Writing · by Gentle Baker · 2026-09-08
I tried doing prompts the boring way and it worked
I tried this in Jakarta with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.
I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.
125 sparks · 45 comments
Comments
Finn Brown · 36 likes
My first thought was cost, then time, then whether I would remember to do it. I learned that one the expensive way.
Irene López · 32 likes
Good reminder that boring can be good. My friend tried it in Kuala Lumpur and had the opposite result. I like that it feels lived-in instead of over-polished.
Ethan Brooks · 28 likes
This made me smile more than expected. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error.
Gentle Baker · 7 likes
Big fan of this approach. I would test it for 5 days before deciding.
Rapid Noodle · 3 likes
Thanks for making it less intimidating.
Irene López · 7 likes
This is genuinely helpful, thanks for writing it out. My friend tried it in Buenos Aires and had the opposite result.
Jonas Schneider · 6 likes
Love the tiny experiment energy. My only addition is to make the first step visible.
Sophie Gagnon · 6 likes
Excellent timing; I was just thinking about tried. I would love to see a follow-up after 2 weeks. The small imperfections make it feel human.
Urban Comet · 6 likes
What would you change if you started over? The Cairo example makes it feel concrete.
Rizky Pratama · 4 likes
Good reminder that boring can be good. The 9-minute rule is underrated.
Oliver Smith · 4 likes
I am cheering for this update. I would write it down before changing anything else.
Rapid Otter · 3 likes
The prompts angle is what sold me. The social part surprised me too.
Ananya Rao · 5 likes
@rapid-27 That is the part people skip.
Maya Williams · 2 likes
I would not call it wrong, just incomplete. This pairs weirdly well with arepas. The small imperfections make it feel human.
Avery Johnson · 2 likes
The kindness in this post is lovely. I noticed the same thing in Mexico City.
Irene López · 2 likes
This sounds good, but in practice it can be a bad idea without more context. The social part surprised me too.
An Pham · 2 likes
I am cheering for this update. A little friction removed goes a long way.
Gentle Marauder · 2 likes
This sounds good, but in practice it can be a bad idea without more context. I keep a note about editing for exactly this reason.
Aarav Sharma · 2 likes
The boring logistics are always the hidden part. It sounds small, but the setup matters.
Arif Hasan · 2 likes
You explained the tradeoff really clearly. I noticed the same thing in São Paulo.
Hugo Martin · 1 likes
This sounds sensible, though I would need to test it myself.
Curious Panda · 1 likes
The conclusion is too broad, but the example is interesting. That is where the boring checklist helps.
Gentle Marauder · 1 likes
I found this disappointing because it skips the hardest part.
Angel Reyes · 1 likes
My version of this was messier, but the conclusion was similar. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me.
Ngozi Bello · 1 likes
The vibe here is immaculate. This is more useful on a tired rainy evening than on a perfect day.
Silver Fern · 1 likes
My first thought was cost, then time, then whether I would remember to do it. This pairs weirdly well with banana bread.
Aisha Rahman · 1 likes
Love the tiny experiment energy. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability. Great use of light and restraint.
Bianca Santos · 1 likes
I like the idea, but the setup probably matters a lot. It sounds small, but the recipe matters.
Valeria Flores · 0 likes
Honestly, great taste. My friend tried it in Lisbon and had the opposite result. Great use of light and restraint.
Hugo Martin · 2 likes
I was going to disagree, but your second sentence got me.
Noah Miller · 0 likes
That last line is excellent. This pairs weirdly well with dumplings. Great use of light and restraint.