| name | refining-iteratively |
| category | waza |
| description | Drive Copilot toward a shippable draft with targeted, specific follow-ups rather than vague "make it better" prompts. Use after REVIEW, in tight loops until the deliverable passes the SHIP gate. Triggers: any refine prompt; "tighten this", "make it stronger", "fix section X". |
Refining Iteratively
The difference between a 5-prompt session and a 25-prompt session is specificity.
Quick Reference (a refine prompt names three things)
| Slot | What goes in |
|---|
| What | Which section, which sentence |
| Why | Which review lens flagged it |
| How | Constraint that defines "right" — not just "better" |
When to Use
- After reviewing-output flagged RED / AMBER.
- When Copilot's first draft is structurally right but specifics need work.
- Not when the structure is wrong — re-plan instead.
How to Use
Each refine prompt should name:
- What to change (which section, which sentence).
- Why it's wrong (which review lens flagged it).
- What the right output looks like (a constraint, not just "better").
Template:
"In section 2, the second bullet attributes the decision to Priya — verify against [source]; if not confirmed, replace with 'owner TBD'."
Examples
| Don't: Vague refine | Do: Specific refine |
|---|
| "Make it more concise." | "Cut section 1 from 4 paragraphs to 3 sentences. Keep the recommendation, drop the history." |
| "Make it less corporate." | "Drop 'leverage', 'synergy', 'going forward'. Use direct verbs." |
| "Tighten the intro." | "Intro must lead with the recommendation in one sentence, then 2 sentences of context." |
| "Try again." | "Section 2 invented an owner — pull the actual owner from [risk log row 4]." |
Critical Rules
- Two refine passes should get you to 90%. If not, re-plan.
- Constraints, not adjectives. "Under 80 words" beats "shorter."
- Cite the lens. Tells Copilot what defect to fix.
- One target per prompt. Multi-target refines drift.
- Cosmetic-only refines are wasted prompts. Refine for substance.
Common Pitfalls
- "Make it better" — Copilot has no signal.
- Endless cosmetic tweaks while substance defects remain.
- Refining a section that's structurally wrong — re-plan instead.
- Refines that drop earlier verified content (e.g., losing a citation in a rewrite).
Anti-Patterns
- "Try again." You've taught Copilot nothing.
- Endless cosmetic tweaks. Two refine passes should get you 90% there. If not, your plan was wrong — re-plan.
- Refining without re-reviewing the result.
- Re-prompting from scratch when one targeted refine would do.
Verify After Each Refine
Related
