Prologues and POV

I wonder why you have the prologue at all. Back stories? Can it be cut and the information incorporated in the main story? You need to really think about why you need that prologue.

Personally, I dislike prologues that are there for backstory, info dump. That's just me.

It sounds like you were you only thinking of changing the POV once? In that case,
you might want to consider a third person POV for the prologue that includes information about the first character and the events that come before the MC's story begins. It would help to avoid confusion. Also, make sure there is a clear connection between the character in the prologue and the MC that comes later.

Changing POVs can be done, but it usually includes doing it more than once, moving back and forth between characters to give different perspectives on events. When done well, it is a compelling way to tell a story. I don't think doing it once makes a lot of sense.

On second thought, I'm not sure the third person POV in the prologue will work either. I think maestrowork is right; try to incorporate it into the main story. The prologue info could be shared in a story someone tells, a myth, a memory, etc. (all in the MC's POV, of course).

Sorry to suggest something than flip flop on you like this. I'd be interested to see what others think about using third person in the prologue. Would it still cause some confusion?

C. L. Richardson said:

The MC in my prologue is different from the MC in the rest of my story, as the events of the prologue are taking place before the MC of the story is born. I've been told to never switch POV during a story, and that makes sense, but can an exception be made here? Does it matter if I reveal the thoughts of my prologue's MC only in the prologue, and for the rest of the story only reveal the thoughts of the real MC?
Thanks for your thoughts.

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"Never" is an awfully strong word, and "never switch POV" is demonstrably absurd.

Sho-gun changes POV many times in almost every chapter. Giant bestseller, and an excellent novel on many levels.

Anne Rice's The Mummy, though not, IMO, a great book, changes POV with every chapter. The story isn't terribly strong, but the POV changes work fine.

Sticking with one POV is safe, and a way of keeping the storytelling simple, but the idea that it's some sort of writing sin to ever switch POV's is nonsense.

Regarding the desirability of having a prologue, the only important question is, does the prologue grab and hold the reader's attention on its own? If it does, there's no good argument against it.

maestrowork said:

Personally, I dislike prologues that are there for backstory, info dump. That's just me.

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And a lot of friends here.

caw

wayndom said:

Regarding the desirability of having a prologue, the only important question is, does the prologue grab and hold the reader's attention on its own? If it does, there's no good argument against it.

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And if it doesn't, there's no good argument for it.

caw

As long as it is not long and boring info dump, I'm fine with any prologue before the story that interests me.
Perhaps you could dramatize it a little it.
There's no law claiming that a prologue cannot be an actual scene.
Dan Brown's prologues always include dialogue....and death, but that's another issue. They read like any other chapter.

"Never switch POV" is bad advice.

If that were a rule, there would be no thriller genre.

You can do anything as long as it's done seamlessly and with craft. I've seen many, many prologues written in a different POV than the first chapter. In fact, my novel doesn't begin with a prologue, but it does begin in a rotating 3rd omniscient and then moves to 3rd limited in the next chapter. The strange thing is that I didn't give this one thought when I was writing the book, I just did it because it...felt right.

POV is one of those things we overthink at times. I would probably advise you to write the story and then clean up perspective on the rewrite.

C. L. Richardson said:

Thanks. The prologue is actually more interesting than the first chapter.

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That is dangerous territory you're treading on. A less interesting first chapter spells trouble for you if this gets into the hands of an agent or editor. Each chapter must sing and hold the reader's attention. Personally, I don't mind prologues provided they have an inherent reason for specifically being a prologue rather than part of the main story. Their sole purpose should be that they're needed to provide the set-up for the story. They should be short and sweet.

As for changing POVs in a story - this is done all the time. You may be confusing this with not changing POVs within a scene, which is taboo - unless you're Larry McMurtry and can do this seamlessly. Few can, so avoid it.

priceless1 said:

That is dangerous territory you're treading on. A less interesting first chapter spells trouble for you if this gets into the hands of an agent or editor. Each chapter must sing and hold the reader's attention. Personally, I don't mind prologues provided they have an inherent reason for specifically being a prologue rather than part of the main story. Their sole purpose should be that they're needed to provide the set-up for the story. They should be short and sweet.

