How do I write good prompts for AI image generators like Midjourney?

You write good prompts by being obsessively specific about what you want to see, not by using fancy keywords. Think of it like giving directions to a very talented but extremely literal painter who has never been outside. You can't just say 'a beautiful landscape.' You have to describe the trees, the light, the weather, the style of painting. Most beginners overcomplicate this. They hunt for 'magic words' that unlock better images. I've found that structure matters way more than secret vocabulary. A solid prompt usually has three parts: the subject, the scene details, and the style modifiers. For example, instead of 'cyberpunk city,' try 'a narrow alley in a cyberpunk city at night, neon pink and blue reflections on wet pavement, steam rising from a grate, shot on 35mm film, cinematic lighting.' See the difference? The first one gives the AI almost nothing to work with. The second one paints a picture in words first. One tip that's rarely mentioned: use artist names or art movements as shorthand for complex styles. Saying 'in the style of Studio Ghibli' instantly communicates color palette, lighting, and mood. But be ethical about it — referencing living artists to mimic their specific work is a gray area. A better approach is combining movements, like 'art nouveau poster meets 1980s synthwave.' That creates something new instead of copying. Also, don't sleep on negative prompts. Telling the AI what you *don't* want — 'no blur, no deformed hands, no text' — can fix problems faster than tweaking the positive prompt. Start simple, see what you get, then add detail to fix what's wrong. It's more like sculpting than painting.