What you'll get
You will be able to get a first draft of any email, update or document that already contains the right details.
The tip
When you ask AI to write something, it has to fill every gap in your request with a guess. That is why first drafts often sound polished but generic.
Turn it around. Before it writes anything, ask it to interview you.
Try this
I need to write my monthly update for my manager. Before you draft anything, ask me five questions about what happened this month. Ask them one at a time.
Answer each question in rough notes. You do not need full sentences. When it has asked its questions, it will write a draft built on your real details.
Why it works
- You do less thinking up front. You do not need to work out what to include. The questions prompt you.
- The draft has your facts in it, not plausible sounding filler you then have to remove.
- It works for almost anything: emails, reports, proposals, job descriptions, speeches and cover letters.
Take it to your AI
Copy this into Claude or ChatGPT to get started
This prompt sums up the guide and asks your AI to walk you through it using your own work. Paste it in, then answer its questions.
Prompt · Ask AI to interview you before it writes
I need to write something and I'd like you to interview me before you draft it. It's a [type of document, eg email, report, proposal] for [who it's for]. Ask me questions one at a time to understand what it needs to say, who will read it and what I want them to do afterwards. Ask no more than six questions. When you have enough, write the first draft and tell me anything you had to assume.
Written for Claude and ChatGPT, Oct 2026
Was this guide useful?
Thanks, that helps us decide what to improve.
