Prompts - Editing


Prompt: Write a story in 200 words. Then edit it to 150 words. Then 100 words. Then 50.


200 Words

Deborah tucked the switchblade into the pocket of her security uniform. She hated to deprive some kid of his only defense, but she couldn’t have gang fights starting on her watch.
            “Homegirl! Where’s that asshole Paco?” Izadora called from the corner store.
            “Damn, girl, I ain’t seen him all day,” Deborah shouted. She got along well with Iz. They both hated the other mall security guards, who wasted their time flirting with the pretty girls who walked by.
            “Well, when you see him tell him he better get his ass over here, he owes me money!” Iz said, folding her arms.
            “That fool not paying you again? You should take his ass to court.”
            Iz laughed. A customer walked up to the door and she nodded to Deborah before going inside.
            Deborah continued on her rounds. She kept an eye out for Paco, as he was supposed to take the next shift, but she didn’t see him until she was clocking out. Reluctantly she handed over the confiscated blade, knowing Paco was the type to give it to some other kid. She lectured him about paying Izadora, but she knew he didn’t care.
            Some guys are just assholes like that.


150 Words

Deborah tucked the switchblade into the pocket of her security uniform. She couldn’t have fights starting on her watch.
            “Homegirl! Where’s that asshole Paco?” Izadora called from the corner store.
            “Damn, girl, I ain’t seen him all day,” Deborah shouted. She got along well with Iz. They both hated the other mall security guards.
            “When you see him tell him to get his ass over here, he owes me money!” Iz said.
            “That fool not paying you again? You should take his ass to court.”
            Iz laughed. A customer walked up and she nodded to Deborah.
            Deborah continued and kept an eye out for Paco, but she didn’t see him until she was clocking out. Reluctantly she handed over the confiscated blade, knowing Paco was the type to give it to some kid. She lectured him about paying Izadora, but she knew he didn’t care.
            Some guys are just assholes.


100 Words

Deborah put the confiscated switchblade into the pocket of her security uniform.
            “Homegirl! Where’s that asshole Paco?” Izadora called from the corner store.
            “Damn, I ain’t seen him all day,” Deborah shouted.
            “When you do tell him to get his ass over here!”
            “That fool not paying you again? You should take his ass to court.”
            Iz laughed. Deborah left, keeping an eye out for Paco. She didn’t see him until her shift was over. She told him to lock up the blade and lectured him about paying Izadora, but she knew he didn’t care.
            Some guys are just assholes.


50 Words

Deborah put the confiscated switchblade into the pocket of her mall security uniform as Izadora called from the corner store.
            “Where’s Paco? Tell him to get over here!”
            “He not paying you? Take his ass to court.”
            She saw Paco after her shift. He ignored her; he’s such an asshole.

Comments