For creative writing — stories, emails, posts — describe the tone (formal, casual, humorous), length, and key points. "Write a 3-paragraph email declining an invitation politely" works better than "Write an email."

For code, specify language, framework, and constraints. "Python function to parse JSON, handle errors" or "React component with useState for a counter." Include relevant code if you're modifying something: paste it and say what to change.

For brainstorming, start broad and narrow down. "Give me 10 startup ideas in edtech" → pick one → "Expand idea 3 into a one-pager." Iterative refinement works well for open-ended tasks.

Chat mode (no search) is often best for creative and coding tasks — you don't need external sources, and the model can focus on generation. Use Search or Deep when you need up-to-date APIs, libraries, or references.