---
slug: midjourney-prompts-guide
title: "Midjourney Prompts: What I Learned After 1000+ Generations (With Examples)"
author: mara-solheim
status: inbox
priority: MEDIUM
created: 2026-01-10
source: seo-research-josh-mara-warmup
---

# Idea

## Discovery

**Source:** SEO Research for Josh & Mara warmup articles — 2026-01-10
**Evidence:**
- "midjourney prompts" = 1,900 monthly searches
- KD: 35 (MEDIUM — competitive but achievable)
- Search intent: Informational
- Target audience: Midjourney users wanting better results, creators frustrated with inconsistent outputs, designers integrating AI into workflow

## Why This Matters

Expertise showcase opportunity:
- 1,900 searches = solid volume
- KD 35 = medium, requires quality/expertise
- Prompt engineering = Mara's core skill
- Can show extensive real experience
- Establishes deep expertise, not just surface knowledge

## Content Angle

**Title:** "Midjourney Prompts: What I Learned After 1000+ Generations (With Examples)"

**Mara's Approach:**
- Deep dive into prompt engineering based on extensive experimentation
- Show her actual prompt evolution
- Include before/after refinements
- Real Midjourney outputs illustrating each principle
- "I learned this the hard way" honesty
- Cover v6-specific techniques

**Structure:**
1. Opening: "I've generated over 1000 images in Midjourney. Most of them were terrible. Here's what finally clicked..."
2. How I started (terrible prompts, random results)
3. The breakthrough: structure matters more than creativity
4. Prompt anatomy: what actually works
   - Structure patterns
   - Style keywords that work
   - Negative prompts (critical)
   - Parameters (v6-specific)
5. Before/after examples (my prompt evolution)
6. Common mistakes (I made them all)
7. Advanced techniques (after you master basics)
8. Closing: "Prompting is a skill. These are the patterns that work..."

## Why This Works for Mara

Perfect expertise demonstration:
- "1000+ generations" = genuine experience
- UX background helps explain systematic approach
- She can show her actual learning journey
- Mistakes → breakthroughs = her vulnerability style
- "I learned the hard way" resonates with readers
- Real outputs prove expertise

## Keywords Cluster

| Keyword | Vol | KD | Priority |
|---------|-----|----|----------|
| midjourney prompts | 1,900 | 35 | PRIMARY |
| best midjourney prompts | 390 | — | Include |
| midjourney prompt examples | 480 | — | Include |
| midjourney v6 prompts | 320 | — | Version-specific |

## Secondary Keywords

- "midjourney prompt structure"
- "how to write midjourney prompts"
- "midjourney prompt guide"
- "midjourney negative prompts"

## Key Sections to Include

**Prompt Structure:**
- Start with style, not subject (her learning)
- Layering technique
- Word order importance
- Length sweet spot

**Style Keywords:**
- Photography styles
- Art movements
- Lighting terms
- Camera/lens specifications

**Negative Prompts:**
- Why they're critical
- Common negative prompts
- How to use effectively

**v6 Specifics:**
- What changed from v5
- New capabilities
- Adjusted techniques

**Parameters:**
- --ar (aspect ratio)
- --chaos (controlled randomness)
- --stylize (artistic interpretation)
- When to use each

## Content Format

**Mara's Style:**
- Deep expertise demonstration
- Show her actual prompt evolution
- Before/after image pairs
- Real Midjourney outputs
- Include the prompts that generated them
- Honest about trial and error

## Differentiation

Most Midjourney prompt guides:
- Generic tips without depth
- No real usage evidence
- Copy-paste from documentation

Mara's angle:
- "1000+ generations" = real experience
- Shows her actual learning journey
- Before/after demonstrates improvement
- Vulnerability about mistakes
- Patterns learned through experimentation

## Strategic Value

**Why This Article Matters:**
- Establishes deep expertise (not just surface knowledge)
- Pillar content for Mara's creative AI authority
- Can reference in other image generation articles
- Demonstrates sustained practice
- Builds trust through genuine experience

## Visual Content

This article is PERFECT for visuals:
- Before/after prompt refinements
- Side-by-side quality comparisons
- Show the exact prompts with outputs
- Demonstrate structure impact
- Great for social media snippets

## Notes

- Midjourney v6 is latest — cover thoroughly
- Prompt engineering is genuinely hard — don't oversimplify
- Show failures alongside successes
- Real prompts + real outputs = credibility
- Help readers skip the trial-and-error phase
- Mara's "took me three tries" honesty is key

## Long-Tail Opportunities

- "midjourney v6 prompts" (320 vol) — version-specific
- "midjourney prompt examples" (480 vol) — include many
- "best midjourney prompts" (390 vol) — subjective but valuable

## Publication Priority

**MEDIUM PRIORITY** — This is a pillar piece that establishes Mara's deep expertise. Should come after easier wins (CapCut/Canva) but before or alongside premium tool reviews. Demonstrates she's not just trying tools — she masters them.
