STOP TELLING CHATGPT “MAKE IT SHORTER” It’s not a mind reader.
Use these 8 prompts and get perfect, punchy writing every time:
1. The Core Message Extractor
Prompt:
“From this text: [paste], keep only the single most important message, no background, no fluff.” Short starts with focus.
2. The One-Sentence Shrink Ray
Prompt:
“Rewrite the text as one sentence under 20 words that preserves the core claim and stakes.” Word limits force discipline.
3. The Five-Beat Story Cut
Prompt:
“Boil the text down to five beats: context, tension, insight, action, result. One short line per beat.” Structure removes padding.
4. The Plain-English Pass
Prompt:
“Translate the text for Year 7 reading level. Short sentences, concrete words, no jargon. Keep key terms like [terms].” Clarity creates brevity.
5. The Action-First Rewrite
Prompt:
“Start with the outcome, then list only the steps to get it. Max 90 words. No background.” Lead with what matters.
6. The Bullet Compressor
Prompt:
“Turn the text into three to five bullets. Each bullet starts with a verb and ends with a result. Max 12 words per bullet.” Bullets cut filler.
7. The Hook and Cut
Prompt:
“Write one opening line that creates curiosity or a clear benefit, then remove any line that does not serve that hook. Return the new first line and the trimmed text, max 120 words.” One idea, one path.
8. The CTA Tightener
Prompt:
“Write three specific calls to action that match this content and goal [goal]. Each 6 to 10 words, clear next step, no hype.” Precision converts.