ChatGPT starter pack: 5 prompt patterns that do everything

Copy any of these directly into ChatGPT and swap the brackets:

1. EXPLAIN IT TO ME
Explain [TOPIC] to me like I'm intelligent but have no background in it. Use one concrete analogy, avoid jargon until you've defined it, and give me the most important thing most people get wrong about it.

2. WRITE IT FOR ME
Write [TYPE OF CONTENT — email / blog post / caption / message / cover letter] about [TOPIC OR SITUATION]. Tone: [formal / casual / persuasive / friendly]. Length: [short / medium / detailed]. Key point to hit: [ONE THING IT MUST SAY OR DO].

3. SUMMARIZE + PULL ACTION ITEMS
[PASTE TEXT, EMAIL THREAD, ARTICLE, OR MEETING NOTES HERE]
Summarize the above in 3 bullet points, then list every action item or decision that needs to happen, who owns it (if mentioned), and any deadline.

4. ACT AS AN EXPERT
You are a [ROLE — experienced product manager / senior copywriter / tax accountant / fitness coach]. I'm going to describe my situation and I need your expert perspective, not a general answer.
My situation: [DESCRIBE YOUR SITUATION IN 2-3 SENTENCES]
What would you recommend?

5. BRAINSTORM + SCORE
Give me [NUMBER] ideas for [GOAL OR CHALLENGE]. For each idea include: the idea in one sentence, why it could work, and one reason it might not. Then rank them 1-[NUMBER] from most to least promising.

Tips:
• Pattern 4 (act as expert) is the most underused — the role frame dramatically changes the quality and specificity of the answer
• Add 'Be direct and skip the disclaimer' to any prompt to remove the hedging
• Stack patterns: 'Act as a copywriter (pattern 4), write a launch email (pattern 2), then give me 3 subject line variations (pattern 5)'