Avoid Prologues
This one I haven’t broken yet, although I am considering it with my latest novel. I honestly think it will work better with a prologue.
The dictionary defines a prologue as a ‘separate introductory section of literary or musical work’. Basically, it’s a (usually) brief section that establishes the setting of the story. Some have also been teasers of what will happen later in the novel. Perhaps it could be argued that writers do that to try and keep the reader’s interest through a boring beginning, but I’m not sure that could be applied in every case.
I recently started writing a manuscript that is being written for the Christian market. However, it’s difficult to tell in the first two chapters, which are told from the point of view of a man who does not exactly keep to Christian values. So do I need a prologue to introduce my other protagonist, who is the Christian who butts heads with this man? My own read-throughs have given me the impression that it would be a good idea to do this, if only to reassure my conservative audience.
So why would this list of rules for modern novels make a blanket statement saying that prologues should be avoided? I know that some readers don’t read the prologue, so that may well be the reason why, but perhaps that’s just a good reason for keeping it brief. I don’t think they should be more than a few paragraphs – a page or two at the most. I guess if it’s just mood setting for the story it’s not a bad thing if people skip it, but it probably depends on the story. Certainly, if your prologue is as long as chapter one, perhaps it would be better to make the prologue into chapter one and go from there!
Some great thoughts Lynne. It would be helpful to know the why of these rules – I guess readers automatically skipping reading the prologue might be one of them but is that the only reason. If the prologue is merely to give the general setting and is easily skipped, then I can see why it might be better not to include it.
I have to confess that I’ve started my second book with a prologue – of a event that happens at the end of the story but which colours the whole story as you read it. I did not write it because the beginning is dull or nothing happens! The “prologue” & a follow-on chapter in the middle of the book ties the book together. I could put it all at the end the current arrangement builds up suspense and has you questioning the different character’s motivations in a way that wouldn’t otherwise.
One of my critic partners wrote “So I am hooked. It’s excellent. I love your suspenseful prologue!” Of the middle chapter, “Wow. Heart stopping chapter. Excellent. And so nicely arranged eight years later and matching up to your prologue which certainly makes the transition in years stronger. Good work.” And towards the end, “Beautifully pieced together with so many questions and thoughts in my mind and great transitions.”
My gut feel is that by placing of this scene in the prologue adds a whole new dimension to the story.
Maybe I should just call it chapter one – so that my readers don’t skip it 🙂
Jenny
I don’t know if too many readers would skip a prologue just because it’s called a prologue, would they? I might skip an introduction, but only after I’d read a bit to see what the author was writing about. If it’s part of the story, though, as a prologue would be, why skip it? And wouldn’t people check it out first, rather than just skip it completely?
I have never skipped a prologue – I’m one of those people who has to read every. Single. Word. If the story lends itself to a prologue then put one in otherwise don’t, as the writer you can’t choose HOW people read your book…