---
title: Use “Show, Don’t Tell” Prompts to Fix Flat Writing
description: Transform flat writing into vivid storytelling by using 'show, don’t tell' prompts to create engaging scenes that captivate your audience.
image: https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/AI%20Bites-1.png
---

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# Use “Show, Don’t Tell” Prompts to Fix Flat Writing

 September 16, 2026

![Picture of Danielle Price Griffin](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/31045232924d123af765cd9b1925a9ce) [Danielle Price Griffin](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/danielle)

![A stylized graphic on a blue background. An orange robot icon is positioned on the left. To its right, an orange speech bubble contains the letters ](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/AI%20Bites-1.png)

One common complaint: “AI chatbots makes everything sound generic.” → aka AI slop.

That happens when we ask it to tell instead of show.

## Try this adjustment:

### Instead of:

*“Write a motivational paragraph about leadership.”*

### Try:

*“A new manager just found out their team failed an important deadline. Instead of a standard, stale pep talk, show me what this manager actually does: the conversation, the decision, the thing they choose to focus on. End with one line that reveals what leadership actually looks like through that action. Make it feel like a scene from an inspirational movie, not like a TEDx talk.”*

### Or even more fun:

*“Write me a scene where the manager realizes their team is in trouble (like inconceivable levels of trouble). Show me the manager’s actual response: not what they say about leadership, but what they do. Include one quiet moment that proves they are the hero of this story, not the villain.”*

The first attempt feels like a lecture *(Bueller? Bueller?)*. The second & third feel like a story (like *The Princess Bride*).

When you want your writing to sound alive, ask your chatbot of choice (Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT) to use examples, scenarios, or metaphors. That’s just one small way in which to break the robot voice/AI slop cycle.

![Writing Style Guide Template Page Icon](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Writing%20Style%20Guide%20Template%20Page%20Icon.png?width=600&height=496&name=Writing%20Style%20Guide%20Template%20Page%20Icon.png)

#### Make Prompts Twice As Effective

If you want to make sure AI also matches your tone, capture your preferences in the Writing Style Guide Template.

[Snag the Template $42 →](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/en-us/writing-style-guide-template)

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[Business Development](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/business-development), [Business Systems](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/business-systems), [Copywriting](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/copywriting), [AI](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/ai), [ChatGPT](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/chatgpt), [Google](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/google), [Gemini](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/gemini), [Leadership](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/leadership), [Claude](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/claude), [Anthropic](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/anthropic)

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