Front Matter

Appendix E: AI Prompt Library

You Don’t Need a Perfect Prompt. You Need the Right Tool for the Job.

Imagine walking into a workshop.

You’ve got something to build.

A few pieces of material.

A drawing.

And a fairly clear idea of what you’re trying to accomplish.

Now imagine someone hands you one enormous tool.

They assure you it can cut, measure, drill, weld, paint, and assemble everything.

All you need to do is press a button.

Sounds convenient.

But perhaps you’d prefer to know exactly what the tool is doing.

Especially when the material is valuable.

And particularly when a mistake could destroy something you can’t replace.

Creating a personal book with AI presents a similar challenge.

You can ask an AI system to do nearly everything at once.

Collect memories.

Organise stories.

Create an outline.

Write chapters.

Edit the manuscript.

And prepare the finished book.

But that doesn’t mean combining every task into one enormous instruction is the best approach.

Different jobs require different kinds of attention.

Collecting a memory isn’t the same as writing a chapter.

Writing a chapter isn’t the same as checking its historical accuracy.

And proofreading a manuscript isn’t the same as deciding whether someone else’s private story should be published.

That’s why we’re creating a library of specialised prompts.

Each prompt establishes a particular task.

Defines what the AI should accomplish.

And places boundaries around what it should not do.

You can use one prompt at a time.

Combine compatible instructions when appropriate.

Or adapt them to your preferred tools.

But there’s one principle running through this entire appendix.

A prompt is an instruction for a task. It is not a guarantee that the task will be completed correctly.

The resulting work still needs appropriate review.

And if the AI cannot access the required source material, it must not pretend otherwise.

We’ve discussed those principles throughout Project Crystal.

Now we’re turning them into practical tools.

Part One: How to Use This Library

You don’t need to copy the entire appendix into every conversation.

In fact, that would often be unnecessary.

Instead, choose the prompt that matches the job you’re doing.

If you’re collecting a memory, use a memory interview prompt.

If you’re organising transcripts, use a source extraction prompt.

If you’re developing the Table of Contents, use a blueprint prompt.

And if you’re reviewing a chapter for unsupported details, use a source fidelity audit.

The objective is to give the AI a specific responsibility.

Then examine the result.

The Five Elements of a Useful Prompt

Most effective writing prompts contain five elements.

1. The Task

What are we trying to accomplish?

2. The Available Material

What sources, records, or documents should the AI use?

3. The Boundaries

What must the AI avoid inventing, changing, or disclosing?

4. The Output

What should the result look like?

5. The Review

What remains subject to author approval or additional verification?

You don’t have to write those five elements formally every time.

But thinking about them helps.

For example:

“Make this better.”

That’s a vague instruction.

Now compare:

“Review this chapter for repetition and unclear transitions. Preserve the factual details and narrative voice. Suggest specific edits before rewriting anything.”

That’s a much more controlled task.

The AI knows what to examine.

And what not to change.

A good prompt reduces ambiguity without making the creative process unnecessarily complicated.

Part Two: The Universal Project Crystal Instruction

This is the foundation prompt.

You can place it near the beginning of a new project or incorporate it into your standing project instructions.

It establishes the general boundaries that apply throughout the writing process.

Prompt E-1: The Source-Grounded Collaborator

TASK: Establish an AI-assisted writing partnership.

COPYABLE PROMPT

You are helping me develop a personal book based on genuine memories, experiences, documents, and other source material.

Your role is to assist with conversation, organisation, writing, editing, and review.

Follow these principles throughout the project.

Do not invent personal events, dialogue, dates, places, feelings, thoughts, motivations, or outcomes.
Distinguish source-supported facts from recollections, interpretations, hypotheses, and unknown details.
Preserve the author’s intended voice and meaning.
Do not assume that a fluent explanation is factually correct.
Identify which source material you can actually access.
Never claim to have read, saved, searched, modified, or verified a file unless that action actually occurred.
Do not silently change approved manuscript content.
Respect privacy, contributor permissions, and publication restrictions.
Ask focused questions when genuinely necessary.
Prefer clear, manageable steps over unnecessary complexity.
Treat generated text as a draft until appropriately reviewed.
Keep significant creative and publication decisions with the author.

When important information is missing, identify the gap rather than filling it through imagination.

When you identify a problem, distinguish the observation from your proposed solution.

When you complete a task, describe what was actually accomplished and what remains unresolved.

The goal is a dependable collaboration that helps me communicate genuine material clearly and accurately.

Use this as a foundation.

Then select the more specialised prompts below.

You don’t need to repeat the entire instruction in every message if it is already available and being followed.

However, for a new conversation or tool, provide the relevant project context again rather than assuming it has been retained.

Part Three: Beginning a Memory Conversation

Before you have a manuscript, you need material.

These prompts help you explore memories without demanding polished writing.

Prompt E-2: The First Conversation

TASK: Discover why the person wants to create a book.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I am beginning a personal memory-writing project.

I don’t have a final title or outline yet.

Help me explore why I want to preserve these memories.

Ask one question at a time.

Let my answers guide the conversation.

Don’t assume the book needs to be inspirational, emotional, chronological, or public.

Don’t invent details about my life.

When we’re finished, summarise the reasons I actually expressed and identify any possible book directions as suggestions rather than decisions.

Do not write chapters yet.

Begin by asking what made me interested in preserving these stories.

Prompt E-3: Explore One Specific Memory

TASK: Develop the source account of one event.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I want to describe one specific memory.

Please help me explore it through conversation.

Ask one useful question at a time.

You may ask about the people, setting, objects, actions, and sequence of events.

Do not introduce details as though they must have happened.

If I don’t remember something, leave it unknown.

If I estimate a date or age, preserve that uncertainty.

Don’t invent dialogue or internal thoughts.

