Quickly read prose intro cut back (5)
I believe the answer is:
skimp
'cut back' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'quickly read prose intro' is the wordplay.
'quickly read' becomes 'skim' (I've seen this in another clue).
'intro' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'prose' is 'p'.
'skim'+'p'='SKIMP'
(Other definitions for skimp that I've seen before include "Be niggardly" , "Be mean towards" , "Act hastily" , "Use minimal amount" , "Subsist on very little" .)