A guide to the CRIT Framework

The framework

1. Context

Give the AI your world. Upload past writing, brand guidelines, examples of your voice, and background on the project. The more source material the AI has, the closer its output will match your style and thinking.

2. Role

Tell it who to be. Are you looking for an editor, a brainstorming partner, a strategist, or a researcher? Defining the role up front shapes the kind of output you’ll get.

3. Interview

Let the AI ask you clarifying questions before it produces anything. Pulizzi’s instruction: ​“Ask me no more than three questions, one at a time, to clarify what I’m trying to achieve.” This step forces you to slow down and think while the AI learns what actually matters.

4. Task

Now issue the assignment. Because the AI has your context, knows its role, and has asked clarifying questions, the output will be sharper and more aligned with your intent.

When to use this

• Before writing any high-stakes content where voice matters (books, keynote scripts, brand copy)
• When setting up a new AI conversation or custom GPT for a recurring workflow
• When AI output feels generic and you need to reset the interaction with more structure
• When editing long-form work with AI—Pulizzi used CRIT to have ChatGPT edit his book Burn the Playbook without losing his voice

Common mistakes

• Skipping the Interview step → You miss the chance to clarify your own thinking, and the AI guesses at what you want
• Giving a Role without Context → The AI knows what to do but not how you do it
• Asking for too many questions in the Interview → Limit to three questions, one at a time, to maintain focus
• Jumping straight to Task → Without the first three steps, you’re back to generic prompting

Quick-start

Start by uploading 2–3 pieces of your best writing into a new AI conversation and telling it: ​“You are my editor. Your job is to maintain my voice. Ask me no more than three questions, one at a time, to clarify what I’m trying to achieve.” Answer the questions, then give it the assignment. You can add more Context and refine the Role over time.