Don’t turn the experience into a life lesson unless I choose to reflect on it.

When I say the account is complete, create a plain factual summary with:

A working title.
What I remember.
People involved.
Place and approximate time, if known.
Distinctive details.
Uncertainties.
Questions worth revisiting.

Do not write a polished narrative chapter yet.

Begin by asking what I remember.

Prompt E-4: Follow the Unexpected Thread

TASK: Preserve a memory that appears during another conversation.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I’ve just remembered something that may be a separate story.

Help me capture it without losing the subject we were discussing.

First, identify the new memory using only what I’ve said.

Give it a temporary working title.

Record its relationship to the earlier subject, if that relationship is supported.

Don’t invent a connection merely because the memories appeared in the same conversation.

Then ask whether I want to explore the new memory now or return to the previous one.

Do not claim the memory has been saved outside this conversation unless a file was actually created.

This last prompt is particularly useful when one story leads to several others.

You can preserve the new direction without abandoning the original conversation.

Part Four: Interviewing Another Person

When collecting someone else’s story, the priorities change slightly.

You need to respect the contributor’s preferences.

Their account.

Their right not to answer.

And the permissions governing the recording and later use.

Prompt E-5: The Respectful Interviewer

TASK: Guide a memory interview.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I am helping another person preserve their memories.

Please assist me with conversational interview questions.

Begin with open, comfortable subjects.

Ask one question at a time.

Do not assume how the storyteller felt.

Do not impose a particular interpretation on their experiences.

Avoid leading questions.

Accept approximate dates, incomplete memories, and requests to skip subjects.

If several stories emerge, help me identify them separately.

Distinguish what the storyteller personally remembers from stories someone else told them.

Do not treat participation in the interview as permission for publication or AI processing.

At the end, produce a factual interview summary and identify any permission or attribution issues requiring attention.

Do not invent missing information.

Prompt E-6: Follow-Up Interview Planner

TASK: Prepare useful questions from an existing source account.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I have a memory account that may benefit from another conversation.

Review the account I provide.

Identify details that are unclear or potentially important to the story.

Prepare up to ten open-ended follow-up questions.

Prioritise questions that would improve source accuracy, chronology, attribution, or understanding.

Do not ask for decorative sensory details merely to make the story more vivid.

Do not presume particular emotions or motivations.

For every proposed question, briefly explain what information it could clarify.

Separate essential questions from optional questions.

Do not answer the questions yourself.

This prompt helps prevent the familiar problem of asking more questions simply because there are more questions available.

Part Five: Recording and Transcription

Now suppose the source material is audio.

Perhaps an interview.

A voice note.

Or a long personal conversation.

These prompts help organise the transcription stage.

Prompt E-7: Transcript Quality Review

TASK: Identify transcription problems without inventing missing speech.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I have a transcript from a genuine recording.

Please review it for possible transcription problems.

First, state whether you can access the original audio or only the transcript.

Do not claim to verify spoken words against audio you cannot access.

Flag suspicious names, dates, numbers, technical terms, unclear phrases, and speaker attributions.

Preserve the speaker’s corrections and uncertainty.

Do not silently reconstruct missing words.

If a passage cannot be established, mark it for review.

Produce a table containing:

Source location or available timestamp.
Suspected problem.
Reason for concern.
Recommended verification.
Current status.

Do not convert the transcript into narrative prose.

Prompt E-8: Readable Transcript Editor

TASK: Improve transcript readability while preserving source meaning.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I have a transcript that needs a readable working edition.

Preserve the original transcript unchanged.

Create a separate edited version.

You may improve punctuation, paragraph breaks, and obvious formatting problems.

Do not invent words or remove meaningful corrections.

Preserve uncertain dates, names, and quotations.

Avoid changing the speaker’s natural expressions unnecessarily.

Mark passages where the transcript is unclear.

Provide a short edit summary describing the types of changes made.

Do not claim the result is verbatim.

Label it as a readable edited transcript.

Prompt E-9: Long Recording Memory Extractor

TASK: Identify distinct recollections in a transcript.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Review the transcript I provide.

Identify distinct memory-bearing sections.

For each section, provide:

Working memory title.
Actual speaker or contributor, if identifiable.
Short factual summary.
Available timestamp or source location.
People and places mentioned.
Important uncertainties.
Possible related sections.

Do not invent timestamps.

Do not treat every topic shift as a separate event.

Do not merge similar incidents automatically.

If two sections may describe the same memory, flag the possibility for review.

Preserve the full source transcript separately.

Part Six: Building the Memory Library

Once you have several sources, organisation becomes important.

These prompts turn conversations into structured records without turning those records into fiction.

Prompt E-10: Source Inventory

TASK: Determine which original materials exist.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I want to inventory the available source materials for my book project.

Examine only the files or information you can actually access.

Create a Source Register containing:

Source ID.
Source title or description.
Source type.
Actual date, if established.
Contributor, if known.
File or document reference.
Review status.
Permission status, if documented.

Do not invent filenames, dates, contributors, or identifiers for records that are not present.

Identify missing expected sources separately.

Do not edit the originals.

Prompt E-11: Memory Record Builder

TASK: Create one organised record from a recollection.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Using the source material I provide, create a Memory Record.

Include:

Memory ID, if supplied.
Working title.
Plain factual summary.
Source references.
People involved.
Place and approximate time, if known.
Details supported by the source.
Distinctive original expressions.
Later reflections, clearly separated.
Uncertainties.
Related memories.
Privacy considerations.
Current manuscript status.

Do not invent missing fields.

Use “Unknown” or “Not established” where appropriate.

Do not convert the record into polished story prose.

Prompt E-12: Duplicate Memory Investigator

TASK: Determine whether two records concern the same event.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I have two Memory Records that may describe the same event.

Compare their actual source-supported details.

