To prologue or not to prologue

burgy61 · Jul 6, 2007

I just started to read a fantasy book and it has a prologue in it, but the new Stephen King book I bought does not. I am wondering what the pros and cons of prologues are.

Provrb1810meggy · Jul 6, 2007

I believe the general concession at AW will be not to prologue, because prologues are usually what happens before the story or background information. Most people will think it's best to jump right in. I don't really have an opinion either way.

Beware_of_Italics · Jul 6, 2007

I know that a lot of people look down on prologues, but then there are those who don't mind at all. Since we can't please everybody, I would write the prologue if your story demands it. To me, the story comes first regardless.

reenkam · Jul 6, 2007

I think that if the prologue is interesting and gives actual information needed then you should have it. If you're just writing a prologue because you think you'd like one there, because someone said they're nice, or because you just like the idea of writing backstory that's not needed then you shouldn't have it. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. But you have to remember to keep them interesting because it would be the first thing the agent/reader reads and it'll still have to hook them into the story.

Oh, and the "you" is general to all writers.....

Alexandra Little · Jul 6, 2007

Most prologue's I read are either a) bad, b) give information that, while interesting, does not affect the plot, or c) is revealed later in the novel anyway. If it involves your main character and is the start of your story, just put it under chapter one.

althrasher · Jul 6, 2007

No rule is absolute...although typically I would say no prolouge, my WIP opens with a dream, which is quite forbidden, I think.
Wouldn't sweat it...if it fits, go with it!
(But if a beta says it slows you down, reconsider and see if there's some other way you can plant that info.)

sassandgroove · Jul 6, 2007

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63303&highlight=prologue

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82529#post82529

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82533#post82533

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49889&highlight=prologue

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7173&highlight=prologue

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40106&highlight=prologue

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35285&highlight=prologue

sassandgroove · Jul 6, 2007

I usually read Prologues.

I think it was Uncle Jim that said if you need to start the story there, make it your first chapter. I also noticed in in previous discussions some people said they skip prologues, which is incentive enough for me to make it "Chapter One" instead of "Prologue."

Penguin Queen · Jul 6, 2007

althrasher said:
my WIP opens with a dream, which is quite forbidden, I think.

By whom? The national league of publishers?

If the prologue is right for your story and if you write it well, then write it.
Well.

Sunny7L · Jul 6, 2007

Alexandra Little said:
Most prologue's I read are either a) bad, b) give information that, while interesting, does not affect the plot, or c) is revealed later in the novel anyway. If it involves your main character and is the start of your story, just put it under chapter one.

I totally agree. Though, I don't believe it's an entirely bad thing, I often wonder why it simply isn't "Chapter One" in the story. And, even when it pulls me into the story I get a little annoyed when "C" it's a spoiler. I don't like reading anything when I already know word-for-word what's coming.

Alexandra Little · Jul 6, 2007

Sunny7L said:
I totally agree. Though, I don't believe it's an entirely bad thing, I often wonder why it simply isn't "Chapter One" in the story. And, even when it pulls me into the story I get a little annoyed when "C" it's a spoiler. I don't like reading anything when I already know word-for-word what's coming.

Even if it's backstory, I don't like reading it. Think of Lord of the Rings, book and movie. The movie sticks in a prologue because they can do that, and explaining that information the way the characters originally recieve it is not as interesting on screen and would be a drag. And while I'm not saying LotR would be a bad book if Tolkien had used a prologue (he's a master of writing), we still haven't become invested in the characters--we don't care about the story. A movie can afford to pull us along for a few minutes since we've already bought the ticket--a book can't.

And like Uncle Jim said, if the story starts in the prologue, just call it chapter one and get on with it.

Captain Morgan · Jul 6, 2007

The main reason I have seen on these forums for avoiding prologue is because there are some readers who skip reading them.

I think it's a shame, but that's how it is.

Stuart Clark · Jul 6, 2007

My current WIP has a prologue.

I didn't make it Chapter one because it is only two pages long (nearly all of my chapters are 10-20 pages long), involves two characters that appear nowhere else in the book but sets the scene for everything that is to follow.

Hence - a prologue.

Shady Lane · Jul 6, 2007

I'd say if you're at all on the fence--don't do it.

reenkam · Jul 6, 2007

Epilogues usually confuse me a little...since time passes but I never know just how much...but they're fun, otherwise. It's like when you watch a TV show and there are credits, but then a little bit more of the show post-credits. It happens in movies sometimes, too.

lfraser · Jul 6, 2007

I honestly don't understand why some people don't read prologues. What's that all about? I mean, why not skip chapter three, as well? Or the second paragraph of every page? If a prologue is only two pages long, and it's part of a book that you're interested in reading, why would you not read it?

And if a prologue is integral to your story, why would you hesitate to write it?

Captain Morgan · Jul 6, 2007

I have never, ever skipped reading a prologue. I don't plan to either, as some authors put important things in there. I don't need to get even more confused than I already do with some of the sci-fi novels out there.

I have skipped the footnotes now and then, when the writer insists on filling each page with one and they do nothing for the story...

blacbird · Jul 6, 2007

The Fantasy genre is more heavily infected with the prologue virus than any other. There seems to be a philosophy that, if you're building fantasy worlds, you need to do some explaining before you start telling your story. 90% of the time, at least for beginning writers, it's a mistake. Frankly, I can't recall reading a prologue that gave me anything that couldn't have been provided within the context of the main story, but some good writers get away with it by being . . . well . . . good.

Mostly, as a reader, I don't much like 'em.

caw

san_remo_ave · Jul 6, 2007

I'll read a prologue, but for the most part I can live without them. They're used quite frequently in romances, but they're usually something that I would have learned in the main story anyway.

It's as if the author is afraid that Chapter 1 isn't compelling enough to grab the reader, so they plop in an extra-tantalizing-tidbit. It's usually distracting and when it's not, I wonder why it wasn't just treated as Chapter 1....

Me, I don't use them.

Varthikes · Jul 6, 2007

I've got a prologue in my current WIP that tells an event that happens about half a year before the timespan of the rest of the story, but is significant for the story.

Toxic_Waste · Jul 6, 2007

I am about 50-50 on reading or not reading prologues. I usually skim through them to see if they look tolerable. If there is "something important" in there the author put in for readers to know, then why not work it into the chapters? I guess it's just a style thing, but I have yet to read one that I liked. I always have to force myself to keep reading.

I would not use the technique.

Carmy · Jul 6, 2007

I have a prologue in one WIP which takes place 20 years before Chapter One. The MC wasn't born at the time. Readers can ignore the prologue if they like, but they'll miss out on a lot of links to it by what the MC does.

Personally, I always read prologues, and I sometimes find them a more interesting read than the chapters. Probably because the writing is frequently more concise.

Dawnstorm · Jul 7, 2007

I always read prologues.

I've never read a bad prologue in a good book.

I've never read a good prologue in a bad book.

Has anyone here an example of a bad prologue in a good book?

Bufty · Jul 7, 2007

Here we go round the mulberry.... :snoopy:

I'm getting a strange deja-vu feeling with this thread. Try the Search function above for Threads with Prologue in them. I think the last - and as normal with this topic - inconclusive one was only a couple of weeks ago.

NiennaC · Jul 7, 2007

I said it on this thread, and I'll say it again. I love the prologue! I think if your story revolves around something that's happened in the past, it's the best way to avoid info. dumping later on.

To prologue or not to prologue

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