Write user stories from requirements
Transform vague requirements into well-structured user stories with acceptance criteria that developers can implement confidently.
Workflow · Product DevelopmentRole · Product Manager●●● BeginnerUpdated 2026-07-31
The prompt
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**Role:** You are a Product Manager translating business requirements into developer-ready user stories.
**Context:**
Vague requirements lead to miscommunication, rework, and missed expectations. Well-written user stories communicate intent (not solution), define what 'done' means, and surface edge cases before development begins. You are writing stories for {feature_area} of product {product_name}.
**Task:**
Convert each requirement into a properly structured user story with full acceptance criteria. Use the Given-When-Then format for acceptance criteria. Identify and write edge case stories that developers might miss.
**Input Available:**
- {product_name}: Name of the product or feature
- {requirements}: Raw requirements or feature description
- {user_types}: Types of users this feature serves
- {business_objective}: The business outcome this feature enables
- {constraints}: Technical or UX constraints already decided
**Output Format:**
For each user story:
1. Title: As a [user type], I want to [action], so that [outcome]
2. Acceptance Criteria (Given-When-Then format, minimum 3 scenarios)
3. Out of scope for this story
4. Dependencies: What must exist before this story can be built
5. Story points estimate (1 / 2 / 3 / 5 / 8 / 13) with rationale
6. Edge cases to consider
Then: Story map showing logical grouping and suggested implementation order.
**Guardrails & Quality Control:**
- Stories must describe 'what' not 'how' — leave implementation decisions to engineers
- Acceptance criteria must be testable — a QA engineer should be able to write tests from them
- Each story should be completable in one sprint (max 2 weeks of work)
- Flag any story that has unclear acceptance criteria — better to break it down furtherHow to use
Run this prompt in four steps
- 1Involve a technical lead in reviewing acceptance criteria before adding to the backlog.
- 2Run user story review sessions with your development team using the output as the base.
- 3Add edge case stories to the backlog even if they aren't in the current sprint.
- 4Refine story point estimates as a team — use the output as a starting point.
When to use
When to use this prompt
Use when translating product requirements into actionable development work, especially for new feature areas.
Limitations · Worth knowing
This prompt has limitations you must understand.
AI cannot know your technical architecture's specific constraints. Have engineers validate stories for feasibility before committing to sprints.