Examine people, places, chronology, event sequence, and outcomes.

Identify agreements and differences.

Do not assume similar subject matter proves they are duplicates.

Classify the relationship as:

Likely same event.
Possibly related.
Likely separate events.
Insufficient information.

Explain the evidence supporting the classification.

Do not merge or delete either record.

Recommend specific questions that could resolve important uncertainty.

Prompt E-13: Conflicting Accounts Reviewer

TASK: Preserve multiple accounts without manufacturing agreement.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Two or more sources describe an event differently.

Please compare their accounts.

For each disputed detail:

Identify what each source says.

Identify which details are independently supported, if any.

Separate the accounts from interpretations about their reliability.

Do not select a preferred version merely because one sounds more coherent.

Do not invent a compromise account.

Suggest neutral wording suitable for a manuscript when the difference remains unresolved.

Keep the original accounts distinguishable.

Part Seven: Discovering the Book

Now the source collection exists.

But you may not know what kind of book it supports.

These prompts help examine the possibilities.

Prompt E-14: Find Possible Book Directions

TASK: Identify book concepts grounded in the collection.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I have a Memory Collection and want to discover what kind of book it could support.

Review only the records I provide.

Identify recurring subjects, people, places, periods, and activities.

Suggest up to three possible book directions.

For each direction, explain:

Intended reader.
Possible central purpose.
Relevant Memory IDs.
Potential structure.
Strengths of the available material.
Important source gaps.
Risks of overinterpretation or repetition.

Do not choose the final direction for me.

Do not invent memories to make an idea work.

Prompt E-15: Book Purpose Statement

TASK: Define the intended book.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Help me develop a concise Book Purpose Statement.

Use my answers to identify:

Why I am creating this book.
Who it is for.
What I want readers to experience or understand.
What material the book will mainly contain.
What the book will not attempt to do.

Ask only the questions needed to clarify these points.

Do not impose a dramatic or inspirational purpose.

Present the completed statement for my review and approval.

Prompt E-16: Compare Three Book Structures

TASK: Explore alternative arrangements.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Using my approved Book Purpose Statement and Memory Index, compare three possible ways to organise the material.

Consider chronological, thematic, people-centred, or place-centred structures as appropriate.

For each structure, explain:

How the reader would move through the book.
Which Memory Records support it.
Where source material is strong.
Where material is missing.
Potential repetition.
Chronological or attribution risks.

Recommend the structure that appears best supported by the available material, but distinguish that recommendation from my final decision.

Do not draft chapters yet.

Part Eight: Building the Book Blueprint

Once you’ve chosen the direction, it’s time to create the Table of Contents.

These prompts help connect the outline to actual sources.

Prompt E-17: Source-Based Table of Contents

TASK: Create a working chapter structure.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Using my approved Book Purpose Statement and Memory Collection, propose a working Table of Contents.

Every chapter must have a clear purpose.

For each chapter, provide:

Number.
Working title.
One-sentence Chapter Promise.
Relevant Memory IDs.
Main subject.
Source readiness.
Information still needed.

Do not create chapters supported only by invented material.

Prefer a manageable number of chapters.

Identify chapters that may need combining or narrowing.

Present the structure for approval.

Do not begin the manuscript yet.

Prompt E-18: Chapter Readiness Audit

TASK: Check whether a proposed chapter has sufficient material.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I want to determine whether this proposed chapter is ready to draft.

Review its Chapter Promise and associated Memory Records.

Identify:

What the available sources establish.
The intended chapter scope.
Important missing information.
Unsupported assumptions.
Privacy or permission restrictions.
Potential repetition with other chapters.
Questions that require clarification.

Classify the chapter as:

Ready for source-grounded drafting.
Ready with limited scope.
Needs additional source work.
Not suitable for the current book.

Explain the reasoning.

Do not invent missing material to make the chapter appear ready.

Prompt E-19: Chapter Source Packet Builder

TASK: Prepare a complete drafting brief.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Using the approved Book Blueprint and available source records, prepare a Chapter Source Packet.

Include:

Book title and blueprint version.
Chapter number and title.
Chapter Promise.
Intended narrator.
Writing voice.
Primary Memory IDs.
Supporting Source IDs.
Source-supported factual details.
Approved direct quotations.
Important uncertainties.
Required reader context.
Privacy restrictions.
Material that must not be invented.
Suggested narrative organisation.
Intended transition or ending.

Do not draft the chapter yet.

Identify any source material you cannot access.

Present the packet for author approval.

Part Nine: Writing the Manuscript

Now we’re ready for prose.

These prompts are designed to produce complete drafts while preserving the sources and the author’s direction.

Prompt E-20: Write One Complete Chapter

TASK: Draft a chapter from approved material.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Write the complete first draft of the chapter described in the approved Chapter Source Packet.

Use only the available and authorised source material.

Follow the Chapter Promise.

Preserve the intended narrator and voice.

Use genuine events, quotations, and details.

Do not invent dialogue, dates, locations, private thoughts, emotions, motivations, or outcomes.

When information is uncertain, use wording that preserves the uncertainty.

Make the chapter readable and coherent.

Use appropriate transitions without creating unsupported causal claims.

Do not include assistant-to-author commentary within the manuscript.

Do not introduce new chapter topics that belong elsewhere.

Provide the complete chapter, not an outline or summary.

Treat the result as a draft awaiting author review.

Prompt E-21: Continue With the Next Chapter

TASK: Support serial manuscript construction.

COPYABLE PROMPT

We are writing a book one chapter at a time.

Use the current approved Book Blueprint.

Identify the next chapter in the agreed sequence.

Review its Chapter Promise and source packet.

If the necessary source material is available and the chapter is ready, write the complete next chapter.

Do not repeat substantial explanations from earlier chapters unless necessary.

