In Support of Prologues

CheshireCat · Jan 7, 2008

Hey, it had to happen, right?

So, rather than bury a note within a thread containing a lot of negatives regarding prologues, I thought I'd start this thread.

Some of us use prologues. Not because we're lazy or inept. Not because we want to dump in backstory. And not because we don't otherwise know what to do with whatever scene or info is contained in said prologue.

We use prologues because they work for our stories.

Period.

We don't not use prologues because they're tricky to do correctly. That, in my mind, is a lot like deciding not to use commas because, hey, they can be tricky too.

Just my opinion, of course.

And I've said it before, but in all the years I've been writing, I've never had a reader complain about a prologue. Only other writers, aspiring or newly published, complain about prologues.

And to those writers who, as readers, skip prologues, I can only express my absolute astonishment. I've always read cover-to-cover, literally. Out of respect for the author, if nothing else.

I thought other people who loved books did the same.

Wow. How wrong was I.

Mr Flibble · Jan 7, 2008

I like prologues if they work for the story and aren't just an info dump.

But I read them all anyway.

They are just a differently named chapter that I like, or I don't.

justme · Jan 7, 2008

I used a prologue in my novel. The story wouldn't be the same without it.

melaniehoo · Jan 7, 2008

I thought about removing my prologue after all the hoopla here, but I like it and it's staying there until a beta tells me otherwise.

I haven't named it a prologue, but it's before Chapter 1, so there you go.

juneafternoon · Jan 7, 2008

I don't really care either way, to me it's the first 'installment' of the book, the first portion. Call it a prologue, call it a chapter, makes no difference to me. I'll read it regardless.

All I'm saying is: What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

scarletpeaches · Jan 7, 2008

I read prologues too. To not do so, would be akin to arbitrarily deciding, "I'm never going to read a chapter seventeen again!"

I've never written one, simply because it's never been necessary but I am open to using prologues if I ever feel the need in the future.

maestrowork · Jan 7, 2008

CeCe, maybe your readers didn't complain about your prologues because... they didn't read them!

Seriously, IMHO, "out of respect for the author" is a writerly sentiment. Most readers, after paying $12 for a paperback, only want a good story. If they don't want to read anything before Chapter 1, they won't. There is no rhyme or reason, and you can't force a reader to do it. If your prologue is uber important, it really might be better to incorporate it in your main story or make it chapter 1. Or not. Obviously, a writer does whatever he/she does, but I think the writer will have to accept the fact that some readers DON'T read anything before Chapter 1.... and it would be bad if they are penalized for that.

otterman · Jan 7, 2008

Thank you Ce Ce for making the point. As I said on another thread: when I read a book, I read a book. Skipping a prologue makes as much sense to me as skipping chapter 13 because many think it's an unlucky number. The very position of a prologue should warrant its importance to a work; it is there as an introduction for what is to come. Yes, sometimes an author includes a prologue that is unnecessary, puzzling, or downright annoying; it's bad writing, plain and simple (the rest of the book probably is too) and should be treated that way. I've read some pretty bad chapter 13s as well! That doesn't mean everyone should be dissuaded from including them. Good writing is good writing - 'nuff said.

Storm Dream · Jan 7, 2008

I like prologues. I read quite a bit of sci fi/fantasy/paranormal, so when I see a prologue I'm likely to go "oooooh, creepy backstory!" And about 85% of the time, it is. I usually see it as whetting the appetite, giving us a glimpse of the world. Yeah, they could call it chapter one and be done with it, but just the world "prologue" seems...so cool.

And I know there's some cases where the prologue deals with characters and/or situations that don't show up again (backstory) or show up waaaaay later in the book, so calling it "chapter one" would be...hmm...I don't know. I don't think it'd make much sense, though.

I do think they can have a trick to them, though.

melaniehoo · Jan 7, 2008

maestrowork said:
CeCe, maybe your readers didn't complain about your prologues because... they didn't read them!

Seriously, IMHO, "out of respect for the author" is a writerly sentiment. Most readers, after paying $12 for a paperback, only want a good story. If they don't want to read anything before Chapter 1, they won't. There is no rhyme or reason, and you can't force a reader to do it. If your prologue is uber important, it really might be better to incorporate it in your main story or make it chapter 1. Or not. Obviously, a writer does whatever he/she does, but I think the writer will have to accept the fact that some readers DON'T read anything before Chapter 1.... and it would be bad if they are penalized for that.

I disagree with that logic. If I spend money on a book I will read the entire book. The front pages that list other published works, most of the quotes/reviews, any little notes the author wants to tell me, even the first chapter from their next book at the very end. I want my money's worth!

