The Shotgun vs. Sniper: Broad vs. Narrow Prompting

Should you be specific? Or should you be open? The answer is: **It depends on the phase.**

Beginners often get stuck because they try to be a Sniper when they should be a Shotgun (or vice versa).

In this guide, we will learn the **Divergent vs. Convergent** prompting strategy.

1. The Shotgun (Divergent)

Use this when you have no ideas. You want quantity, not quality.

• *The Goal:* Exploration.
• *The Prompt:* "Give me 20 wild, unconventional ideas for a blog post about coffee. Don't filter them."
• *Why:* You cast a wide net to find a hidden gem.

2. The Sniper (Convergent)

Use this when you have *the* idea and need execution.

• *The Goal:* Precision.
• *The Prompt:* "Take idea #4. Write a 500-word post. Use an H1 header. Include a call to action at the end. Mention 'Arabica beans' twice."
• *Why:* You need the AI to follow strict orders.

3. The Workflow

Great creators switch modes. 1. **Shotgun:** "Brainstorm 10 angles." 2. **Selection:** "I like #3." 3. **Sniper:** "Write #3 with these constraints..."

4. Visualizing the Scope

Look at the **Focus Scope** on the right.

Watch the beam change. The Shotgun blasts a wide area (many dots). The Sniper focuses a tight laser on one dot. If you try to Sniper too early, you miss opportunities. If you Shotgun too late, you get a mess.

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Master of the Lab

You have completed the **Prompt Lab Advanced Course**. You can structure mega-prompts, control formats, loop feedback, mimic styles, and switch strategies. You are now a Prompt Engineer.