ChatGPT Prompt: The Checklist Method
Use this prompt to uncover patterns in your writing and know what to fix.
Every writer's journey is paved with the persistent pursuit of perfection.
Like removing excessive alliteration.
Let’s try that again.
Every writer’s journey requires incremental steps, an endless march toward better craft. Honing our skill until it shines.
Better.
With each chapter drafted we can take a step closer to that elusive masterpiece. Learning as we go, if we highlight the issues and fix them.
But repetitive mistakes sneak into our drafts, unnoticed until revisions.
Over and over again, we stumble over the same lessons.
If only there was a way to rate each chapter and highlight these issues. 🤔
Enter the Checklist Method
Your vigilant companion on this creative expedition, your scout leading you through the quagmire of telling, insipid openers and deflated cliffhangers.
It's not just a tool, but a tutor that helps you understand your writing patterns, helping with the current chapter and the ones that follow.
The Prompt is a game-changer
With it you can:
Swiftly review your current chapter draft
See how it measures against a checklist you’ve honed over time.
With a score out of 20, it uncovers repeated issues in your writing.
This isn’t about mere error-spotting; it’s about understanding the patterns in your writing that could be enhanced.
Let’s Pause for a Little Backstory
In July and August, my writing process underwent a transformation. By batching drafting and editing, I managed to effectively double my published chapters (in a good week, life still happens).
The real magic unfolded when I started using this prompt in my routine.
Every chapter review highlighted the same issues over and over. Which made me think I should fix it in Production not in Post (I used to be a filmmaker). From there I create an outline framework to fix these issues before they happen. But more on this next time. 😉
So see this as a learning journey, it’s not just about fixing mistakes; it’s about evolving a process that minimizes them from the beginning.
Reducing time “wasted” rewriting and editing unnecessarily but also enriching my drafting experience. Also this is my checklist, you can always adapt the list to fit your writing and genre.
Top 3 Issues and Good Chapter Checklist
This prompt will highlight the three main issues with your draft and then rate it against a Good Chapter checklist I developed by asking ChatGTP what makes a good serial fiction chapter. It gives you a hand score and uses emojis to make things a little more visual.
As my award-wining developmental editor with 100 years experience, skilled in coaching writers, supporting fast edits, and helping them understand key issues while explaining them as if to a child, please review my serial fiction chapter.
Steps:
1. Tell me the top 3 issues I must solve before I can share with Early Access fans. Fixing these must solve most of the missed checklist items.
2. Then please review against my Good Chapter checklist.
What have I failed to do? Keep advice clear but concise. List the elements with feedback and format like this example:
"18. **Show, don't tell** - ❌ There are several instances of telling rather than showing. For instance, consider exploring more on how the characters felt betrayed rather than stating it.
19. **Consistent themes** - ✅ Themes of trust, betrayal, and revenge"
3. Counting the green tick bullets, give me a score out of 21 e.g. 13/21
Checklist:
1. Hooks instantly
2. Clear motivations
3. Present conflict
4. Engaging dialogue
5. Story progresses
6. Seamless subplots
7. Personalities grow
8. Fulfilled hints
9. Consistent settings
10. Fresh concept
11. Emotional depth
12. Future hints
13. Steady pace
14. Authentic speech
15. Scene variety
16. Compelling endings
17. Show, don't tell
18. Consistent themes
19. Sensory description
20. Immersive worldbuildingThis version works perfectly fine in the free version of ChatGPT, here’s an example with a recent chapter. But you’ll get better feedback in Pro.
In every writer's journey, there's a quest for not only perfect words but also a flawless process. This prompt is a step in that direction—tackling repetitive issues, learning from them, and creating stories that resonate with your readers.
Keep writing,
Zane
Take the next step and use your review to get structured suggestions:
Share your experience
Did this prompt work for you? Share what you learnt so we can all grow faster.
This certainly sounds like a double whammy: improves your writing while also increasing efficiency.