# Build your "how I like work done" file: checklist

Answer a few questions about how you work and what you like, turn the answers into a short list of rules for an AI tool, test each rule on a sample task, and keep a file you can paste at the start of any chat.

## Before you start

- [ ] Have ready: What you do and who you write for
  Describe your job and the people you usually write or prepare things for.
- [ ] Have ready: How you like writing to sound
  Tone, length, and level of detail. Words you like and words you never use.
- [ ] Have ready: How you like answers laid out
  For example short paragraphs, bullets, tables, or the answer first and the reasons after.
- [ ] Have ready: What annoys you in AI answers
  List the habits you want it to stop. Be specific.
- [ ] Have ready: What it should always do (optional)
  Things you want every time, such as asking when something is unclear or showing its sources.
- [ ] Have ready: A real task you do often
  One typical job you give an AI tool. It is used to test the rules.

## Step 1: Turn your answers into rules

- [ ] Write a short list of clear rules for an AI tool, each with the reason you gave and a way to test it.
- [ ] You have: A table of 6 to 12 rules, each with a reason and a test.
- [ ] Check: Every row of the table has something written in "Rule", "Reason" and "Test" (a blank or a dash does not count).
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.

## Step 2: Try each rule on your sample task

- [ ] Do the sample task while following the rules, then check each rule against the result.
- [ ] You have: The sample task done with the rules, and a table that says whether each rule was followed.
- [ ] Check: Every row of the table has one of "yes" or "no" in the Followed column.
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.

## Step 3: Fix the rules that failed

- [ ] Reword any rule that was not followed so that it is easier to follow, and keep the ones that worked.
- [ ] You have: The final list of rules, with the reworded ones marked.
- [ ] Check: Every row of the table has one of "yes" or "no" in the Changed column.
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.

## Step 4: Write the file you paste into your AI tool

- [ ] Put the final rules into one short file, written to the AI, that you can paste at the start of any chat.
- [ ] You have: A short file of instructions, ready to paste at the start of any AI chat.
- [ ] Check: The answer is no longer than 350 words.
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.

## Final checks

- [ ] Check: Compare the file with the final rules below. Is every rule in the table present in the file, with the same meaning, and does the file add no rule that is not in the table?
  Checked by a second AI prompt. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.
- [ ] Check: Every row of the table has something written in "Followed" and "What I saw" (a blank or a dash does not count).
  A plain rule you can check by eye. If not: Run the step once more, and add what was wrong to the end of the prompt. If it still does not pass, fix it by hand and make a note of it.
- [ ] Check: Read the file. Does each rule say something you really want? Cross out any you would not miss, then try the file in a new chat on a real task and see if the answer feels right.
  Checked by you. If not: Carry on, but write down the problem so whoever uses the result knows about it.

## You end up with

- [ ] A short file of rules to paste at the start of any AI chat, or to save in your tool's settings.
- [ ] The table of rules with the reason for each, in case you want to change them later.

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From Logic Lab (logiclabhq.com). Free to use and adapt, with credit.