Preserve approved terminology and narrative voice.

Do not alter previously approved chapters.

Do not include conversational preambles inside the manuscript.

Do not invent missing source details.

If the required chapter packet or source material is unavailable, identify the specific missing material instead of pretending you remember it.

At the end, identify the chapter completed and the next chapter in the approved sequence.

This prompt is especially useful for the Next Chapter Please method.

The important detail is the approved blueprint.

Without it, the AI may guess what comes next.

With it, the writing process has direction.

Prompt E-22: Preserve My Speaking Voice

TASK: Revise prose without making the author unrecognisable.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I want this chapter to sound more like my natural storytelling voice.

I will provide approved examples of my speech or writing.

Compare the draft with those examples.

Identify differences involving:

Sentence rhythm.
Vocabulary.
Humour.
Directness.
Formality.
Recurring expressions.
How I introduce and conclude stories.

Suggest targeted changes.

Do not invent new personal expressions.

Do not exaggerate my personality.

Do not change factual details.

Preserve distinctive wording when it communicates the story effectively.

Provide a revised version and a brief explanation of the main stylistic changes.

Prompt E-23: Write a Natural Transition

TASK: Connect two sections without inventing narrative facts.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I have two sections that need a clearer transition.

Review both passages.

Explain what connection the source material actually supports.

Suggest a short transition that helps readers move between them.

Do not invent chronology, causation, shared locations, or emotional significance.

Do not repeat the entire preceding section.

Preserve the author’s voice.

Provide up to three options only if meaningfully different.

Recommend the simplest effective transition.

Part Ten: Editing Without Losing the Story

Editing is where specialised prompts become particularly valuable.

Instead of asking the AI to improve everything at once, assign a specific review.

Prompt E-24: First Complete Editorial Read

TASK: Review the manuscript without rewriting it.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I want an independent editorial assessment of this manuscript.

Read the available text as a complete work.

Do not edit anything yet.

Evaluate:

Overall purpose.
Reader experience.
Chapter sequence.
Repetition.
Voice consistency.
Transitions.
Missing context.
Unnecessary explanation.
Structural problems.
Areas requiring source verification.

Separate major problems from minor suggestions.

For each significant issue, identify the relevant chapter or passage.

Do not invent problems merely to make the report appear thorough.

Provide a prioritised editorial report.

Wait for approval before making changes.

Prompt E-25: Repetition Finder

TASK: Identify unnecessary duplication across chapters.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Review the manuscript for repeated explanations, examples, and anecdotes.

Identify passages that substantially duplicate one another.

Distinguish unnecessary repetition from deliberate reinforcement.

Provide:

Chapters involved.
Repeated subject.
Supporting passages or exact locations.
Whether the repetition is useful.
Recommended action.

Do not automatically delete repeated material.

Preserve essential context where readers need it.

Suggest the smallest changes that would improve continuity.

Prompt E-26: Conversational Chatter Cleanup

TASK: Remove drafting-session artefacts without harming prose.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Review this manuscript for text that belongs to the original AI writing conversation rather than the book.

Examples may include:

Greetings addressed to the author.

Announcements that a chapter is complete.

Instructions about requesting the next chapter.

Unwanted interface references.

And other production commentary.

Distinguish these from legitimate reader-facing conversational prose.

Do not remove words merely because they appear in both categories.

Protect book titles, headings, quotations, names, and approved terminology.

First provide a list of proposed removals with source locations and reasons.

Do not apply changes until approved.

After editing, compare the result with the original and inspect surrounding sentences for damage.

Prompt E-27: Structural Manuscript Audit

TASK: Inspect book structure without altering content.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Perform a read-only structural audit of the manuscript.

Check:

File inventory.
Chapter numbering.
Heading hierarchy.
Part divisions.
Front matter.
Appendices.
Table of Contents.
Chapter boundaries.
Repeated title blocks.
Misplaced transitions.
Inconsistent closing devices.
Available production metadata.

Identify confirmed defects separately from recommendations.

Record affected files and locations.

Do not silently rewrite chapters or remove content.

Do not claim the problems have been fixed.

Provide a proposed repair plan requiring author approval.

Prompt E-28: Minimal-Change Revision

TASK: Correct a specific passage while preserving everything else.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I want to revise the passage below for a specific reason.

The problem is:

[DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM]

Make the smallest change that solves it.

Preserve:

Factual details.
Original meaning.
Intended voice.
Approved terminology.
Surrounding structure.

Do not rewrite unrelated paragraphs.

Show the original and revised passage.

Explain exactly what changed.

Flag any uncertainty that prevents a dependable correction.

This is one of the most useful prompts in the entire library.

A precise revision often produces a better result than an uncontrolled whole-chapter rewrite.

Part Eleven: Accuracy and Source Verification

Now we move into a different kind of work.

The following prompts are designed to identify unsupported statements and check claims against available evidence.

They should not be confused with ordinary prose editing.

Prompt E-29: Source Fidelity Audit

TASK: Compare a manuscript passage with its source.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Compare this manuscript passage with the original source material I provide.

Evaluate every significant factual detail.

For each claim, classify it as:

Directly supported.
Supported with qualification.
Interpretation.
Unsupported by the provided source.
Contradicted by the source.
Cannot be assessed from available material.

Identify invented dialogue, precise dates, locations, thoughts, emotions, and causal claims where appropriate.

Quote only the minimum source text necessary to explain the finding.

Do not assume unsupported means false.

Recommend corrections that preserve the intended story while respecting the evidence.

Do not make the changes automatically.

Prompt E-30: Scientific and Historical Claims Register

TASK: Identify factual statements that require external verification.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Review this manuscript for scientific, historical, medical, technical, or other externally verifiable claims.

