: [list main points]. Write 3 different conclusions: one that summarizes and calls to action, one that ends with a question for reflection, and one that looks to the future."

17. Voice and Tone Matcher

"Here's a sample of my writing: [paste 200 words]. Describe my writing voice (formal vs. casual, serious vs. playful, etc.). Then help me write a paragraph about [new topic] that matches this voice."

18. Writer's Block Buster

"I'm stuck on an article about [topic]. I've written this so far: [paste what you have]. Help me figure out where to go next. Ask me 5 questions that might unlock my thinking."

19. Argument Strengthener

"I'm arguing that [your thesis]. My main supporting points are: [list points]. What am I missing? What objections should I address? How can I make this argument more compelling?"

20. Show Don't Tell Helper

"Rewrite this 'telling' sentence to 'show' instead: '[paste sentence]'. Give me 3 options that paint a picture for the reader rather than just stating facts."

Editing and Revision Prompts

Polish your writing to professional quality.

21. Clarity Edit

"Edit this paragraph for clarity. Simplify complex sentences, remove jargon, and make it easier to understand without dumbing it down: [paste paragraph]."

22. Conciseness Editor

"Cut the word count of this passage by 30% without losing meaning. Identify unnecessary words, redundancies, and verbose phrases: [paste passage]."

23. Flow and Rhythm Check

"Read this paragraph and identify any sentences that are awkward or break the rhythm. Suggest improvements for flow: [paste paragraph]."

24. Weak Verbs Finder

"Find all the weak verbs (is, was, had, get, make, etc.) in this passage and suggest stronger, more specific alternatives: [paste passage]."

25. Passive Voice Detector

"Identify instances of passive voice in this text and rewrite them in active voice where appropriate. Leave passive where it works better: [paste text]."

26. Cliché Eliminator

"Find any clichés, overused phrases, or tired expressions in this writing and suggest fresher alternatives: [paste text]."

27. Sentence Variety Improver

"Analyze the sentence structure in this paragraph. Are they too similar in length or pattern? Rewrite it with more variety: [paste paragraph]."

28. Opening Line Audit

"Review these opening lines and tell me which ones are strongest and why. Then improve the weakest ones: [paste several opening lines]."

29. Adverb Reducer

"Find adverbs in this passage that weaken the writing. Either remove them or replace the verb+adverb with a single stronger verb: [paste passage]."

30. Final Polish

"Give this piece a final polish. Check for: inconsistencies, unclear referents, awkward phrasing, and anything that could confuse readers. Make it publication-ready: [paste full piece]."

Headlines and Titles Prompts

Create headlines that demand attention.

31. Headline Generator

"Generate 15 headline options for an article about [topic]. Include: 3 how-to headlines, 3 listicle headlines, 3 question headlines, 3 intriguing statement headlines, and 3 that use numbers or data."

32. A/B Test Headlines

"I'm torn between these headlines: [Option A] and [Option B]. Analyze each for: clarity, curiosity gap, emotional appeal, and SEO potential. Which would you click on and why?"

33. Headline Improver

"Make this headline more compelling: '[current headline]'. Give me 5 improved versions. The article is about [brief description] for [audience]."

34. SEO-Friendly Headline

"Create headlines for an article targeting the keyword '[target keyword]'. The article is about [describe content]. Balance SEO optimization with readability and click appeal."

35. Subheadline Generator

"My headline is: '[headline]'. Generate 5 subheadlines (deck copy) that complement it and give readers a reason to keep reading."

36. Emotional Headline Options

"Create headlines for [topic] that evoke different emotions: curiosity, urgency, fear of missing out, excitement, and empowerment. Show how emotion changes the approach."

37. Section Header Ideas

"My article about [topic] has these main sections: [describe sections]. Write compelling section headers that keep readers engaged as they scroll. Make them scannable."

38. Title for Different Platforms

"I'm publishing an article about [topic]. Create optimized titles for: the blog (SEO-focused), Twitter (280 chars max), LinkedIn (professional), and email subject line (mobile-friendly)."

39. Power Word Injection

"Add power words to this bland headline to make it more compelling: '[bland headline]'. Explain which power words you chose and why they work."

40. Specificity Booster

"These headlines are too vague: [list headlines]. Make each more specific and compelling by adding numbers, timeframes, or concrete outcomes."

Content Strategy Prompts

Plan and optimize your content approach.

41. Audience Persona Developer

"Help me develop a reader persona for my writing about [topic]. Ask me 10 questions about who reads my content, then create a detailed persona including their goals, challenges, and what they're looking for in content."

42. Content Calendar Planner

"I publish [frequency] about [niche]. Create a month's content calendar with varied content types. Consider: seasonal relevance, trending topics, evergreen value, and audience fatigue."

43. Repurposing Strategy

"I wrote this long-form article: [describe or paste key points]. How can I repurpose this into: 5 social media posts, 3 email newsletter items, 1 infographic concept, and 1 video script outline?"

44. SEO Content Brief

"Create a content brief for an article targeting '[keyword]'. Include: search intent, recommended word count, topics to cover, questions to answer, and competitor gaps to exploit."

45. Update Old Content

"This article was written [timeframe] ago: [paste or describe]. How should I update it to keep it current? What's outdated? What new angles should I add?"

46. Content Pillar Planning

"I want to become an authority on [topic]. Outline a content pillar strategy with 1 comprehensive pillar page and 10 cluster articles that link to it. Show how they all connect."

47. Call-to-Action Library

"Create 10 different calls-to-action I can use at the end of articles about [topic]. Vary them: newsletter signup, product mention, related article, social sharing, comments, etc."

48. Intro and Outro Templates

"Create 3 reusable introduction templates and 3 conclusion templates for my blog about [topic]. Make them flexible enough to customize but structured enough to use repeatedly."

49. Content Gap Analysis

"Review these titles of my recent articles: [list titles]. What topics am I over-covering? What's missing from my content mix? Suggest 5 articles that would round out my content."

50. Writing Process Optimization

"Here's my current writing process: [describe your workflow]. What's inefficient? Suggest a better process that helps me write higher quality content more consistently."

Tips for Writers Using AI

AI is a collaborator, not a ghostwriter. Use these prompts to enhance your ideas and refine your prose, but the unique voice and perspective must be yours.

Push for alternatives. If the first output isn't right, ask for variations. "Give me 5 more options with a completely different approach."

Iterate on specifics. Vague prompts get vague results. The more context you provide about your audience, goals, and style, the better the output.

Edit ruthlessly. AI output is a starting point. Always revise to match your voice and ensure accuracy.

Use AI for the grunt work. Let it help with brainstorming, outlining, and editing—tasks that consume energy. Save your creativity for the parts that matter most.

Take Your Writing to the Next Level

These prompts will help you write more efficiently, but mastering AI assistance is becoming essential for modern writers. Our free Prompt Engineering course will teach you advanced techniques for getting exactly what you need from AI tools.

Want to explore how AI can help beyond just writing? Check out our AI for Everyday Life course for practical applications in research, productivity, and creative projects.

The blank page doesn't have to be intimidating. With these prompts as your toolkit, you'll never be stuck for long.