TIL writing a prompt with too many details backfires hard

I wrote this fantasy prompt last night with like 6 specific rules about magic systems and character limits, and nobody even commented on it. Turns out giving people too many constraints kills their creativity, everyone just scrolls past. Has anyone else found that sweet spot where a prompt is detailed enough but still leaves room for the writer?

2 comments

2 Comments

gonzalez.wesley1mo ago

My buddy Dave once wrote a prompt with seven specific rules for a steampunk heist story, and the only comment he got was someone asking if the airships ran on coal or magic. He deleted the whole thing and just wrote "steampunk heist, go nuts" and got like twelve responses the next day. I mean it's tough finding that balance, idk maybe keeping it down to two or three main rules leaves people enough room to play around without feeling boxed in.

saraho481mo ago

Yeah I read something similar in a writing blog the other day, people just get overwhelmed when there's too many rules and they feel like they're gonna break something. The best prompts seem to be the ones that give a general vibe and maybe one or two things to focus on, like your buddy @gonzalez.wesley figured out. It's funny how less structure actually gets people to be more creative, isn't it.