Create a Claims Register containing:

Claim ID.
Exact claim or concise paraphrase.
Manuscript location.
Type of claim.
Current supporting source.
Verification status.
Recommended action.

Distinguish:

Personal recollections.

Working models or hypotheses.

Metaphors.

Established factual claims.

And unverified statements.

Do not invent citations.

Do not treat an AI-generated explanation as evidence.

If external research is needed, identify that requirement.

If appropriate browsing or source-access tools are available, use authoritative original sources and report what they actually establish.

Prompt E-31: Check One Factual Claim

TASK: Investigate a specific claim carefully.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I want to verify the following claim:

[INSERT CLAIM]

First identify what would count as appropriate evidence.

Then examine the sources actually available.

Distinguish primary evidence from secondary summaries.

Report whether the evidence supports, qualifies, contradicts, or fails to establish the claim.

Provide accurate source references when available.

Do not invent studies, quotations, dates, or citations.

If the claim remains unresolved, state that clearly.

Recommend wording suitable for the manuscript that reflects the actual evidence.

Prompt E-32: Preserve Competing Recollections

TASK: Write responsibly when sources disagree.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I have conflicting recollections of one event.

Use the source accounts I provide.

Write a short manuscript passage that preserves the disagreement accurately.

Attribute the accounts where appropriate.

Do not combine contradictory details into an invented single version.

Do not declare one account correct without supporting evidence.

Keep the prose natural and readable.

If the disagreement is not relevant to the story’s purpose, suggest a neutral way to avoid unsupported precision.

Part Twelve: Privacy, Permissions, and Respect

Some editorial decisions involve more than style or factual accuracy.

These prompts help identify material requiring extra care.

Prompt E-33: Privacy Review

TASK: Flag potential privacy issues before publication.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Review this draft for potentially sensitive information about living people or private family matters.

Identify:

Names and identifying details.
Private conversations.
Sensitive personal information.
Third-party allegations.
Information involving children.
Material whose intended use may exceed known permissions.

Do not assume every mention requires removal.

Distinguish confirmed restrictions from possible concerns.

Recommend proportionate options such as omission, narrowing, anonymisation, or obtaining appropriate permission.

Do not claim anonymisation guarantees that a person cannot be identified.

Do not publish or share the material.

Provide an author review report.

Prompt E-34: Contributor Permission Checklist

TASK: Identify missing permissions for an intended edition.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I am preparing material for the following use:

[DESCRIBE PRIVATE PRINT, FAMILY DISTRIBUTION, PUBLICATION, AUDIOBOOK, OR OTHER USE]

Review the contributor and source records I provide.

Identify which materials have documented permission for that specific use.

Flag unclear, missing, or limited permissions.

Do not treat permission to record as automatic permission to publish.

Do not invent consent.

Provide a list of issues requiring resolution before the intended use.

This is an organisational review, not a substitute for legal advice.

Part Thirteen: Preparing the Finished Book

Once the manuscript has passed the necessary reviews, production can begin.

These prompts help with that stage.

Prompt E-35: Publication Readiness Audit

TASK: Determine which production tasks remain.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I am preparing a reviewed manuscript for publication.

Assess the available materials.

Check:

Approved manuscript version.
Complete chapter inventory.
Table of Contents.
Front matter.
Appendices.
Heading consistency.
Factual verification status.
Privacy and permission review.
Image and quotation rights.
Formatting requirements.
Proofreading status.
Intended publication format.

Distinguish completed checks from unfinished work.

Do not claim publication readiness merely because a file can be generated.

Provide a clear readiness report and prioritised action list.

Do not publish anything.

Prompt E-36: Print Edition Planning

TASK: Develop a practical plan for a printed book.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Help me prepare my approved manuscript for a printed edition.

My intended book format is:

[INSERT FORMAT OR ASK FOR OPTIONS]

Review the requirements for:

Trim size.
Interior layout.
Margins and binding allowances.
Front matter.
Page numbering.
Chapter openings.
Images.
Typography.
Table of Contents.
Cover dimensions.
Print proofing.

Distinguish general publishing principles from specifications that depend on a particular printer.

Do not invent current provider requirements.

If external specifications are needed, identify the exact details requiring verification.

Create a production checklist.

Do not modify the approved source manuscript without authorisation.

Prompt E-37: EPUB and Digital Reader Audit

TASK: Prepare accessible digital editions.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Review the approved manuscript for digital reading.

Check whether the structure supports:

Logical heading hierarchy.
Clear chapter navigation.
Appropriate metadata.
Table of Contents.
Readable text.
Image descriptions where needed.
Accessible links.
Reflowable layout.
Consistent chapter ordering.

Identify structural problems separately from stylistic preferences.

Do not rewrite narrative content merely to satisfy formatting requirements.

Provide a production and testing plan.

Clearly distinguish checks performed from checks still required in actual reading software.

Prompt E-38: Audiobook Script Preparation

TASK: Prepare approved prose for narration.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I want to prepare an audiobook script from my approved manuscript.

Use the approved edition as the source.

Do not invent new stories or alter factual details.

Identify:

Chapter order.
Text that should be narrated.
Material that should be omitted or adapted for audio.
Difficult names and terms.
Pronunciation questions.
Tables or visual elements requiring accessible narration.
Pauses or section boundaries where useful.

Preserve the author’s voice.

Do not create synthetic voice recordings or use another person’s recorded voice without the required permissions.

Provide a narration script and a list of decisions requiring author review.

Prompt E-39: Proof Copy Reviewer

TASK: Review a printed or digital proof systematically.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I have a proof edition of my book.

Help me inspect it.

Create a review checklist covering:

Cover.
Title and author information.
Front matter.
Table of Contents.
Chapter sequence.
Page breaks.
Missing text.
Repeated headings.
Fonts and readability.
Images and captions.
Blank pages.
Running headers and page numbers.
References and appendices.

