All About Prologues
Every word counts in a story and first impressions matter. Traditionally, a prologue is an introductory chapter that sets the scene, tone and genre of your novel. But should you write one? The million-dollar question! Believe it or not, using a prologue can be quite controversial in the social media age.
So, let’s put prologues under the microscope, so you can make an informed choice on whether YOU should use one … let’s go!
What Is A Prologue?
Put simply, a prologue is an introductory chapter that lays the groundwork of what’s to come. Their purpose is to hook the reader and make them want to turn the pages. Prologues are usually shorter than the average chapter, but they don’t have to be. Prologues can be controversial because both writers and readers can have strong feelings about whether they are necessary … or not.
You may have seen online discussions in which authors say they believe prologues provide important context and intrigue. Others might reject prologues, saying they can be too cryptic. You may even have heard that readers claim to skip prologues altogether.
So, with all this in mind, let’s explore the pros and cons of writing a prologue. Ready? Let’s go!
Prologue PROs
i) Can be important for set up
Prologues can be powerful tools in setting the stage for your story. Early foreshadowing prepares readers for what lies ahead without revealing too much. Ultimately, it’s about creating a sense of anticipation.
ii) Can be important for backstory
In setting the stage for your story, a prologue can allow authors to provide readers with crucial backstory. This may be character or storyworld-related … or both.
iii) Creating Suspense or Intrigue
A good prologue can help hook readers from the very first line. By introducing an unresolved conflict or a puzzling scenario, you create suspense right away. This means good prologues can raise questions without offering immediate solutions.
Prologue CONs
iv) Can be confusing
Prologues can sometimes overwhelm readers with excessive information. This is known as ‘info dumping’ and should be avoided at all costs. This is because too much upfront about the characters or storyworld can feel frustrating for the reader.
v) Can disrupt the flow of the story
Narrative flow in a story is very important … and starts with the prologue! If the beginning is too slow or overly complex, readers might become impatient to get to the main plot. They may even skip the beginning altogether. This is because a prologue can sometimes feel like a detour.
vi) Giving away too much too soon
Prologues must not give away too much, too soon. Readers may feel they already know what will happen, diminishing their motivation to keep turning pages. Striking a balance between intrigue and clarity is essential.
So, Should You Write A Prologue?
When contemplating whether to write a prologue, consider …
- The Genre and Style of Your Novel. Some genres and styles like historical fiction or fantasy are enriched by prologues. Action thrillers often don’t need one. Weigh it up.
- Relevance and Impact. Too much detail can sidetrack – rather than support – your story. Make sure your prologue ADDS to the reading experience, rather than detract from it.
- Your Personal Writing Style and Preferences. Be honest with yourself about prologues: do you really need one? Think about what resonates with you and your target reader. Trust your instincts.
Last Points
Ultimately, you need to decide what will serve your story best … you’re the writer, after all! Weighing up the pros and cons will help you make an informed choice on whether your novel needs a prologue or not.
Good Luck!
Lucy V. Hay is a script editor, author and blogger who helps writers. She’s been the script editor and advisor on numerous UK features and shorts & has also been a script reader for 20 years, providing coverage for indie prodcos, investors, screen agencies, producers, directors and individual writers. She’s also an author, publishing as both LV Hay and Lizzie Fry. Lizzie’s latest, a serial killer thriller titled The Good Mother is out now with Joffe Books, with her sixth thriller out in 2024. Lucy’s site at www.bang2write.com has appeared in Top 100 round-ups for Writer’s Digest & The Write Life, as well as a UK Blog Awards Finalist and Feedspot’s #1 Screenwriting blog in the UK (ninth in the world.). She is also the author of the bestselling non-fiction book, Writing & Selling Thriller Screenplays: From TV Pilot To Feature Film (Creative Essentials), which she updated for the streaming age for its tenth anniversary in 2023.
I’ve written fiction with prologues and without. Depends on the story. Recently, I made Chapter 1 into a Prologue because it had such a different feel. It was the only part of the book in first person, and it foreshadowed without giving anything away..
Two things you didn’t mention:
— Prologues in series. Perhaps “The story up to now.” I do this in my series.
— Epilogues. I just used an epilogue in a romance to show what happened 20 years later. It helped the “lived happily ever after” message.
— In a series, at the end of a book, I’ll give a short piece foreshadowing the next book, as a hook to draw the readers forward.
I’ve written and then taken out the prologue in book 1 of my fantasy series (WIP). I bowed to what seemed like an industry trend that didn’t want them. Mine took place a couple thousand years before the main narrative and offered some key details that would make sense later in the story. My prologue was (I thought) dramatic, action-oriented , and ended with a startling event that is relevant to the main narrative – although it wouldn’t be truly understood until later in the book.
I still have the text and could put it back in as a prologue or just use it for exposition and back story as needed throughout the book.
Color me, still on the prologue fence.
Same to be honest! 🤣
I, for one, typically skip a Prologue in mystery novels. I do NOT include them in the mystery novels that I write. On the other hand, I’m in a critique group with a lady who writes historical fiction and I’ve found her prologues extremely helpful in setting the time frame and place. I can see where a prologue would be valuable for novels set in locals where ‘world building’ is necessary.
Yes, historical fiction, fantasy and Sci fi – any genre that needs a lot of worldbuilding – can benefit from a prologue. That said, I have used them in my own mystery/crime novels. I don’t think there are any hard and fast rules, as should probably go with our guts.
I like prologues as a reader. Just my preference.
Yes, I don’t know why some readers don’t like them on principle … I take it on a case by case basis!
I am a fan of prologues but, it should be like an appetizer before the main course. The problem is some prologues are so long that they may as well be chapter one.
A prologue should not be more than a page and a half. Long enough to intrigue and make the reader jump into the story.
Agreed, prologue should never be too long!
During the beta phase of my first book, several readers didn’t understand why a character reacted as strongly as he did to a situation. I considered a flashback, but it just didn’t work. So I wrote a 1-page prologue, relating a scene from the character’s childhood that showed how his reaction was rooted in his family’s traditions. I got “‘ah-ha”s in response.
I think prologues work best when they’re short and amplify a character’s… well, character. I personally skim through one that’s just world-building or more than a few pages long.
Yup, sometimes prologues can provide really important context.
My first book had a prologue. It was short, to the point, and with action. It also featured a character mentioned but never seen again in the story and set up motivation for one of my main characters. It’s the only time I’ve used one, though.
Nice! I’ve written about 10 novels now and I think I might have used one 2 or 3 times (though I’d have to check).