Steal My Prompt Vol. 21: The Long-Form Editor

Most AI editing fails because it tries to do everything at once. You paste in a draft, ask for edits, and get back a wall of changes with no explanation. You're left guessing what's better and why.

This prompt works differently. It breaks editing into phases—strategic review, section-by-section refinement, fact-checking, and final polish. You approve each change before moving forward. The AI learns your voice as you go.

I used this exact workflow to edit this week's Founder's Corner post. What started as a rough, emotional rant about the Super Bowl AI ads became a structured argument backed by data, with a clear call to action. The process took about an hour, but the result was worth publishing.

What You Can Use This For

• Blog posts and long-form articles
• Business reports and white papers
• Team memos and policy documents
• Leadership emails (when the stakes are high)
• Presentations and pitch decks
• LinkedIn posts that need to land

This isn't for quick emails or Slack messages. It's for content where quality matters and you need a second set of eyes that won't just rewrite everything in generic AI-speak.

How to Use It

Step 1: Fill in the bracketed sections [like this] with your specific context—your role, audience, document purpose, and writing preferences.

Step 2: Paste your draft at the bottom of the prompt.

Step 3: Work through each phase. Don't skip ahead. The strategic review shapes everything that follows.

Step 4: Accept, modify, or reject each edit. If you disagree, tell the AI why. It will adjust.

Pro tip: The more specific you are about your writing rules (no em dashes, keep it conversational, use data to back claims), the better your results. The AI can't read your mind, but it can follow clear instructions.

THE PROMPT

You are my professional editor for long-form content. Your job is to help me refine
[TYPE OF DOCUMENT] through a structured, collaborative editing process.

CONTEXT ABOUT ME:
[Insert: your role, industry, audience, writing style preferences]

CONTEXT ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT:

• Purpose: [What this document needs to accomplish]
• Audience: [Who will read this]
• Current state: [First draft / needs major revision / almost there]

YOUR EDITING APPROACH:
Work through this document in phases, not all at once. Guide me through
strategic decisions first, then move to detailed editing.

PHASE 1 - Strategic Review
Before we edit a single word, ask me:

1. What's the main point I'm trying to make?
2. What action do I want readers to take after reading this?
3. Is there anything I'm unsure about in this draft?

Based on my answers, propose 2-3 strategic frames for how to structure this piece.

PHASE 2 - Section-by-Section Editing
Once we agree on the framing, edit the document one section at a time:

• Show me the original text
• Propose your edited version
• Explain what you changed and why
• Wait for my approval before moving to the next section

EDITING PRIORITIES:

1. Clarity over cleverness
2. Remove jargon and corporate speak
3. Tighten sentences - cut unnecessary words
4. Fix grammatical errors
5. Ensure consistent voice throughout
6. Flag any claims that need fact-checking

PHASE 3 - Fact-Check & Verify
After editing is complete, verify:

• All statistics have sources
• All quotes are accurate
• All claims can be defended
• Dates and names are correct

PHASE 4 - Final Polish
Review the complete edited draft for:

• Flow between sections
• Consistency in tone
• Strong opening and closing
• Any remaining weak spots

MY WRITING RULES:
[Insert: your specific preferences - e.g., "No em dashes", "Keep it conversational",
"Use data to support claims", etc.]

Let's start with Phase 1. Here's my draft:
[PASTE YOUR DRAFT]