Long Prologue

euclid · Aug 2, 2008

My WIP grew out of a short story that I wrote about 10 years ago (yes, I really do move that slowly!). I had planned to include the SS in the novel as a prologue, but it's 4,500 words long. The novel's 40 odd chapters are about 2,300 words each, so the prologue is equivalent to 2 chapters. The plan is: Prologue + 40 chapters = 100,000 words.

Is 4,500 words too long for a prologue?

donroc · Aug 2, 2008

Mixed opinions about using prologues have been expressed on other threads as well as by some agents on their blogs.

I have no problem with prologues, but two chapters does seem extreme. Is there a way you can integrate the information in subsequent chapters? Otherwise, you might make them chapters and use a bridge when you go into the third one.

euclid · Aug 2, 2008

Prologue as two chapters

donroc said:
I have no problem with prologues, but two chapters does seem extreme. Is there a way you can integrate the information in subsequent chapters? Otherwise, you might make them chapters and use a bridge when you go into the third one.

Hi Donroc,

The prologue is very much backstory. It explains some (minor) puzzling details. The reader could quite easily skip it. It is supposed to provide some light relief, as it is quite humorous. It would probably fit better as an epilogue, but the problem with that is, that chronologically, it fits earlier, not later, than the story in the book.

Can the epilogue contain material that predates what's in the book?
Not according to my OED definition of epilogue.

I think I will leave it out altogether, if the book is long enough to stand on its own (i.e. over 90,000 words) without it. I could put the essential info from the prologue into the book itself, I suppose.

Thanks for the input.

Puma · Aug 2, 2008

Hi Euclid - Chapters 1 through whatever need to be able to stand on their own without the prologue (a lot of people never read them). A prologue should set the stage for what's going to happen in the main part of the book, but the main part should not be dependent on the prologue. I wrote (and then canned) a lengthy prologue for my historical - I finally realized that the person the prologue really meant anything to was me. I could go back and re-do that prologue as a stand alone, but I probably won't.

In a contemporary novel I'm working on, I'm still vacillating on whether a section of information that makes the story more understandable will appear as a chapter or a prologue. It's hellishly detailed and would be of little interest to people who just want to read the thriller - but for anyone looking for the whys, it's essential.

Don't know if that helps you at all. Bottom line is, if you can avoid a prologue - do. Puma

euclid · Aug 2, 2008

Prologue blue pencilled

Puma said:
I finally realized that the person the prologue really meant anything to was me. I could go back and re-do that prologue as a stand alone, but I probably won't.

Thanks for that, Puma. I think I have come to the same conclusion about my prologue. It was/is a short story, and I love it, but it doesn't really belong as prologue to WIP2.

What is the name of the book you have published (or is it coming soon?)? Is it called 16-3-3 or is that your zip code??

Puma · Aug 2, 2008

Hi Euclid - 16-3-3 is the title - it refers to Range XVI, Township 3, Section 3 of the US Military District (now in central Ohio). Puma

donroc · Aug 2, 2008

Well, write the rest then see what if anything you need to do with the info in the prologue.

Long Prologue

euclid

Where did I put me specs?

donroc

Historicals and Horror rule

euclid

Where did I put me specs?

Puma

Retired and loving it!

euclid

Where did I put me specs?

Puma

Retired and loving it!

donroc

Historicals and Horror rule