AI Workflow Templates & Cheatsheets
Downloadable guides to go from idea → finished content faster (with AI)
One of the biggest mistakes creators make with AI is treating these tools like magic buttons. They aren't. The real power unlocks only when you stop treating AI as a novelty and start combining tools into repeatable workflows.
That’s where templates and cheatsheets shine.
This post introduces a growing set of AI workflow frameworks you can download, reuse, and adapt. They are designed for one purpose: to help you move faster while keeping quality high.
Why AI Workflows Matter
AI tools are abundant. Direction is not.
Without structure, you end up in the "slot machine" trap—pulling the lever and hoping for a good result. Without workflows, you end up:
Re-prompting the same basic context over and over.
Forgetting crucial steps between the raw idea and hitting publish.
Losing creative consistency across different projects.
Workflows solve this by turning AI from a toy into a system.
Core Template #1: The "Idea to Video" Sprint
From Raw Concept to Published Short in 5 Steps.
This is the backbone workflow I use for YouTube Shorts, Reels, and short-form experiments where speed is essential.
Step 1: Idea Generation Phase Prompt the AI to generate:
10 distinct hooks (under 8 words each).
3 visual concepts per hook.
1 "absurd but realistic" variation to test boundaries.
Step 2: Script & Beats Use AI to:
Expand the winning hook into a tight 10–30 second script.
Identify visual "beats" that need to happen every 2–3 seconds.
Add optional narration tracks or caption-specific text.
Step 3: Visual Prompting Turn the scripted beats into:
One primary visual prompt (your main shot).
One fallback prompt (if the first one fails).
One "exaggeration pass" (bigger scale, sharper contrast, more dynamic).
Step 4: Packaging AI assists with the final wrapper:
Caption text (3 tonal variants).
Title options optimized for click-through.
Hashtag logic based on current trends.
Thumbnail frame suggestions based on the visual beats.
Step 5: Iterate (Post-publish) Review performance and ask AI:
What should we exaggerate next time?
What bored the audience (where did retention drop)?
Which beat should be the opening hook next time?
📥 This entire workflow is designed to fit on a one-page printable cheatsheet.
Core Template #2: The Prompt Stacking Cheatsheet
Stop writing mega-prompts that confuse the model. This template breaks prompting down into layers, treating the prompt like code rather than conversation.
The Stack:
[ROLE] – Who the AI is acting as right now.
[GOAL] – What specific success looks like for this output.
[CONSTRAINTS] – Length limits, realism requirements, negative prompts.
[STYLE] – Visual fidelity, cinematic framing, or writing voice.
[ITERATION CUE] – How to refine the output on the next pass.
Why Stack? It makes prompts easier to debug when they break, easier to reuse later, and easier to scale across different AI models.
Core Template #3: The Multi-Tool Creative Pipeline
This template stops you from trying to force one model to do everything poorly. It maps which AI tool handles which stage of production best.
Stage A: Ideation → (e.g., High-level LLM like Claude/GPT)
Stage B: Structure & Scripting → (e.g., LLM focused on brevity)
Stage C: Visuals or Audio Base → (e.g., Midjourney, Sora, Suno)
Stage D: Polish & Packaging → (e.g., Upscalers, Editors)
Each step in this template includes a sample hand-off prompt, a success checklist, and a crucial "stop here" rule to prevent over-tuning.
How to Use These Templates
The goal isn't rigid adherence; it's momentum.
Save them as PDFs for quick desktop reference.
Turn them into Notion pages with checkboxes for every new project.
Print them out and tape them to your desk so you don't skip steps.
Reuse them as "prompt starters" to get the AI up to speed instantly.
Final Thought
AI doesn’t replace creativity—it rewards clarity.
Templates give you that clarity, so you stop spending time figuring out how to work, and spend more time deciding what’s worth making.