How to Use a System Prompt Notebook (SPN)
Linguistics Programming - System Prompt Notebook
How to Use an System Prompt Notebook (SPN)
A simple guide to getting consistent, high-quality AI outputs
Step 1 – Fill It Out
Open the SPN file.
Replace every [ ... ] with your specific details (audience, goals, constraints, examples).
Delete anything that doesn’t apply, including SPN template examples.
Tip: Be concrete—avoid vague phrases.
Step 2 – Save Your Version
Name clearly: [ProjectName]_v1.0_[Date]
Example: SPN_SocialMedia_v1.0_2025-08-14.pdf
Step 3 – Upload to Your LLM
Use exact wording:
>Use @[filename] as the system prompt and first source of data for this chat. If upload is not supported:
>Copy and paste SPN contents into the chat window and prompt as system instructions for this session.
Step 4 – Request Your Output
Ask for your deliverable using the SPN’s requirements.
Example:
>Create a 7-day content plan following the audience, tone, and format in the SPN. Return in a table.
Step 5 – Review the Output
Compare against your SPN requirements:
Audience fit
Tone match
Format correct
Constraints followed
Step 6 – Refine & Re-Run
Edit the SPN (not just the prompt) to fix issues.
Save as a new version (v1.1, v1.2, etc.).
Remove old file from the chat or start fresh.
Re-upload and repeat.
Pro Tip
If prompt drift occurs, use ‘Audit @[file name].’ The LLM will ‘refresh’ its memory with your SPN information and this should help correct Prompt Drift.
SPNs = Repeatable, Reliable AI Instructions.
Fill → Save → Upload → Prompt → Review → Refine → Repeat.


Straylight is my philosophy, my life, and the deep need for answers deeper than what we are given. Project Straylight is proving that Eastern Mystics have been right about our reality for thousands of years. They knew that our reality is made up of a series of relational systems. That no one of us is truly an individual, but that we are all “nodes” that play our roles within a larger series of systems.
https://substack.com/@projectstraylight