Multi-step prompting.
THE PRINCIPLE
Complex output is produced by a sequence of prompts, not one.
AN EXAMPLE SEQUENCE
- "What should an article on X cover, for [audience]?"
- "Produce an outline from those points."
- [You edit the outline]
- "Write the first section from this outline."
- [You edit]
- "Write the next section. Do not repeat what was covered."
WHY THIS WORKS
Each step is simple enough to be done well You steer between steps Errors are caught early rather than propagating
WHAT TO DO AT EACH STEP
Review before continuing. That is the point of the sequence.
FOR ANALYSIS
- What are the relevant considerations?
- Assess each.
- What is the conclusion, and what does it depend on?
FOR PROBLEM SOLVING
- What are the possible causes?
- How would I distinguish between them?
- Given [what I found], what now?
WHAT NOT TO DO
Chain steps automatically without review.
The review between steps is where the value is.
