How to Write a Good AI Story Prompt

The four-part structure

1. Character — who, and one trait that shows.
2. Want — what they are trying to get from the scene.
3. Setting — where and when, with one concrete detail.
4. Tension — what is in the way, or at stake.

Worked example

Weak: "a story about a vampire." Stronger: "A guarded vampire archivist wants to stay unnoticed in the library he protects, until a curious researcher arrives after closing with a book that should not exist." The second gives the AI a want, a place and friction.

Common mistakes

• Listing traits instead of giving the character a want.
• Vague settings with no sensory anchor.
• No tension — nothing for the scene to resolve.

Explore SagaForge

Frequently asked questions