AI prompts for freelance writers: Brainstorm, outline, research
This resource is based on The inventor's mindset that will save freelance writers in the AI era, featuring Jennifer Goforth Gregory , published on the AI Lab by ActiveCampaign.
Get the prompt template
How to use these prompts
These are ready-to-use prompts pulled from the workflow Jennifer Goforth Gregory uses in her freelance writing practice. Copy, paste, and swap in details where you see [BRACKETS]. Every AI tool behaves a little differently, so treat what comes back as a starting point — review it, then rewrite it in your own words. The ethical line Gregory draws: AI speeds up thinking, but none of the output lands in her draft verbatim.
Prompt 1: Brainstorm pitch angles
Best for: Finding trends, frustrations, or gaps in an industry you want to pitch.
Use with: ChatGPT or any LLM.
Prompt 1
What are some trends in [INDUSTRY] right now? What are the biggest challenges [ROLE] is facing with [TOPIC]?
For each trend or challenge, give me a one-line summary and a short note on why it matters.
Variables to fill in:
- [INDUSTRY] — the industry you’re pitching. Example: “cloud computing” or “B2B healthcare tech.”
- [ROLE] — the audience role you’re writing for. Example: “business leaders,” “CMOs,” “IT directors.”
- [TOPIC] — narrower topic inside the industry. Example: “AI adoption” or “data storage costs.”
What to expect: A list of 8–12 trends or challenges, each with a short rationale. Treat the list like search results — scan for what sparks curiosity, then go read primary sources.
Follow-up prompt
Take the three most interesting items above and expand each into a potential story angle: who the audience would be, what the tension is, and one question the story would answer.
Prompt 2: Outline a piece
Best for: Turning a confirmed angle into headlines, sections, and supporting points so you can start drafting faster.
Use with: ChatGPT or any LLM. Some clients explicitly encourage this use; others don’t. Confirm before using.
Prompt 2
I’m writing an article for [PUBLICATION OR CLIENT] with this angle: [YOUR ANGLE IN 1–2 SENTENCES].
Target audience: [AUDIENCE].
Target length: [WORD COUNT].
Give me a working outline: a main headline, 4–6 section headers, and 2–3 bullet points under each section describing what that section would cover.
Variables to fill in:
- [PUBLICATION OR CLIENT] — the outlet. Gives the AI a sense of tone and depth.
- [YOUR ANGLE IN 1–2 SENTENCES] — what the piece argues or explores.
- [AUDIENCE] — who the piece is for.
- [WORD COUNT] — target length. A 1,200-word piece and a 3,500-word piece have very different outlines.
What to expect: A structured outline with a working title, section headers, and short bullets. You’ll edit almost every line. Gregory rewrites outlines heavily — the point is a starting frame, not the finished shape.
Follow-up prompt
For the section on [SECTION TITLE], give me three possible angles I could take, plus two questions I should try to answer with an expert interview.
Prompt 3: Generate headline options
Best for: Breaking through headline block. Gregory uses this to get 10–15 options and remixes them rather than using any verbatim.
Use with: ChatGPT or any LLM.
Prompt 3
I need headline options for an article with this angle: [YOUR ANGLE].
- Give me 15 headline options, mixed across these styles:
- Direct “how-to” headlines
- Question headlines
- Counterintuitive or contrarian headlines
- Specific-result headlines
- Narrative or story-led headlines
Keep each under 90 characters.
Variables to fill in:
- [YOUR ANGLE] — the one-sentence version of what your piece argues.
What to expect: A mixed list of headlines in different shapes. Gregory never uses one straight; she combines options, borrows phrases, or lets the AI’s attempt spark a better one of her own.
Follow-up prompt
Take the two headlines you like best from the list above and write three subhead options for each that set up the article’s main tension or promise.
Prompt 4: Research statistics with cited sources
Best for: Gathering stats to support claims you already know are true. Gregory uses Perplexity here because it surfaces citations alongside answers.
Use with: Perplexity (preferred because it cites sources). ChatGPT or Claude work if you prompt for citations.
Prompt 4
What are the latest statistics on [TOPIC]?
For each statistic:
- Include the original source (survey, report, study name)
- Include the publishing organization
- Include a direct link to the source material
Focus on primary research, not aggregator sites.
Variables to fill in:
- [TOPIC] — the claim you want to back up. Example: “AI adoption in mid-market B2B companies” or “email open rates in SaaS.”
What to expect: A short list of statistics, each with a citation. Every stat needs verification before it goes in your draft — open the original source and confirm the number. Gregory treats AI research output like Wikipedia: a starting point, never a final answer.
Follow-up prompt
For the [SPECIFIC STAT] above, give me the exact passage from the source where it appears, and note which page or section it’s from.
Tips for better results
- Specificity in, specificity out: “trends in marketing” gets generic answers. “Trends in lifecycle marketing for mid-market SaaS” gets useful ones.
- Never copy and paste into the draft: Gregory’s firm line is that AI helps her think; it doesn’t write for her. Keep AI outputs in a separate doc.
- Always verify statistics at the source: even with Perplexity’s citations, open the original report. AI summaries misstate numbers often enough that you can’t trust them on a first pass.
- Ask for more options than you need: ten headlines you can choose from, mix, and remix beats one the AI thinks is best.
Related
More data from the AI Lab.