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- May 8, 2018
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So I have a general question about a WIP.
Can a prologue have multiple POVs?
I read the stickied thread on prologues but I didn't find an answer. I did decide that my WIP does need a prologue as it takes place about ten years before the start of the actual story, and is the event that drives the whole narrative. The prologue begins with a little girl walking through the woods that she calls home. She senses that something is amiss. There is a loud explosion in the forest and she barely survives. The POV shifts to her younger brother who witnesses the explosion and the villain responsible.
I was going to do a 3rd POV with the villain, but am on the fence about it. Three POVs might be jarring for the reader. I am not even sure about two. I considered a prologue with just the little girl, and have her brother's story come out over time as a backstory in the actual chapters. But it would leave the reader without knowing what caused the explosion, the introduction to villain etc.
Before anyone asks, I don't do head-hopping. With the two POVS, they are in separate places. However with the villain, his POV is right next to the girl's brother, so it might be head hopping. Even if it isn't it does seem jarring. I am planning on writing a version without a 3rd POV and then one with, to see which works better.
For the actual chapters, I plan on making each chapter with one 3rd person limited POV.
Can a prologue have multiple POVs?
I read the stickied thread on prologues but I didn't find an answer. I did decide that my WIP does need a prologue as it takes place about ten years before the start of the actual story, and is the event that drives the whole narrative. The prologue begins with a little girl walking through the woods that she calls home. She senses that something is amiss. There is a loud explosion in the forest and she barely survives. The POV shifts to her younger brother who witnesses the explosion and the villain responsible.
I was going to do a 3rd POV with the villain, but am on the fence about it. Three POVs might be jarring for the reader. I am not even sure about two. I considered a prologue with just the little girl, and have her brother's story come out over time as a backstory in the actual chapters. But it would leave the reader without knowing what caused the explosion, the introduction to villain etc.
Before anyone asks, I don't do head-hopping. With the two POVS, they are in separate places. However with the villain, his POV is right next to the girl's brother, so it might be head hopping. Even if it isn't it does seem jarring. I am planning on writing a version without a 3rd POV and then one with, to see which works better.
For the actual chapters, I plan on making each chapter with one 3rd person limited POV.