Treating the first output as a draft.
THE MISTAKE
Accepting the first response, or abandoning the tool when it is poor.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD
Say what is wrong and ask again.
"Too long. Half the length." "Too formal. Write as though speaking to a customer." "You missed the point about X. Rewrite including that."
WHY THIS WORKS
The model has your original request and its attempt in context. Corrections are applied precisely.
BEING SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT IS WRONG
"Make it better" changes things arbitrarily.
"The second paragraph is vague. Add a concrete example" produces a targeted fix.
WHEN TO REGENERATE INSTEAD
When the output started in the wrong direction entirely.
Correcting within the same conversation can inherit the problem. A fresh attempt is sometimes better.
HOW MANY ITERATIONS
Two or three usually reaches something usable.
If it takes more, the prompt needs rewriting rather than the output.
WHAT TO LEARN FROM IT
Fold your corrections back into the prompt for next time.
