Perfect prompts hit the sweet spot between under-specification and over-constraint. This is the Goldilocks Principle in action.
Too Vague (Cold Porridge)
PROMPT: "Write something about productivity"
PROBLEMS: - No audience specified - No format indicated - No angle or perspective - No length guidance - No style direction
RESULT: Generic listicle you've read 100 times
Too Rigid (Hot Porridge)
PROMPT: "Write exactly 147 words about productivity for software developers aged 28-32 who work at Series B startups in San Francisco, using the metaphor of coffee brewing, including the words 'sprint', 'deploy', and 'iterate' at least twice each, in the style of Paul Graham but funnier, with exactly 3 paragraphs of 49 words each."
PROBLEMS: - Over-constrained creativity - Conflicting requirements - Unnatural restrictions - Focus on mechanics over message
RESULT: Forced, awkward content that meets specs but misses the point
Just Right (Perfect Porridge)
PROMPT: "Write a 150-200 word insight about developer productivity that challenges conventional wisdom. Audience: experienced software engineers who are tired of typical advice. Use a unexpected metaphor from outside tech. Tone: thoughtful but slightly irreverent, like Paul Graham with a sense of humor. Include one actionable tip they can implement immediately."
WHY IT WORKS: - Clear audience and purpose - Flexible constraints - Specific tone guidance - Room for creativity - Focused outcome
The Goldilocks Calibration Exercise
Transform these prompts from too vague → just right:
VAGUE: "Tips for public speaking" JUST RIGHT: "You're a speaking coach who's worked with introverted executives. Share 5 unconventional tips for technical professionals who hate public speaking but need to present to investors. Focus on preparation techniques that build confidence, not generic advice about 'imagining the audience naked.'"
VAGUE: "Explain machine learning" JUST RIGHT: "Explain machine learning to a smart 14-year-old who loves video games. Use gaming analogies to illustrate how ML models learn from data. Cover training, testing, and deployment in 300 words. Make it exciting enough they'd want to learn more."