The 10 AI Prompts Every Self-Help Author Should Be Using
One of the topics we chat about in my self-help writing class is the explosion of artificial intelligence tools for researching, brainstorming, and organizing information. I always tell my students that AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude are a godsend for anyone writing a book, but especially for self-help authors. Here’s why:
-Self-help authors often have YEARS of workshops, client sessions, and talks that contain priceless anecdotes, research, and case studies, but combing through this mountain of material can be overwhelming
-Self-help authors usually have a job other than writing, whether that’s coaching, counseling, or an entirely different career. AI can act as a personal assistant, helping you make the most of the limited time you can devote to your book.
-Self-help authors often have a hard time narrowing down a single topic for their books. AI tools can help you identify the themes that come up the most in your speaking and teaching.
However, if you’re new to AI tools, it isn’t always obvious how to use them or what prompts to type in to get the best results. Here are ten of my favorites:
For Mining Teaching Content:
"I have transcripts from a five-class series I taught about women’s empowerment. Could you help me analyze them to identify: 1) recurring themes, 2) particularly powerful examples/stories, 3) frequently asked questions from students, and 4) exercises that got strong responses?"
For Analyzing Podcast Content:
"Here are transcripts from my last 10 podcast episodes about life with ADHD. Please help me organize the key insights into potential book chapters, and pull out particularly memorable quotes I could use on social media.”
For Organizing Workshop Materials:
"I've pasted my workshop handouts and exercises below. Could you help me structure them into a progressive learning journey that could form the backbone of my self-help book?”
For Converting Q&A Sessions:
"Here are common questions from my coaching sessions. Could you help me group these into themes and suggest how they might be developed into book chapters that anticipate and address reader concerns?”
For Documenting Methodologies:
"I've been teaching this method for years but never documented it fully. Here's how I explain it in classes. Can you help me break this down into clear, sequential steps that maintain the nuance but work well in written form?”
For Organizing Case Studies:
"Here are some client notes from my life coaching practice. Could you help me identify which ones best illustrate each key principle of my teaching?
For Developing Frameworks:
"Here's how I explain my approach when I lead workshops and retreats. Could you help me identify the core principles and create a clear framework that could structure my book?"
For Adapting Exercises:
"These are exercises I use in live settings. Could you help me adapt them for readers to do at home?"
For Assessing Materials:
"Here's an outline of my existing book materials. Could you help identify gaps where I need to develop additional material for the book to feel complete?"
For Organizing Research:
"I've collected these studies and articles about parenting adopted kids over the years. Could you help me: 1) group them by key findings that support my main teaching points, 2) identify the most compelling statistics or research outcomes, 3) suggest places where this research could fit into my existing chapters, and 4) highlight any gaps where I might need additional research to support my claims?"
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