If I provide actual proof pages, evaluate only what is visible.

Do not claim to have inspected pages I haven’t supplied.

Separate confirmed defects from suggestions.

Provide a correction log suitable for a final production pass.

The book may now be technically ready.

But distribution is still a separate decision.

TASK: Decide how the book should reach its readers.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I have a completed book and want to consider how to share it.

The intended readers are:

[INSERT READERS]

The current publication status is:

[INSERT STATUS]

Help me compare appropriate options, including private copies, family distribution, digital sharing, or public publication where relevant.

Consider:

Audience.
Privacy.
Contributor permissions.
Cost.
Accessibility.
Long-term preservation.
Rights.
Corrections and future editions.

Do not assume public publication is the preferred outcome.

Do not upload, publish, or distribute anything without explicit approval.

Recommend a practical plan suited to my purpose.

Part Fifteen: Project Control and Continuity

Now we address one of the biggest practical challenges revealed by The Meistro Manual.

Long projects extend across many conversations.

And the AI may not reliably retain every earlier detail.

These prompts help preserve project continuity.

Prompt E-41: Session Handoff

TASK: Create a record for the next working session.

COPYABLE PROMPT

We are finishing this session.

Create a factual handoff containing:

Current project.
Current stage.
Work actually completed.
Sources examined.
Files created or changed, if confirmed.
Important author decisions.
Corrections made.
Unresolved questions.
Current approved manuscript or blueprint version.
One recommended next task.

Do not claim work was saved if it wasn’t.

Do not assume a future conversation will automatically have access to this session.

Keep the handoff concise and usable.

Prompt E-42: Resume the Project Safely

TASK: Continue prior work without guessing.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I am resuming a writing project.

I will provide the latest Project Control Sheet, handoff note, and relevant files.

First identify:

The project name.
Current stage.
Approved decisions.
Current manuscript version.
Available sources.
Last completed task.
Next planned task.

If essential information is missing, identify the gap.

Do not substitute information from a different project.

Do not claim to remember inaccessible earlier conversations.

Do not restart completed work.

After reviewing the records, recommend the next useful action.

Prompt E-43: Version Comparison

TASK: Determine what changed between two drafts.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I have two versions of a chapter or manuscript.

Compare them.

Identify:

Added passages.
Removed passages.
Reworded material.
Changed factual claims.
Changed names, dates, or quotations.
Structural changes.
Changes to the author’s voice.
Potential unintended damage.

Distinguish improvements from differences that require judgment.

Do not assume the newer version is better.

Provide a concise change report and recommendations.

Do not overwrite either version.

Part Sixteen: The Final Independent Review

One lesson from BookForge deserves special emphasis.

Passing automated checks does not establish that a manuscript is genuinely ready.

The final review needs to examine the work from a fresh perspective.

Prompt E-44: Independent Editorial Review

TASK: Examine the manuscript without assuming prior work was correct.

COPYABLE PROMPT

Perform an independent editorial review of this manuscript.

Read the available material without assuming it is publication-ready.

Do not rely on earlier claims that the manuscript has passed automated tests.

Evaluate:

Clarity.
Coherence.
Narrative voice.
Chapter structure.
Reader experience.
Unnecessary repetition.
Unsupported assertions.
Source fidelity concerns.
Missing explanations.
Inconsistent terminology.
Awkward transitions.
Incomplete endings.

Identify issues with specific evidence.

Do not invent defects.

Do not rewrite the manuscript during the review.

Provide an editorial findings report.

Separate:

Critical problems.

Important improvements.

Optional stylistic suggestions.

And elements that are already working effectively.

The objective is a fair assessment, not automatic approval or unnecessary criticism.

Part Seventeen: Learning From the Completed Project

Once the book is finished, the process itself can be reviewed.

This helps make future projects easier.

Prompt E-45: Project Retrospective

TASK: Evaluate the completed writing workflow.

COPYABLE PROMPT

I want to review my completed AI-assisted writing project.

Use the available project records.

Identify:

The original purpose.
Material actually produced.
Successful working methods.
Documented problems.
Corrections made.
Unresolved issues.
Tools that proved useful.
Complexity that could be reduced.
Improvements for future projects.

Do not invent achievements or failures.

Separate observations from interpretations.

Do not describe unfinished work as complete.

Produce a practical Lessons Register with specific recommendations.

The purpose is to improve the next project, not produce a flattering success story.

Part Eighteen: The Prompt Selection Guide

We’ve now created forty-five specialised prompts.

You don’t need to use all of them.

Instead, choose the one that matches your current task.

Current Need	Prompt
Establish the collaboration	E-1
Begin the first conversation	E-2
Explore one memory	E-3
Capture an unexpected recollection	E-4
Interview another person	E-5
Plan follow-up questions	E-6
Review a transcript	E-7
Create a readable transcript	E-8
Extract memories from long audio	E-9
Inventory sources	E-10
Create a Memory Record	E-11
Investigate duplicate memories	E-12
Compare conflicting accounts	E-13
Discover book possibilities	E-14
Define the book’s purpose	E-15
Compare possible structures	E-16
Build a Table of Contents	E-17
Check chapter readiness	E-18
Prepare a Chapter Source Packet	E-19
Draft a complete chapter	E-20
Continue serial chapter writing	E-21
Preserve the author’s voice	E-22
Improve transitions	E-23
Review the complete manuscript	E-24
Find repetition	E-25
Remove drafting chatter	E-26
Audit manuscript structure	E-27
Make a targeted revision	E-28
Check a passage against its sources	E-29
Build a factual claims register	E-30
Verify one claim	E-31
Preserve conflicting recollections	E-32
Review privacy concerns	E-33
Check contributor permissions	E-34
Assess publication readiness	E-35
Plan a print edition	E-36
Review EPUB or web-reader structure	E-37
Prepare an audiobook script	E-38
Review a proof edition	E-39
Plan distribution	E-40
Create a session handoff	E-41
Resume a project	E-42
Compare manuscript versions	E-43
Request an independent review	E-44
Review the completed project	E-45

That’s the complete library.

