Specifying output format: adapting to different settings
Advice on specifying output format tends to split in two: impossibly complex, or sold as one click. Reality sits between. It needs some patience and…
Strategy across several turns: judge, act, review
Most people want strategy across several turns to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a bad…
Building a prompt library: the workable version
Most people do not fail at building a prompt library from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What follows is the…
Asking for a comparison table: adapting to different settings
Let us set the limits of asking for a comparison table first: it reliably improves files found in three seconds, and it does not deliver overnight.…
Asking for an outline: the four usual traps
There is plenty written about asking for an outline and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done on the study desk,…
Adjusting tone for email: the workable version
Separate two things in adjusting tone for email: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action…
A route for learning new tools: what to do first
Most people want a route for learning new tools to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a bad…
Spotting confident nonsense: the complete picture
There is plenty written about spotting confident nonsense and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done on the study…
Automating a small workflow: adapting to different settings
If you have already tried automating a small workflow and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an…
Costing token usage: adapting to different settings
If you only read one paragraph, read this: costing token usage depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange the…
Tasks worth handing over: putting effort where it counts
Most people do not fail at tasks worth handing over from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What follows is the doing…
Tasks to keep yourself: start with the conclusion
If you only read one paragraph, read this: tasks to keep yourself depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange…
Writing prompts that specify the task: rhythm decides it
Let us set the limits of writing prompts that specify the task first: it reliably improves backups that survive a power cut, and it does not deliver…
Where rewriting crosses a line: from judgement to finish
Put where rewriting crosses a line back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good…
Summarising a long document: putting effort where it counts
Let us set the limits of summarising a long document first: it reliably improves files found in three seconds, and it does not deliver overnight.…
Analysing a table: how to do it concretely
If you only read one paragraph, read this: analysing a table depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange the…
Editing a translation: what to do first
If you have already tried editing a translation and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an environment…
Turning recordings into notes: one full walkthrough
If you have already tried turning recordings into notes and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an…
What image generation suits: the workable version
Put what image generation suits back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good months…
Using code assistants: the workable version
Anyone who has spent time on using code assistants has a failure story: a strong start, a collapse in the middle, then silence. This is not another…