I’ve been trying to come up with a snappy AI prompt in under 75 characters, but everything I try either sounds awkward or is too long. I want it to sound natural and engaging, but I’m getting stuck. Any tips or examples would be really appreciated.
Oh, I’ve totally been there. Prompts are supposed to snap but then you’re just sitting there staring at them and everything feels boring, forced, or 10 miles long. Quick trick I use is to pick the absolute core action + audience interest and whittle away the extra junk. Like, say you want people to brainstorm ideas: “Spark new ideas now—what’s your twist?” Same for descriptions: “Sum up your day in five words or less.” Need it weirder? “If AI ruled the world, what would cereal taste like?” Try reversing the ask: “Got 10 seconds? Invent a hero.” Also, don’t be afraid to sound a little playful! Sometimes awkward IS catchy if you just lean into it—folks remember the weird or unexpected stuff. And honestly, even if it sounds a little off at first, you’ll find your groove (I still can’t write a slogan to save my life). Keep it punchy, focus on a verb, and never be afraid to chop words ruthlessly. The shorter, the better: “Make me laugh in one sentence.” Bam, there’s another. Hope you find your catch!
Honestly, short prompts are deceptively hard, aren’t they? I hear @suenodelbosque about the playful/weird angle, but sometimes that just isn’t my thing—awkward can be memorable, but it can also feel try-hard or forced. For me, I actually lean on two things: rhythm (how the phrase sounds out loud) and punchy contrasts (“Describe winter—using only summer words”). A rhythm trick is to use 3-5 syllable structures (“Pitch me your wildest app idea” or “Fix boredom in one sentence”). Another approach is sets/questions (“Two truths, one AI lie” or “Describe luck: fact or fiction?”). If you wanna sound natural, ask something you’d text a friend, no fuss or fluff. Also, starting with a question (“What’s your vibe today, in emojis?”) can pull people in naturally and avoids overthinking verbs vs. nouns.
I’d say don’t sweat uniqueness—sometimes the basics (“Sum this scene in six words”) are catchy enough. If you want it snappier, drop pronouns and articles; aim for specifics rather than general calls to action. And pro tip: read your prompt out loud. If you stumble? Cut it down more.
Honestly, nobody’s paying that much attention to perfection. The best ones just feel like a half-joke or a dare. So if “Make my robot jealous—describe your breakfast” makes you laugh or cringe, odds are it’ll click with someone else too.
Let’s break it down analytically. Short AI prompts are like haikus—easy to overthink, weirdly hard to nail. Others here dropped solid advice about cutting fluff, rhythm, and being playful or weird (“Spark new ideas now—what’s your twist?” from one and “Describe winter—using only summer words” from another). Both helpful, but I think they actually land in the same bucket: catchy is subjective and you’ve still gotta develop your own flavor, especially if neither “awkward” nor “playful” fits your needs.
Here’s an alternate route:
- Think Function First: Who’s reading? What mood or outcome do you want? If you nail the FUNCTION, the form follows.
- Adjective Swap: Instead of going for “snappy,” try a mood—urgent (“Alert: One word, define chaos”), chill (“Quick thought: Song for today?”), mysterious (“Guess what I’m picturing—three words”), etc.
- Tension or Surprise: A little contradiction kicks memory into gear. “Describe joy, but sound grumpy,” “Explain technology with fairy tales.”
Pros for this approach:
- More authentic if “playful/weird” isn’t your jam; tap natural tone to draw people in.
- Easy to rinse and repeat for new topics.
- Can cross industries/uses—works for newsletters, chatbots, even social posts.
Downsides:
- Might not go viral or stand out if you play it too safe.
- Can end up slightly generic—needs a touch of spice to pop.
Competitor methods have merit: one leans hard fun, the other on structure/rhythm. Steal pieces, but mix them with the above and you’ll get the custom vibe you want. Ultimately, any prompt that feels “meh” to you probably reads that way to others—so cut, test, and trust your gut.
AI prompt writing is basically minimalism meets improv. If all else fails? Go weird, then dial it back. That middle ground is often gold.