Ay-ya-ya. Help! Where to begin?
Once, I had a lengthy prologue. It detailed an event which took place when my MC was very young. The event is the core item that drives the story (which starts about 10 years after the core event), even though it was also made clear to the reader (in the prologue) that the older MC doesn't remember the event. Thus the reader had information the MC didn't.
Then, I came here and learnt that Prologues are frowned on if not downright verboten in the eyes of many. So I eliminated it and went with another very brief one that hinted at the core event [trying to satisfy everyone]. The event in question simply does not work as a flashback because the MC isn't going to remember the important details until late in the second book. Until then the MC only has suspicions about the event.
Now I'm hanging out in QLH. It's been kindly suggested that I take the core event and build the hook around it. Great idea, if the core event was actually known to anyone. I really need it in there, somewhere. It won't work as a flashback in this first book, and [pretty much] everyone hates prologues. Now what? All suggestions greatly appreciated!!
Once, I had a lengthy prologue. It detailed an event which took place when my MC was very young. The event is the core item that drives the story (which starts about 10 years after the core event), even though it was also made clear to the reader (in the prologue) that the older MC doesn't remember the event. Thus the reader had information the MC didn't.
Then, I came here and learnt that Prologues are frowned on if not downright verboten in the eyes of many. So I eliminated it and went with another very brief one that hinted at the core event [trying to satisfy everyone]. The event in question simply does not work as a flashback because the MC isn't going to remember the important details until late in the second book. Until then the MC only has suspicions about the event.
Now I'm hanging out in QLH. It's been kindly suggested that I take the core event and build the hook around it. Great idea, if the core event was actually known to anyone. I really need it in there, somewhere. It won't work as a flashback in this first book, and [pretty much] everyone hates prologues. Now what? All suggestions greatly appreciated!!
