The 10 Claude prompts I copy-paste every week as a content creator

Most prompt libraries online are written by people who don’t actually use the prompts. They’re optimised for being shareable, not for being useful. Long, generic, structured like a marketing brief.

The 10 prompts on this list are the ones I actually paste into Claude every week. Each one solves a specific recurring problem. They’re short, they’re rough, they work. Copy them, adjust the bracketed parts to your context, and use them.

1. The ‘Tighten This Draft’ Prompt

For when you’ve written something and need to cut 20% without losing meaning.

Below is a draft I wrote. Cut roughly 20% of the words without losing any meaning, examples, or specifics. Don't rewrite it; just identify what can be removed. Show the result with deleted parts struck through, then show the clean final version.

Draft:
[paste]

The struck-through view matters — it shows you what Claude is cutting and lets you push back on cuts you disagree with. About half the time I keep something Claude wanted to remove because it carried context that wasn’t obvious.

2. The “Find What’s Wrong With This” Prompt

For drafts that feel off but you can’t articulate why.

This piece feels off to me but I can't pinpoint why. Read it as a critical editor. Identify: the weakest paragraph, the moment the reader is most likely to lose interest, anything that sounds like AI-generated text, and any claims that are unsupported. Don't rewrite anything — just diagnose.

Draft:
[paste]

This is the prompt I use most. The “don’t rewrite” instruction matters because Claude’s first instinct is to fix what it diagnoses, which buries the diagnosis under a wall of new text.

3. The “Extract Action Items” Prompt

For meeting transcripts, long emails, or any document where you need to know what needs doing.

From the text below, extract every action item, decision made, and open question that wasn't resolved. For each action item, identify who it's assigned to and any deadline mentioned. If something is implied but not explicit, flag it as "implied."

Text:
[paste]

4. The “Plain English This” Prompt

For any technical, legal, or jargon-heavy document you need to actually understand.

Rewrite the text below in plain English for a non-specialist reader. Keep all the substance and any specific numbers or terms that matter. Replace jargon with everyday language. Keep it the same length or shorter, never longer.

Text:
[paste]

5. The “Three Versions” Prompt

For email subject lines, post hooks, headlines, or any short copy where the first version is rarely the best.

Write three different versions of [the thing you need]. Each version should take a different angle: one direct, one curiosity-driven, one specific/data-led. Don't make them similar. The point is to see different approaches, not three versions of the same approach.

Context:
[paste your context]

6. The ‘Steel-Man My Argument’ Prompt

For when you’re writing something opinionated and want to test it before publishing.

Below is the argument I'm making. Steel-man the strongest objections to it. For each objection, give: (1) a one-sentence summary, (2) why someone would reasonably hold it, (3) whether my argument addresses it. Don't be polite — the goal is to find weaknesses I should address.

My argument:
[paste]

7. The “Outline From Notes” Prompt

For when you have rough notes and need a structured outline before drafting.

Below are my rough notes for a piece on [topic]. Build an outline from these notes only — don't add information that isn't in my notes. Group related points, identify the strongest single argument, and suggest a logical sequence. Flag any sections where the notes are thin and need more research.

Notes:
[paste]

8. The “What Am I Missing?” Prompt

For decisions where you’ve thought through the obvious factors but want a sanity check.

I'm trying to decide between [option A] and [option B] for [context]. Here's how I'm thinking about it:

[paste your reasoning]

What am I missing? Specifically: factors I haven't considered, assumptions I'm making that might be wrong, second-order consequences of either choice, and any information that would change the decision if I had it.

9. The “Translate This for the Audience” Prompt

For when you need to send the same information to two different audiences.

Rewrite the text below for [target audience: e.g., a non-technical executive / a developer / a new client]. Keep the substance the same; change only the framing, vocabulary, and emphasis to match what that audience cares about. Note explicitly any details you removed or added because of the audience shift.

Text:
[paste]

10. The “Email Reply” Prompt

For client emails that need a careful response and you don’t want to sit with for an hour.

Here's an email I received and the situation behind it. Draft a reply that: addresses every point they raised, sets clear expectations on what happens next, and pushes back where I've indicated I want to push back. Tone: professional but direct, not apologetic. Under 200 words.

Email I received:
[paste]

Context and what I want to say:
[paste]

How to Use These Effectively

Three rules that make these prompts work better:

1. Always paste real context, not summaries. “Here’s a draft I wrote about pricing strategy” is worse than pasting the actual draft. Claude works with what you give it.
2. Push back on Claude’s first answer. If the response misses something important, reply with “you ignored X — redo with that included” rather than starting over. Claude responds well to specific corrections.
3. Save the prompts that work for your use cases. Adapt these to your specific business, role, and voice. The bracketed sections are what you customise.

Use them once and they save you 10 minutes. Use them weekly for a year and they save you a working week.

Related reading

• How to Use Claude to Extract Key Insights From a Dense PDF Report in Minutes
• Claude vs Gemini for Writing Technical Documentation: An Honest Comparison
• Claude Pro vs ChatGPT Plus: A Decision Tree for Picking the Right $20