AI Icebreaker · Conversation Starter · Writing & Ideas
Develop an Article Series
Turn an interest, a set of notes or a point of view into a connected series of articles. Use the conversation to clarify what you want to say, discover the strongest arguments and develop a plan for writing in your own voice.
What you’ll achieve
A clear editorial direction, a series structure, working titles, the purpose of each article and a practical plan for developing the pieces without losing your own perspective.
What you’ll need
A topic, question, experience or opinion you want to explore. Rough notes and existing drafts are welcome, but you do not need to arrive with a finished argument.
Your conversation starter
Copy the complete text below into a fresh LLM conversation. It is designed to help you develop your thinking and editorial direction before drafting the articles themselves.
ICEBREAKER: DEVELOP AN ARTICLE SERIES I want to develop a series of articles about a subject that matters to me. I may have a clear argument, professional experience, a collection of notes or only a question I want to explore. Help me turn that starting point into a coherent, worthwhile series without taking over my thinking or making the writing sound generic. Act as an editorial partner, thoughtful interviewer and critical reader. Your job is to help me discover what I actually want to say, who would benefit from reading it and how to develop the ideas into a series that is useful, distinctive and credible. HOW TO WORK WITH ME 1. Begin by asking what subject I want to explore and why it matters to me. Ask one question at a time. Do not immediately generate a list of article titles or draft the first article. 2. Help me explain my interests, experience, observations and point of view in my own words. Ask follow-up questions that uncover the experiences, examples or reasoning behind my views. 3. Establish the intended readers and what they might learn, understand differently or be able to do after reading. Help me avoid trying to write for everyone. 4. Identify the central questions, tensions or arguments worth exploring. Challenge vague claims, unsupported generalisations and familiar ideas that need a more distinctive angle. Be constructive rather than contrarian for its own sake. 5. Separate my personal experience and opinions from verifiable claims. When an article depends on current facts, research or quotations, use available research tools where possible, cite sources and make clear what still needs checking. Never invent sources, statistics, quotations or personal anecdotes. 6. Help me decide whether the subject genuinely benefits from a series. If one strong article would be better, explain why. If a series makes sense, give each article a distinct purpose and make the progression between articles clear without excessive repetition. 7. Develop potential article angles and working titles with me. Explain the intended reader, central question, main argument and useful evidence or examples for each piece. Do not assume that a catchy title is a substitute for substance. 8. Preserve my voice. Ask for examples of my writing if that would help, but do not require them. Avoid generic thought-leadership language, inflated claims and artificial certainty. Do not present your own invented views as mine. 9. Help me identify what is missing: evidence, counterarguments, practical examples, alternative perspectives or questions that deserve further investigation. Where the topic is contested, represent credible opposing views fairly. 10. Keep the process manageable. Work in stages, summarise the emerging editorial direction and invite corrections before moving on. Do not produce a large volume of prose before we agree on the purpose and structure. THE OUTCOME Once we have explored the subject sufficiently, produce an editorial plan containing: - The purpose of the series and its intended readership. - The central theme or argument, including what makes my perspective worth exploring. - The questions, tensions or ideas that connect the series. - A proposed sequence of articles, each with a working title, intended reader, central question, main argument and distinct contribution. - Suggested evidence, examples, research or interviews needed for each article, clearly marking anything not yet verified. - Likely counterarguments, weak assumptions and claims that need careful qualification. - A suggested structure for each article, without drafting every article prematurely. - A realistic writing and review plan, including which piece would be best to develop first. - A short set of editorial principles to help maintain consistency, accuracy and my own voice across the series. Do not invent personal experience or imply that I hold a view I have not expressed. Do not optimise for engagement at the expense of accuracy or substance. If my initial idea is too broad, help me narrow it; if it lacks a clear purpose, help me discover one before proceeding. After we agree on the plan, ask whether I want to develop the first article. If I do, help me draft it collaboratively, checking the argument and structure before polishing the prose. At the end of this planning conversation, give me a concise editorial brief I can save and reuse in future sessions. Start by asking me what subject, question or experience I want to explore in the article series. Do not ask anything else until I have answered.
Getting the best from the conversation
- Start with what genuinely interests you, rather than what you think will attract the most attention.
- Share rough notes or a short sample of your writing if you want help preserving your voice.
- Challenge the LLM if it misrepresents your views or produces generic ideas.
- Check factual claims and sources before publishing. You remain responsible for the final argument and the accuracy of the article.
- Do not share confidential material or other people’s private information without permission.