ChatGPT: How to Generate Text — The Basics

Apr 28 / Ashley Gross

Overview

Generating text with ChatGPT is simple, but knowing the basics makes the process faster, clearer, and more effective. Instead of struggling with blank pages, you can use ChatGPT to create drafts, brainstorm ideas, or build complete pieces of writing with just a few instructions.

Whether you’re creating emails, articles, social media posts, or reports, this guide will show you how to get started with confidence.

This guide walks you through:
  • Why use ChatGPT for text generation
  • What you’ll need
  • How to generate text step-by-step
  • Optional enhancements
  • Practical applications and a real-world example

Why Generate Text with ChatGPT?

ChatGPT can help simplify the writing process by:

Speeding up drafting
Get content ideas and text faster.

Improving structure
Organize thoughts clearly from the start.

Expanding creativity
Explore different tones, styles, and formats.

Reducing friction
Move past writer’s block or hesitation.

ChatGPT acts as a writing assistant that responds to clear instructions and helps you build content quickly.

What You’ll Need

Before getting started:

A Clear Goal
Know what kind of text you need (email, article, caption, outline, etc.).

Access to ChatGPT
Free or paid account (GPT-4 is recommended for best results).

Optional
A sample, tone preference, or key points you want included.

Tip: Clear, specific prompts lead to better outputs.

Step-by-Step: How to Generate Text with ChatGPT

Step 1: Start with a specific prompt

Example:

“Write a professional email introducing my new consulting service to small business owners.”

You can also set tone, length, and structure expectations in the prompt if needed.

Step 2: Include key points

Give ChatGPT any information you want mentioned, such as:

  • Main message or offer
  • Audience (who you’re speaking to)
  • Call to action (what you want readers to do)

Example:
“Mention that I offer customized packages and a free 30-minute consultation.”

Step 3: Review the first output

ChatGPT will generate a draft based on your instructions. Read it carefully and identify anything missing, too wordy, or off-tone.

Step 4: Refine and adjust

Request edits if needed:

“Make this email more concise.”
“Use a more friendly and casual tone.”

Step 5: Proofread carefully

While ChatGPT’s outputs are usually solid, always double-check grammar, accuracy, and style before using the final version.

Optional Enhancements

Ask for multiple versions
“Give me three different variations of this email.”

Request different tones
“Rewrite this in a formal/business/informal style.”

Use templates
Create reusable prompts for recurring types of content (such as monthly newsletters or client proposals).

Practical Applications

ChatGPT can support a wide range of writing needs:

Business Communication
Draft emails, proposals, and reports quickly and clearly.

Content Marketing
Generate blog post ideas, social media captions, and ad copy.

Academic Work
Outline essays, organize research papers, and brainstorm ideas.

Personal Projects
Write speeches, event invitations, or personal blogs.

Case Study: A Business Owner’s Weekly Content Plan

Prompt Used
“Write five LinkedIn post drafts promoting small business consulting services. Friendly tone, 100 words each.”

Result 
ChatGPT generated five clean drafts matching the brand voice, each focused on a different service angle.

Impact 
David scheduled a month of LinkedIn content in one afternoon — saving time and maintaining a consistent online presence.

Best Practices

Be specific
The more details you provide, the better the output.

Start simple, then refine
Use the first draft as a foundation.

Review carefully
Always proofread and adjust before publishing.

Experiment 
Try different tones, lengths, and structures to find what works best.

Keep the final voice human
Let ChatGPT help you — but keep your unique voice in the final version.

Let ChatGPT handle the heavy lifting of drafting your content!

With just a clear prompt, you can say goodbye to blank pages and hello to faster, more organized writing. Set it up once — and let your AI assistant speed up your workflow every time you need to write.