Chain It | Just Add AI

The Pattern

Sometimes a single prompt can't do everything you need. But you can break complex tasks into steps, where each step's output becomes the next step's input. This is prompt chaining.

The flow is simple: Prompt 1 â†’ Output 1 â†’ Prompt 2 (includes Output 1) â†’ Output 2 â†’ Prompt 3...

Example: From Topic to Article

Here's how you might chain prompts to write a blog post about productivity tips:

Generate Ideas

You

Give me 5 unique angles for a blog post about productivity tips for remote workers. For each, provide a one-sentence hook.

1. "The 2-Hour Workday" — Most remote workers only do 2 hours of real work; here's how to make them count.
2. "Productivity Theater" — Stop performing busyness and start measuring outcomes.
3. "The Async Advantage" — Why the best remote workers embrace time zone chaos...
(and 2 more)

â†“ copy output into next prompt

Evaluate and Select

You

From these 5 angles, which would resonate most with a mid-career professional audience? Explain your reasoning and choose one.

[paste the 5 angles from step 1]

"Productivity Theater" would resonate most with mid-career professionals because they've likely experienced the pressure to look busy in office settings and are now navigating similar dynamics remotely...

â†“ copy output into next prompt

Create Outline

You

Create a detailed outline for the "Productivity Theater" blog post. Include an intro hook, 4-5 main sections with key points, and a conclusion with actionable takeaways.

Outline: Stop the Productivity Theater
I. Hook: The Slack green dot doesn't mean you're working
II. What is Productivity Theater?
III. Why Remote Work Made It Worse...
(full outline)

â†“ copy output into next prompt

Write Draft

You

Write the full blog post based on this outline. Use a conversational but professional tone. Target 1200-1500 words.

[paste the outline from step 3]

Complete blog post draft...

Why Chaining Works

Each prompt in a chain has a focused job. Generate ideas. Evaluate options. Expand details. When you separate concerns, you get better results at each step.

Chaining also lets you inspect and adjust between steps. Don't like the ideas? Ask for more before continuing. See a flaw in the outline? Fix it before writing the draft.

Think of it like an assembly line where each station does one thing well, passing its work to the next station.

The Technique

Break your goal into steps. Run each step as its own prompt. Copy the output into the next prompt as context. Each step builds on the last.

When to Chain

• The task has natural stages (brainstorm, evaluate, create, refine)
• You want to review intermediate results before continuing
• A single prompt would be too complex or unfocused
• Different steps need different "mindsets" (creative vs analytical)
• You need to transform data through multiple formats

Chain Length

Most effective chains are 2-5 steps. Longer chains work but require more attention — errors can compound. If you find yourself going beyond 5 steps, consider whether some steps could be combined.

You can chain manually by copying outputs between prompts, or automate it with code. Either way, the principle is the same: output becomes input.