As for changing POVs in a story - this is done all the time. You may be confusing this with not changing POVs within a scene, which is taboo - unless you're Larry McMurtry and can do this seamlessly. Few can, so avoid it.

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Well if the firstchapter is just stuff that happens before you reach chpater two, then I guess you'd have to rethink the 1st chapter.

In my case I prefer the porlogue to my first chpater becaus I think it's a really well constructed scene. But my first chapter has an event that changes the MC's life. the 1st chapter without that last bit would be boring lifestyle description.

POV switch is fine, and if it's only a one time switch, it's no big deal either. By chapter 1 we should know who the real protagonist is. Still, what Priceless said.

HourglassMemory said:

In my case I prefer the porlogue to my first chpater becaus I think it's a really well constructed scene. But my first chapter has an event that changes the MC's life. the 1st chapter without that last bit would be boring lifestyle description.

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That's a good thought -- the first chapter should start strong and then you can do a bit more background stuff in later chapters. That's why if the prologue is strong and then the first chapter is just "ordinary life" stuff... like Priceless said, it's dangerous. What if the agent only reads from chapter 1 on? Then you've lost her right there on chapter 1. I know -- many would argue but one should read starting from the prologue.

Anyway, we've had enough debate on prologues and I'd rest here. As far as POV shifts are concerned, that's fine.

i'll say it ~ anyone who has questions about prologues shouldn't write them.

harsh? maybe. but, i've seen enough prologues that simply have no excuse to exist. it'd be *something* were they as interesting as the writer thinks they are; however and alas, the reader really doesn't need to know how the universe was created. again. and by 'light' and 'dark' being no less. okay, granted, this 'creation prologue' nonsense is what you find in fantasy (at least the stuff i (did) critique back when i had a spare second) and may not be applicable across the board.

the simplest question to ask and the hardest to answer honestly is, 'what's the purpose of the prologue?' by virtue of it tumbling out of our heads we deem it good. and i wish i had a nickel for every time someone said, 'but the prologue is crucial!' when in reality it's probably not. if it's backstory, it can typically be weeded out as any other bit of backstory (i'd venture to say that the most popular method is through dialogue (the slight variation/cliche here being a storyteller recounting the battle of such-and-suck around the campfire), but be mindful of not doing the 'well, bob, as you know...' thing).

taking it a step further, once you get your non-prologue version set to write you'll probably come along the advice 'start off with action.' this, too, i think is bad advice. in lieu of some stupid bloodletting opening (being chased by dark riders on the way to castle ravenscroft or some such lame, tired crap), a slower opening forces the writer to create *pause for dramatic gasp* compelling characters. (imo, it's a more mature approach to writing. unfortunately, fantasy writers aren't reknowned for their high levels of maturity, a lot of 'em being kids who are still in that 'death' phase.)

so, using an interesting prologue and then starting off with the real MC in the midst of their daily routine is a bad thing? i'm screwed then. when i actually do a prologue, it's usually a world-building deal and showing an example of what life is like... as long as it rocks. if ever you see me write how the gawds created the galaxies, then cut to a young, poor, female thief jumping from rooftop to rooftop, just to wind up in a tavern where the thieves' guild hangs out, you have my permission to murder me. stop me before i kill more pixels. after all, the slaughter must end with more slaughter, no?

where was i? oh, yeah, stay out of my booze.

The thriller/mystery that is my main WIP starts with a 3rd person prologue, about 200 words in length. Right now I think it's absolutely necessary for the story and I can't think of a way to weave it into the story lineas the event occurs well before the MC arrives on the scene.

The WIP is being written 1st person POV.

I'm not a fan of prologues, especially those that run umpteem pages. 200 words I think I can live with. It remains to be seen how my beta readers and/or an editor thinks of the idea.

Movies and novels are different, though.

Stop hating on the prologues, people. Let it go.