How do I write better Midjourney prompts?

Good prompts aren't long — they're structured: subject → scene/details → style → parameters, separated by commas, with the most important element first.

The formula

` [subject], [action/scene], [details], [style/medium], [lighting/mood] [parameters] `

Example:

` a red fox, sitting on a snowy mountain peak, detailed fur, watercolor illustration, soft morning light --ar 16:9 --v 7 `

• Subject — what to draw (a red fox).
• Scene & details — where it is, what it's doing (sitting on a snowy mountain peak).
• Style/medium — watercolor illustration, oil painting, 3D render, photorealistic, anime style, etc.
• Lighting/mood — soft morning light, neon lights, cinematic lighting, etc.

Common parameters (append at the end, prefixed with --)

Parameter	What it does	Example
--ar	Aspect ratio	--ar 16:9 (widescreen), --ar 9:16 (phone wallpaper), --ar 1:1 (default square)
--v	Model version	--v 7 for the latest model; pin an older look with e.g. --v 5.2
--niji	Anime-focused model	--niji 6 — noticeably better for anime/illustration styles
--stylize / --s	Stylization strength, 0–1000	Higher = more of Midjourney's own aesthetic, e.g. --s 250
--no	Negative prompt — things to exclude	--no text, watermark
--q	Quality/detail level	--q 2 adds detail but takes longer

Formatting rules: separate parameters with spaces, no space between -- and the name, one space between the name and its value.

Practical tips

• Specific beats vague. "A beautiful picture" gets you nothing; "macro photo of a dewdrop on a rose petal" gets you something striking.
• Stack style words — medium plus art style works well: flat vector illustration, minimalist.
• Use --no for exclusions. Don't write "without text" — the model handles negation poorly.
• On the web app's Create page, the slider icon opens a panel that sets --ar, --s, and friends for you.
• See an image you love? Reverse-engineer its prompt with Describe (covered in "How do I use image prompts, Describe, and Blend?").