Esopha · Jan 7, 2008

I treat prologues the way I do any other beginning. I read it before I buy it. If it's boring, I won't buy the book.

If I find a boring passage in a novel, I skim it, too. "Out of respect for the writer" is one thing, but what about the writer's respect for his reader? It takes two to tango.

Happy Pooch · Jan 7, 2008

I don't like reading prologues. Most of the time, I will give them a try though. At best, they tell me something that i need to store in the back burner of my feeble mind because some info from the prologue comes into play later on in the novel, page 186 or 275 or what have you.

I'm not a shallow reader but I now no longer feel any guilt or shame when i scan or even skip a passage or pages that sag or reflect things thrown in to spin out the tale. I think it has something to do with the sad state of affairs that you no longer see any new publications that are skinny but wonderful.

maestrowork · Jan 7, 2008

melaniehoo said:
I disagree with that logic. If I spend money on a book I will read the entire book. The front pages that list other published works, most of the quotes/reviews, any little notes the author wants to tell me, even the first chapter from their next book at the very end. I want my money's worth!

It's not a logic. It's reading habit. Once someone pays for something, they do whatever they want. It just so happens that you read everything. What I'm arguing is that "out of respect for the author" doesn't apply to a lot of people who forks over cash for entertainment.

As for skipping through chapters... Of course people will skimp through chapters, if they're not written well. I've skimped through an entire section of books, or simply put the book down and never picked it up again.

Again, do it right, do it well, and you can have 10 prologues if you want and the readers will read everything. Otherwise, they may read the first page and put the book down.

Toothpaste · Jan 7, 2008

I think the point was, melanie, that the reader bought the book, they are allowed to read it however they want to, they don't owe the writer anything. Some like prologues, some don't.

I have a prologue in my book. But at the same time I have skipped the occasional prologue, especially in fantasy books where I can tell it's all backstory.

For me the issue with prologues is that I feel some authors, and I hate to say it but in fantasy especially, feel like they ought to have one, and so, without much understanding of how they work, or how to write one, they put one in.

Anyway, for me it comes down to the same old same old. If you are going to do it, do it well. And you should be okay!

melaniehoo · Jan 7, 2008

maestrowork said:
It's not a logic. It's reading habit. Once someone pays for something, they do whatever they want. It just so happens that you read everything. What I'm arguing is that "out of respect for the author" doesn't apply to a lot of people who forks over cash for entertainment.

That is true.

ETA: My prologue's only two pages, so nothing scary.

TPCSWR · Jan 7, 2008

melaniehoo said:
I disagree with that logic. If I spend money on a book I will read the entire book. The front pages that list other published works, most of the quotes/reviews, any little notes the author wants to tell me, even the first chapter from their next book at the very end. I want my money's worth!

And the glossary at the end, regarless of whether or not I understood the made-up words in a sci-fi/fantasy book. If it's written it's there to read (except the copyright info of course). Although I do hate the traditional "evil sorcerer casting a spell" prologue unless it's really well done.

CheshireCat · Jan 7, 2008

maestrowork said:
CeCe, maybe your readers didn't complain about your prologues because... they didn't read them!

Seriously, IMHO, "out of respect for the author" is a writerly sentiment. Most readers, after paying $12 for a paperback, only want a good story. If they don't want to read anything before Chapter 1, they won't. There is no rhyme or reason, and you can't force a reader to do it. If your prologue is uber important, it really might be better to incorporate it in your main story or make it chapter 1. Or not. Obviously, a writer does whatever he/she does, but I think the writer will have to accept the fact that some readers DON'T read anything before Chapter 1.... and it would be bad if they are penalized for that.

Well, first, since a fair proportion of readers have commented on something that happened in a prologue, I think I can safely assume that at least a fair propotion of readers are reading said prologue. Don't you?

Second, believe me, I'm entirely aware of the fact that readers aren't going to be forced to read what they don't want to; that isn't the point. They also tend not to read booklists printed in the front of the book, or info about the author, or various other info provided so that they don't have to write the author a letter and ask for the titles of previous books the author has published.

Does that mean I should ask my publisher to remove all that additional info that will be useful for some readers? No, of course not.

I think the writer will have to accept the fact that some readers DON'T read anything before Chapter 1.... and it would be bad if they are penalized for that.

I'm repeating the above because, again, I find myself astonished. The prologue is part of the story. It may not take place at the same time, or at the same place, or with the same characters as chapters 1 through whatever, but I as the author have decided my story needs a prologue.

