Write a newsletter volunteer spotlight using only her real quote

About this exercise

Your newsletter features a volunteer each month. Write a spotlight under 70 words, plain text: open with what she does, use her years of service from the corrected note, and include exactly one quote copied word for word from the interview. Don't invent feelings, quotes or details she didn't share. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 70 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "4 sentences, each under 16 words."
• Opening with a generic line. The AI starts with "Meet Pauline, an amazing volunteer!" before saying what she does. Try: Add: "First sentence: what she does at the rescue."
• Using her number. She said 5 years; the correction says 6, and the AI may pick the first. Try: Add: "Use 6 years (per the coordinator's correction)."
• Inventing quotes. The AI polishes her words or writes a new quote that sounds nice. Try: Add: "Use exactly one quote, word for word. Invent nothing."
• Ignoring where it will be pasted. AI loves bold and headings, which show up as stray ** and # symbols in the newsletter tool. Try: Name the place and the format: "For the newsletter tool. Plain text, no bold or headings."

What a strong prompt includes

• Says what she does first
• Uses the corrected years
• Asks for an exact quote
• Rules out invention
• Sets a word limit

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