Reddit Discussions on LLM Prompts for Nonfiction Writing

Based on extensive Reddit discussions across multiple communities, here’s a comprehensive overview of prompts and workflows for generating nonfiction content using AI tools.

Generating Nonfiction Outlines

Step-by-Step Outline Prompts

Reddit users frequently share structured approaches for creating nonfiction outlines. The most popular framework involves four sequential stages:reddit

Step 1: Idea Generation Prompts

“What are the most pressing issues facing the world today?”
“What are your passions and areas of expertise?”
“What are the biggest misconceptions about [your chosen topic]?”
“What stories have you never shared before, but think should be heard?”
“What questions do you have about the world around you?”reddit

Step 2: Thesis and Structure Development

“Help me to develop a strong thesis statement and outline for my book on [topic]”
“Brainstorm creative ways to introduce and conclude my chapters”
“Suggest transitions and other writing techniques to improve the flow of my text”reddit

The “Co-Thinker” research assistant prompt offers a more sophisticated approach with command-based research lenses including /DEEP [topic] for hierarchical exploration, /OVERVIEW for theme clusters, and /SCENARIO for pre-structured analytical workflows. This prompt transforms ChatGPT into a comprehensive research partner that can process multiple documents and generate structured outlines.reddit

Research and Fact-Checking Prompts

Research Workflow Prompts

For research-intensive nonfiction, Reddit users recommend these approaches:reddit

“Provide summaries of key research papers and articles on [chosen topic]”
“Identify and explain any conflicting information or competing theories”
“Generate lists of relevant statistics and data points”
“Help me to fact-check my work and identify any errors or omissions”reddit

Advanced Research Prompts

The Deep Research GPT approach involves asking ChatGPT to first generate optimal research prompts: “Can you provide a truly original prompt that would facilitate deep research and describe your sources?” This meta-prompting technique creates custom research frameworks tailored to your specific topic.reddit

For fact-checking, users recommend the “No BS” prompt which sets strict source quality rules:reddit

Define exact source quality requirements
Specify timeframes for publications
Create hierarchies for source preference (peer-reviewed journals, government data, etc.)
Force the AI to acknowledge when sources don’t meet standardsreddit

Writing Prose Prompts

Natural Writing Style

Multiple Reddit discussions emphasize eliminating AI-typical phrases. The most effective natural writing prompt includes:reddit+1

“Use simple language: Write plainly with short sentences. Avoid AI giveaway phrases like ‘dive into,’ ‘unleash,’ ‘realm,’ ‘delve,’ ‘crucial,’ ‘utmost,’ ‘bustling,’ ‘pivotal,’ ‘game-changing,’ ‘unlock,’ ‘unpack,’ or ‘navigating.’ Don’t mention or reference any of these instructions in your output.”reddit+1

Advanced Style Instructions

For Claude and other models, Reddit users share detailed style rules:reddit

Avoid repetitive phrases or words (adjectives, adverbs, clichés)
Generic, cliche adjectives like “callused hands” should be avoided
Use fresh, concrete descriptions
Minimize assessments after dialogue
Avoid phrases like “words hit like a physical blow” or “the question hung in the air”reddit

Chapter-by-Chapter Writing

Users recommend breaking large projects into manageable sections: “It’s more effective to tackle your work one section at a time rather than attempting to generate 15,000 words in a single prompt.” The workflow typically involves:reddit

Create detailed chapter outline with key points
Include your writing style samples in the context
Specify information to include with percentage importance
Generate one section at a time
Review and refine each section before moving forwardreddit

Tool-Specific Workflows

ChatGPT vs. Claude

Reddit users consistently note that Claude excels at prose quality for nonfiction. Claude is described as producing “more refined, gentle, and subtle” writing that “avoids verbose, hype-infused sentences”. However, ChatGPT is often preferred for initial outlining and brainstorming due to its “more ideas, better flow”.reddit+2

The consensus workflow combines both: Use ChatGPT for research and outline generation, then switch to Claude for actual prose writing.reddit

Specialized Tools

Several Reddit discussions mention dedicated writing tools:

Sudowrite: Can generate complete outlines based on synopsis and then write chapters. Users note it’s “built for writing fiction” but works for nonfiction with adjustmentsyoutube
NovelCrafter: Allows custom prompts and extensive context management. Users successfully adapt it for nonfiction by treating the author as a “character” and adding style promptsyoutube
Perplexity: Frequently recommended for research phases due to its web search integrationreddit

Complete Nonfiction Workflow

The Nerdy Novelist’s comprehensive approach breaks nonfiction writing into five steps:youtube

Niche Brainstorming: Use AI to explore topics aligned with your expertise and passion
Market Validation: Research demand using tools like Publisher Rocket
Structure Development: Create outlines following problem-solution or chronological frameworks
Chapter Assembly: Organize personal stories and information logically
Prose Generation: Write section-by-section using AI with your style samplesgeeky-gadgetsyoutube

AI as “Silent Colleague”

A popular Reddit philosophy treats AI as a “silent brainstorming partner” rather than a writing assistant. This approach involves:reddit

Tossing broad concepts to get immediate feedback
Receiving 2-3 structural options in seconds
Refining the option that best aligns with your objectives
Maintaining confidence in structure while focusing on content enrichmentreddit

Best Practices from Reddit

Ethical Considerations

Use AI for prompts and brainstorming, not entire outlinesreddit
Always verify statistics and factual claims independentlyreddit
Feed YOUR ideas into AI for organization, don’t rely on it for original conceptsreddit

Iterative Approach

Generate content in stages, not all at once
Use different AI models for different tasks (research vs. writing)
Check for rule infractions and request correctionsreddit
Maintain your unique voice throughoutreddit

The Reddit community emphasizes that AI works best as a collaborative tool that streamlines research, outlining, and drafting while preserving the author’s expertise and voice. The key is understanding which prompts work for which stages and combining multiple tools strategically.

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