If you as the reader choose not to read that, so be it. But please do not state or imply that I am penalizing you because I included information important to my story in the first part of it.

Guys, seriously, come on.

Can somebody give me some solid basis for this belief that readers hate prologues? Because, as I said, in more than twenty years, quite a few prologues, and thousands of reader letters, I've never seen a sign of it.

I repeat: The only "readers" I have ever heard comment negatively about prologues have been writers.

And, honestly, if other writers don't respect the work enough to read what their peers have decided belongs in the story, I don't much care about their opinions.

scarletpeaches · Jan 7, 2008

Happy Pooch said:
...I'm not a shallow reader but...

But you sometimes skip prologues because they're prologues?

Happy Pooch said:
...you no longer see any new publications that are skinny but wonderful.

Look harder. They're out there.

Trust me. I was in Borders this afternoon and saw shitloads of 'em.

I like doorstopper novels and I have trouble finding those. Skinnies? They're all over the place.

maestrowork · Jan 7, 2008

I think we had a poll before, and according to AWers (writers), 2/3 of the people read the prologues, and 1/3 don't.

I don't know what the percentage is like for non-writers.

Like I said before, 8 out of 10 prologues I have read are either unnecessary or badly handled, and that probably jaded me about prologues. As Toothpaste said, if a writer puts a prologue in because "well, it says all fantasy should have a prologue" then I think it's a bad reason. And just because a writer puts one in doesn't mean the readers will read it. In fact, just because a writer writes a book doesn't mean anyone will buy and read it. It all comes down to:

Does it work?

DeleyanLee · Jan 7, 2008

And, honestly, as a reader, I don't owe the writer to read every page. I owe them two things: 1. Not to steal their work. 2. A chance to do their job, which is to entertain me. That's what I paid for and they get pretty much one shot at it. If it increases their odds of succeeding if I skip the prologue and makes it more likely that I will continue buying their books and talking them up to my friends--why should the writer care if I read that opening bit or not? As if the writer would ever know to care.

scarletpeaches · Jan 7, 2008

I can't wait for the next poll on prologues! We haven't had enough of those babies!

:popcorn:

Happy Pooch · Jan 7, 2008

scarletpeaches said:
But you sometimes skip prologues because they're prologues?

That's not what I said. My comment was that i usually don't care for them but give them a try. In fact most of them i read from beginning to end.

DeleyanLee · Jan 7, 2008

maestrowork said:
I think we had a poll before, and according to AWers (writers), 2/3 of the people read the prologues, and 1/3 don't.

I don't know what the percentage is like for non-writers.

Small sampling, but in my book club of about 30 professionals (I'm the only writer in it), the break-down is about the same.

scarletpeaches · Jan 7, 2008

DeleyanLee said:
And, honestly, as a reader, I don't owe the writer to read every page. I owe them two things: 1. Not to steal their work. 2. A chance to do their job, which is to entertain me. That's what I paid for and they get pretty much one shot at it. If it increases their odds of succeeding if I skip the prologue and makes it more likely that I will continue buying their books and talking them up to my friends--why should the writer care if I read that opening bit or not? As if the writer would ever know to care.

I really, really, don't understand this attitude.

It's like...would you skip chapter one, because it's the beginning of the story and probably just filler, backstory, meaningless bumph? Why should the fact it's labelled 'prologue' make any difference? It's just chapter one by any other name.

Now if people say, "It doesn't need to be in the book," that's not the fault of prologues as a whole. It's the fault of the writer for being boring. But then, that could happen in any part of the book. Prologue, epilogue, chapter seventeen, page three hundred and ninety-five.

Guys, if you read a boring book, it's not the prologue that's to blame - it's the author. And you can't say because you've read a few bad prologues, that they're all unnecessary and you'll never read another one.

If this, "I read a bad 'un once and I'm staying away from them in future," rule is being applied, why not make it across the board? Why not say, "I read a book once where there was a superfluous adverb on page ten, so I'm going to avoid page tens in the future if I can help it."

It's not the existence of a prologue that makes the book bad - it's the writing!

And guess what? There's writing in every chapter!

TPCSWR · Jan 7, 2008

90% in this poll.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17402

In Support of Prologues

Mostly purring. Mostly.

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Well butter my biscuit!

And thus we begin the edits

Return of the Jedi

Fear the Death Ray

Word Voyeur

Into the blue memory

And thus we begin the edits

bam pow zap.

Fear the Death Ray

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

And thus we begin the edits

Unashamed Play School Fan

Mostly purring. Mostly.

Fear the Death Ray

Writing Anarchist

Writing Anarchist

Unashamed Play School Fan