Module 4: Level Up
Show, Don't Tell
Struggling to describe the style or format you want? Stop explaining—just show AI an example and ask it to follow the pattern.
Describing exactly what you want is hard. But showing an example is easy—and AI is excellent at pattern matching.
One good example > paragraphs of instructions
The Basic Pattern
Few-shot template
Here's an example of what I want:
[Input]: [example input]
[Output]: [example output in the style you want]
Now do the same for:
[Input]: [your actual input]
Real Examples
Match a Writing Style
Copy a voice
I want you to write in my style. Here are 3 examples of how I write:
Example 1: "The thing about productivity apps is they make you feel productive while you procrastinate on actual work."
Example 2: "I deleted Twitter for the fifth time this year. It lasted 3 days. We both knew I'd be back."
Example 3: "Everyone wants to 'build in public' until it's time to share the stuff that's actually embarrassing."
Now write a short post about [topic] in this same voice.
Create Consistent Formats
Format matching
I need product descriptions in this format:
Example:
Product: Wireless Earbuds
Description: Tiny but mighty. 8 hours of battery, noise cancellation that actually works, and a case that fits in your coin pocket. For people who hate tangled wires and love good bass.
Now write descriptions for these products:
1. [Product A]
2. [Product B]
3. [Product C]
Transform Data Consistently
Data transformation
Convert technical features to customer benefits like this:
Feature: "10,000 mAh battery capacity"
Benefit: "Powers your phone for 3 full days—even with heavy use"
Feature: "256-bit AES encryption"
Benefit: "Your data is locked with bank-level security"
Now convert these features:
[List your features]
Pro Tips
More examples = better results. One example works, but 2-3 examples help AI understand patterns more reliably.
Show variety. If your examples are too similar, AI might match the wrong pattern. Show different cases when possible.
Label clearly. Use "Input:" / "Output:" or "Before:" / "After:" to make the pattern obvious.
Try It Now
Find something you've written before that represents your style (email, social post, doc). Paste 2-3 examples, then ask AI to write something new in that same voice.
Key Takeaway
Show AI what you want with examples. It's better at copying patterns than following descriptions.