But perhaps you’re wondering whether forty-five prompts are excessive.

For one small family book?

Probably.

Which brings us to the most practical part of this appendix.

Part Nineteen: The Five Prompts Most People Will Actually Need

If you’re beginning your first book, don’t feel obliged to use every tool.

You can complete a substantial amount of work with five prompts.

E-3: Explore One Memory

Use it to collect genuine material.

E-11: Memory Record Builder

Use it to organise the recollections.

E-17: Source-Based Table of Contents

Use it to design the book.

E-20: Write One Complete Chapter

Use it to construct the manuscript.

E-29: Source Fidelity Audit

Use it to compare the writing with the original material.

Those five cover the essential progression.

Collect.

Organise.

Plan.

Draft.

Verify.

You can add the other prompts when the project requires them.

For example, perhaps your book contains no external scientific claims.

You may not need a complicated scientific verification workflow.

Or perhaps you’re creating a private printed keepsake.

You may not need a digital-reader audit.

And if you have no recorded interviews, the transcription prompts may not be relevant.

That’s fine.

The library is a toolbox.

You select the tools for the job.

The purpose isn’t to use more prompts. It’s to produce better work with clearer responsibilities.

Part Twenty: How to Combine Prompts Without Creating Confusion

Sometimes several tasks are closely related.

Perhaps you’re reviewing a completed chapter.

You want to check:

Its source fidelity.

Repetition.

And voice.

You could combine those into one review.

But be careful.

If you ask the AI to review and rewrite everything simultaneously, the result may become difficult to audit.

A safer approach is to use stages.

First:

“Run the Source Fidelity Audit.”

Then:

“Identify repetition.”

Then:

“Review the voice.”

Finally:

“Propose a combined correction plan.”

Now you can see the different findings.

And decide which changes to approve.

That’s a practical way to combine specialised tools.

Separate the judgments first. Combine the approved corrections afterward.

This is especially useful for large manuscripts.

Because factual, structural, and stylistic problems should not be treated as interchangeable.

Part Twenty-One: The Difference Between a Prompt and a Workflow

Let’s examine another important distinction.

A prompt is one instruction.

A workflow is a sequence of tasks.

For example:

Prompt: “Create a Memory Record.”

Workflow:

Collect the original account.

Preserve the source.

Create the transcript if needed.

Review important details.

Create the Memory Record.

Check its source references.

Add it to the index.

Those are several steps.

The prompt supports one of them.

The workflow provides the larger structure.

That’s why Project Crystal doesn’t rely on a single giant instruction.

A large prompt can establish expectations.

But the work still needs to move through appropriate stages.

And each stage may require its own review.

A prompt tells the AI what to do. A workflow establishes how the results fit together.

Understanding that distinction can make the entire project easier to manage.

Part Twenty-Two: What to Do When a Prompt Fails

Now let’s consider something realistic.

You use a carefully written prompt.

And the AI still gets something wrong.

Perhaps it invents a detail.

Or overlooks a source.

Maybe it rewrites more than you requested.

What should you do?

First, identify the specific error.

Don’t assume the entire collaboration has failed.

Perhaps the problem is local.

You can correct it.

For example:

“You added a date that wasn’t in the source. Remove it.”

Or:

“That heading was approved. Restore it.”

Or:

“You said the file was reviewed, but you haven’t shown evidence of accessing it. Please correct the status.”

Those are precise corrections.

Then examine whether the problem requires a change to the workflow.

Perhaps the AI repeatedly invents dialogue.

You might add a stronger source-fidelity check before chapter approval.

Perhaps the system keeps selecting the wrong project.

You may need a clearer Project Control Sheet.

Or perhaps a cleanup operation damaged legitimate words.

Then the editing process needs more controlled rules and comparison checks.

This is how the process improves.

Not by endlessly rewriting the prompt in increasingly elaborate language.

But by understanding the failure.

Then introducing an appropriate safeguard.

When a prompt fails, correct the result and examine whether the process needs improvement.

That’s a more dependable response than simply asking the AI to try harder.

Part Twenty-Three: Don’t Let the Prompt Replace Your Judgment

There’s a temptation in AI-assisted work.

When something goes wrong, write a stronger prompt.

Then another.

Eventually, the instruction becomes enormous.

It attempts to anticipate every possible mistake.

Every unusual situation.

And every editorial choice.

That can become counterproductive.

The AI may struggle to prioritise conflicting requirements.

The instructions may become difficult for the author to maintain.

And important decisions may disappear inside a wall of rules.

Sometimes the better solution is simpler.

Use a clear source.

A defined task.

And a review step.

For example, instead of writing twenty paragraphs telling the AI not to invent facts, require it to compare the finished passage with the source record.

Now you have an observable check.

The prompt still matters.

But the verification process does more of the work.

Reliable collaboration comes from good instructions combined with reviewable evidence, not from assuming the perfect prompt can prevent every error.

That’s a central lesson from The Meistro Manual and the BookForge editorial workflow.

And it’s worth carrying into every future project.

Part Twenty-Four: Your Personal Prompt Collection

Now let’s make this library your own.

You don’t need to keep using the exact wording provided here.

Perhaps you discover that a particular instruction works especially well.

Save it.

Perhaps another prompt produces too much information.

Shorten it.

Maybe you prefer a more conversational tone.

Adjust it.

The important thing is understanding what the prompt should accomplish.

And preserving the boundaries that make the task dependable.

You might create a personal document called:

My Project Crystal Prompts

Inside, keep the instructions you actually use.

