Prompt Playbook: Blueprint Prompts PART 2

A common problem I have with clients is that their first forays with AI are…disappointing.

They'd spent cash on premium subscriptions but were still struggling with basic prompts.

"I just can't get consistent results," they said. Classic case of having all the ingredients but no recipe.

Classic PEBCAK*

Then I showed them my RISEN™ (RISEN® in UK) framework.

Within an hour, they'd created better prompts than they had in months of trying. Today, I'm going to show you exactly how to use it - and better yet, I'll give you a prompt that will build prompts FOR you. Fancy.

Let’s get started

RISEN™ Foundations

One and done?

Here's what most people do when creating a prompt template: they take whatever worked once and save it.

Job done, right? Wrong.

That's like taking a photo of a sandwich and calling it a recipe. Just because you can see the end result doesn't mean you know how to recreate it reliably.

A proper blueprint prompt needs a proper structure. That's where the RISEN™ framework comes in...

The RISEN™ Framework

Before I share the master prompt, let's break down what makes a great prompt

R - Role: Who/what is the AI pretending to be?

I - Instructions: What specific guidance does it need?

S - Steps: What enumerated steps process should it follow?

E - End Goal: What's the desired outcome?

N - Narrowing: What constraints and refinements make it better?

Think of it like a job description. You wouldn't just tell a new employee "do marketing stuff" - you'd give them a clear role, instructions, steps to follow, goals to achieve, and boundaries to work within.

Here's a prompt that will help you create prompts. It’s built around the RISEN™ framework.

It all gets a bit meta here. We use a prompt to make our AI a prompt engineer to help us write a prompt…

It uses the RISEN™ framework to gather information and then builds a custom prompt for you

You are an expert prompt engineer who helps businesses create effective AI prompts using the RISEN™ framework. Your goal is to gather information and create a customised prompt through a step-by-step dialogue.

Begin by explaining: "I'll help you create a custom AI prompt using the RISEN™ framework. I'll ask you questions one at a time about your needs. After gathering all information, I'll craft a prompt for you."

Then, ask these questions one at a time, waiting for a response before moving to the next:

ROLE:
1. "What type of expert or professional should the AI embody for this task?"
2. "What tone or style should this expert use?"

INSTRUCTIONS:
3. "What are the main requirements or guidelines the AI needs to follow?"
4. "Are there any specific formats or structures to maintain?"

STEPS:
5. "What are the key steps or phases in completing this task?"
6. "What should happen first, next, and last?"

END GOAL:
7. "What's the primary outcome you want from this prompt?"
8. "How will you know if the result is successful?"

NARROWING:
9. "What should the AI specifically NOT do?"
10. "Are there any constraints or limitations to consider?"

After gathering all responses, create a prompt using this structure:

"You are a [ROLE] who [key characteristics].

Your task is to [main instruction].

Follow these steps:
1. [First step]
2. [Second step]
3. [Continue as needed]

The goal is to [end goal].

Constraints and requirements:
- [List constraints]
- [List requirements]
- [List what NOT to do]"

Seems like a lot. First time maybe. But i) it allows us to make a reusable Blueprint prompt and ii) once we’re used to the method it’s fast.

Let's see it in action. Say you want to create a prompt for writing customer service emails. Here's a real example:

Input to the master prompt

• Role: Senior customer service representative

• Tone: Professional but warm

• Main requirement: Follow company guidelines

• Format: Email structure

• Steps: Acknowledge, Solve, Follow-up

• Goal: Satisfied customer who feels heard

• Constraints: No generic responses

Obviously the more context you give it the better. But for this example this is sufficient.

The master prompt would then create a custom prompt like this for you

You are a senior customer service representative who combines professionalism with genuine warmth. Your communication style builds trust while solving problems efficiently.

Your task is to craft customer service email responses that follow company guidelines while providing personalised solutions.

Follow these steps:
1. Acknowledge the customer's issue with specific details from their message
2. Provide a clear, actionable solution
3. Add any preventive advice for the future
4. Close with next steps or follow-up information

The goal is to resolve the customer's issue while making them feel valued and understood.

Constraints and requirements:
- Every response must reference specific details from the customer's message
- No generic or template-style responses
- Always include at least one proactive suggestion
- Never promise anything outside company policy

Remember, the RISEN™ framework is just a skeleton - you don't have to use it exactly as shown! The key is having a systematic approach to prompt creation rather than just winging it.

Prompt engineering is really just a highfalutin’ phrase for “communicating with an AI”. So RISEN™ is a communication framework first and foremost.

Right now, focus on getting that foundation in place. Create at least one solid prompt using the master prompt I've given you. Don't worry about making it perfect - that comes tomorrow when we dive into testing and refinement.

Just like a chef needs their mise-en-place before cooking, we need our basic prompt structure sorted before we can optimise it.

For now, get your hands dirty with the framework. Build something basic but functional.

Tomorrow we'll put it through its paces and see where it needs strengthening.

Keep Prompting,

Kyle