Hello!
Here's a question that often comes up for novelists:
Should my novel have a prologue?
Prologues often seem to be frowned upon, and you might have been told that agents don't like them, that readers skip them, or that they're boring, outdated, an excuse for info-dumping, and so on.
Personally ... I think prologues absolutely have their place, though most novels don't need one.
What is a Prologue?
A prologue is a (usually short) chapter that comes before your "Chapter One". Usually, it's set at a different time from the rest of the story: that could be in the distant past or in the future.
It will generally use a different perspective to the rest of the story: an omniscient viewpoint can often work well in prologues, or you might have a viewpoint character who only appears in the prologue.
The prologue will usually establish important backstory: for instance, it might set up the antagonist's origin story, many years before the start of the main plot. More rarely, it can be used to jump forward to events that take place after the bulk of the narrative. It can also help establish the mood and setting of the story.
For examples of (all very different) prologues, try any of these:
The Chase, Lorna Fergusson (literary fiction)
Black Sun Rising, Celia Friedman (fantasy)
The Secret History, Donna Tartt (literary fiction)
(The great thing about prologues is that they're short enough, you can go through them all in Amazon's free samples ... though all three books are fantastic reads, so if you enjoy the prologue, buy the book and see how the prologue sets up the rest of the story.)
The Advantages of Using a Prologue
Prologues can have some great advantages, which is why authors keep using them! A good prologue will:
#1: Provide a strong hook. This is especially helpful if Chapter One is a more gentle opening to the story. The Secret History opens after a murder has taken place.
#2: Indicate the tone of the story. Readers should know from the first page what type of book they've picked up: what reading experience you're offering. Black Sun Rising is clearly set up as a dark fantasy from the events of the prologue.
#3: Introduce a core theme of the story. The prologue will often hint at (or outright state) the main theme. In The Chase, the prologue – barely more than a page – brings in the themes of hunting and death.
#4: Get across crucial backstory. While it normally makes sense to weave in backstory through dialogue, action, or flashbacks, a prologue is a quick and efficient way to establish crucial information upfront.
The Drawbacks of Using a Prologue
Most novels don't have a prologue ... because most novels don't need one. There's no point including a prologue for the sake of it.
An unnecessary or clumsy prologue can:
#1: Slow the reader from getting into the story. I'm not convinced that "readers skip prologues" as a matter of course ... but a long or rambling prologue could certainly put off a reader from carrying on.
#2: Create a jarring disconnect early on. If a reader gets into the prologue, identifying with the viewpoint character, it can be odd to be catapaulted to a different time/place in chapter one.
#3: Throw too much information at the reader. Prologues are great for setting up the story, but tons of detail will make readers switch off (Plus, they probably won't remember the important bits!)
So how do you get the advantages and avoid the drawbacks?
If your story doesn't have any need for a prologue, skip it! Start with Chapter One instead.
If your story needs a prologue but you're worried readers will skip it, then don't call it a prologue. Call it "Chapter One" or give it a title instead.
Keep your prologue as short as possible. In most cases, prologues are significantly shorter than the average chapter length in their book. They might be as little as a page.
Only get across what the reader really needs to know upfront. You can weave in other details later: in fact, unanswered questions will keep readers turning the pages.
If you're writing a prologue for your novel, best of luck with it!
Happy writing,
Ali
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