Perhaps:

Memory Interview.

Memory Record Builder.

Book Blueprint.

Chapter Writer.

Source Fidelity Checker.

And Session Handoff.

Now you have a small working set.

You can return to the larger library when a new task appears.

That’s more manageable than memorising forty-five instructions.

Keep Brief Notes About What Works

For example:

Prompt: Source Fidelity Audit.

Useful For: Identifying invented dates and unsupported emotional interpretations.

Common Problem: May require the original source to be supplied again.

My Adjustment: Always include the Memory Record and relevant transcript section.

That’s valuable practical knowledge.

And it belongs to your working method.

Part Twenty-Five: A Complete Prompt Workflow for Your First Chapter

Let’s bring everything together.

Imagine you’ve completed your first seven conversations.

You have several Memory Records.

And you’ve approved a Book Blueprint.

Now you’re ready to write Chapter One.

Here’s the sequence.

Stage One: Check the Sources

Use E-18.

Determine whether the proposed chapter has enough material.

Stage Two: Prepare the Packet

Use E-19.

Gather the relevant source details and chapter instructions.

Stage Three: Draft

Use E-20.

Write the complete first draft.

Stage Four: Review the Sources

Use E-29.

Identify unsupported additions.

Stage Five: Review the Writing

Use E-24 or a narrower editorial prompt as appropriate.

Check clarity, voice, and structure.

Stage Six: Make Targeted Corrections

Use E-28.

Change only what needs correction.

Stage Seven: Save the Approved Working Version

Record the version and review status.

Stage Eight: Continue

Use E-21 when the next chapter’s source packet is ready.

That’s a complete chapter workflow.

And notice something.

We haven’t required twenty different AI agents.

Or specialised software.

We’ve simply assigned clear jobs.

Then reviewed the results.

That’s the method.

And it can scale from a short family book to a much larger manuscript.

Part Twenty-Six: The Final Prompt Quality Checklist

Before sending a complicated instruction, review it briefly.

Ask:

Is the task clear?

Does the AI know what you’re asking it to accomplish?

Are the sources identified?

Does the task depend on material the system can actually access?

Are the boundaries appropriate?

Have you explained what must not be invented or changed?

Is the requested output useful?

Do you need a chapter, an audit, a summary, or a plan?

Is the approval step clear?

Should the AI propose changes or apply them?

Could the task be simpler?

Would a shorter instruction accomplish the same objective?

That’s enough.

You don’t need to conduct a formal prompt audit before every conversation.

But for large or sensitive tasks, a quick review can prevent unnecessary confusion.

One Final Thought: The Tool That Knows Its Job

Let’s return to the workshop.

The drawing is on the table.

The material is ready.

And you know what you’re trying to build.

You don’t select a tool because it looks impressive.

You select it because it performs the job in front of you.

Perhaps you need to measure something.

Then measure it.

Perhaps you need to cut a piece.

Then cut it.

And perhaps a completed assembly needs inspection.

Then inspect it.

Those are different jobs.

And treating them separately makes the work easier to understand.

The same principle applies to AI-assisted writing.

When you need a question, ask for a question.

When you need a summary, ask for a summary.

When you need a chapter, prepare the relevant source material and request the draft.

When you need factual verification, examine the evidence.

And when you need an editorial decision, remember who is responsible for making it.

The AI can help.

Sometimes remarkably well.

It can organise material.

Identify patterns.

Suggest structures.

And produce readable prose.

But it doesn’t become more reliable merely because the prompt is longer.

Reliability comes from clear tasks.

Relevant sources.

Appropriate boundaries.

And meaningful review.

That’s what this library is designed to support.

Not forty-five magic formulas.

Forty-five practical tools.

Each intended for a particular kind of work.

Some you’ll use frequently.

Others perhaps only once.

And several you may never need.

That’s perfectly fine.

A useful toolbox doesn’t require every tool to be used on every project.

It simply makes the right tool available when the need arises.

Perhaps you’ll begin with E-3.

One memory.

One conversation.

Then use E-11 to create a record.

Later, E-17 helps you develop the Table of Contents.

And E-20 helps turn a source packet into a chapter.

You review the writing.

Correct anything unsupported.

And continue.

Eventually, a manuscript begins to take shape.

Not because you discovered a secret command.

But because you’ve learned how to direct a sequence of useful tasks.

And perhaps you’ll find that the prompts themselves become less important over time.

You begin understanding the process.

Recognising when information is missing.

Knowing when the AI is helping.

And identifying what needs review.

That’s a good outcome.

Because the purpose of this appendix isn’t to make you dependent on forty-five carefully worded instructions.

It’s to give you enough practical examples that you can develop your own.

You can become comfortable saying:

“Help me organise this memory.”

Or:

“Check that chapter against the source.”

Or:

“Don’t rewrite anything. Just identify the problem.”

Those are perfectly good instructions.

When you understand the job, you often don’t need elaborate language to describe it.

And when the job is complex, the library provides more detailed guidance.

That’s how the system should work.

Simple when possible.

Detailed when necessary.

And always accountable to the material.

The prompt gives direction.

The source provides the evidence.

The review protects the result.

And the author decides what belongs in the book.

That’s the Project Crystal approach.

Not a single instruction that does everything.

But a dependable collection of tools that helps you create something genuine, one task at a time.

Quick Reference: The Project Crystal Prompt Method

When creating your own instruction, remember this pattern:

TASK

What do I need done?

SOURCE

What material should be used?

BOUNDARIES

What must not be invented, changed, or disclosed?

OUTPUT

What should the result contain?

REVIEW

What requires verification or approval?

And remember the most important rule:

A prompt can guide the work, but it cannot replace the source material, the author’s judgment, or the responsibility to check the result.

End of Appendix E.