# Rewrite my message so the reader knows exactly what I need

Rewrites a vague message so the action, the owner, and the deadline are impossible to miss.

- Topic: Email & Workplace Communication
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Communication, Write, Rewrite & Edit, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/rewrite-my-message-so-the-reader-knows-exactly-what-i-need

## Prompt

```text
Rewrite my message so the reader knows exactly what I need them to do.

**My message:** [PASTE]
**Reader(s):** [WHO]
**What I actually need:** [THE ACTION, if I can say it - otherwise leave blank and work it out from the message]
**Deadline:** [DATE/TIME or "none"]
**Channel:** [email / Teams / Slack]

Steps:
1. Tell me in one sentence what the ask seems to be in my current draft, and whether it's clear, buried, or missing.
2. Rewrite the message so that:
   - The ask appears in the first two lines, starting with a verb ("Please approve...", "Can you send...").
   - Each ask names who does it if there are several people. Use @names or one bullet per person.
   - The deadline is specific (date and time zone, not "soon" or "ASAP") and in bold.
   - The reader knows what "done" looks like (format, where to send it, how much detail).
   - Background follows the ask and is cut to what they need to act.
3. If there are several asks, number them and put the most important first.

Return:
1. **Rewritten message.**
2. **The ask in one line**, as a test: if this line doesn't match what I need, tell me.
3. **Remaining ambiguity** - anything the reader could still reasonably interpret two ways.

Keep my facts and tone; don't add deadlines or requests I didn't give.
```

## What to fill in

- PASTE
- WHO
- DATE/TIME or "none"
- email / Teams / Slack

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.