How to Write MidJourney Prompts: Beginner's Guide to AI Art

 

Whether you’re an artist exploring new mediums, a designer seeking inspiration, or simply someone intrigued by the world of AI-generated art, this post is for you. I recently learned the foundational lesson on how to create your very first AI artwork using MidJourney, and I wanted to take a moment to share that experience here on my blog. What struck me most wasn’t just the visual output—it was the insight gained from learning how to communicate creative ideas with clarity and purpose using structured prompts. That process turned out to be surprisingly intuitive, and deeply rewarding.

 Step 1: Understanding How Prompts Work in MidJourney

To generate AI art in MidJourney, you begin with the command:

1

/imagine

This is followed by a well-crafted prompt. Think of your prompt as the blueprint for your image—MidJourney interprets these words to generate visuals. The clearer your language, the better your results will be. Keep in mind that MidJourney prompts should be descriptive but not overly complex.

 Prompt Structure for AI Art Creation

Here’s a simple yet powerful format to use:

Command → Subject → Setting → Details:

• Subject: Your main character or object (e.g., superhero, forest, robot).

The subject is the main focus of the whole image. It’s what you want the viewer to notice first and what the rest of the elements support. For example, in a portrait, the subject is the person being depicted.

Defining the subject prompt:

/imagine Create an image of a superhero.

• Setting: Describes where your subject is (e.g., flying over a city, resting on a mountaintop).

The setting describes the environment or context in which your subject is placed. It answers questions like, “Where is the superhero?” and “What are they doing?” For MidJourney, a clear and detailed setting helps the AI understand the backdrop and actions taking place in your image.

Here’s a sample of adding the setting in an AI art prompt:

/imagine Create an image of a superhero flying over a city.

• Details: Adds style and depth—lighting, colors, atmosphere, emotion, etc.

Details add depth and specificity to your image. They help the AI fill in the finer points, such as colors, textures, and any small elements that make your image unique.

/imagine Create an image of a superhero wearing a red cape, flying over a city.

MidJourney Prompt Tips: Keep It Simple & Focused

One of the most valuable MidJourney prompt writing tips is to keep it short and visual. Avoid long, confusing sentences that cram in too many elements.

 Too Long:

1	/imagine a superhero flying over a city, wearing a red cape, determined expression, surrounded by clouds and lightning

 Better:

1	/imagine superhero flying over a city with a red cape

Clarity wins over complexity when it comes to generating AI images with prompts.

Examples of MidJourney Prompts for Inspiration

You can try creating your own prompts for these superhero themes and see what MidJourney generates:

Classic Superhero: “A classic superhero standing triumphantly on a skyscraper.”

Stealthy Hero: “A stealthy superhero in a dark alley, ready to spring into action.”

Futuristic Hero: “A futuristic superhero with advanced technology and glowing armor.”

Each of these is short, visual, and to the point—perfect for helping MidJourney understand your creative intent.

Final Thoughts on Creating AI Art with Prompts

Getting started with AI art in MidJourney is more intuitive than I expected. Writing a good prompt is about more than just throwing in keywords—it’s about knowing what you want and describing it with clarity. The more you experiment, the more confident and creative you’ll become.