Prologues are one of the most asked-about subjects in the publishingosphere. Do agents like them? Should I include mine in a partial? How many people dying at the hands of zombie mutants in the first page of my prologue is too many? And so on.
My post on all things prologue is here. But what I am curious about today is: do you like prologues? How strongly do you feel about them either way? Do your feelings run hot, cold, or lukewarm?
If you’re reading via a feed reader or by e-mail you’ll need to click through to see the poll.
Tricia J. O'Brien says
One big problem with prologues is I feel disjointed when Chapter One starts, and it has nothing to do with the prologue. I bought a book recently because I read the dynamite prologue and wanted to hear the story, but Chapter One made no connection to the prologue and wasn't exciting and I felt a bit cheated. Maybe eventually the author will get to it, but my reading experience wasn't a good one.
If the prologue is backstory then find ways to make it part of the story itself.
KaT says
I think there's a big risk that they'll come across as terribly cliched. I also find that sometimes it feels a bit amateurish (not all the times, but sometimes), especially if they're longwinded and contain some great, spectacular truth.
I know this because the first draft of the ms I'm currently querying had a prologue (a very bad one too, now that I look back) and a very good reader told me that the prologue made her roll her eyes. I'm not Socrates. I can't get away with things like that.
Plus, any themes or general truths should be apparent within the story without the prologue, if it's good writing.
I do however find that brief quotes are nice, but that's a very rare exception.
Kimber An says
Prologues are rarely done well and I've read plenty, as a blogging book reviewer. So, my advice is to only have one if it's absolutely necessary.
I recently followed my own advice on Sugar Rush. I must've rewritten the beginning a bazillion times and every time the Hero demanded getting the first word in. I refused every time. Finally, I read it without a prologue and agreed under great duress that the Hero was right. I was dragged, kicking and screaming, back to the keyboard, but the Hero got his way and there is a very short, precise prologue to my current Queryland novel.
Only time will tell if the Hero was right.
Mia says
I think it's completely dependent on how good the prologue is. Generally I don't enjoy reading or writing them BUT if the prologue is good enough, if it captures my imagination, then sometimes I can fall in love with them. 🙂
Max Munro says
I'll read any prologue that has action in it. If it doesn't then I'll generally only read it if it's shorter than a few pages.
I was thinking of having a prologue in a novel I'm currently producing because there's an important event set 20 years before Chapter 1 that I didn't want to drip feed to people throughout the first act. Chapter 1 also contained a twist on the outcome of the prologue.
Madara says
Most how-to books will tell you to get on with it and start with chapter one.
I like a short prologue that gives a taste leaving you hungry for more.
Of course my background is weighed heavily on comic books and movies where you need to hook readers early. Most fiction readers are willing to give you a little more latitude.
Ciara Blount says
For me, it's dependent on quality and also what type of story it's preceding. Some prologues are unnecessary and weigh down the pace, but it can be done well if it's for the right story. I think it's just another one of those decisions writers have to make that'll be different for each story.
I was going to use Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone as an example of a prologue that felt fluid, but it turns out that the book begins with chapter one even though the POV changes in chapter two and remains consistently Harry's for the rest of the series. But anyway, I think chapter one reads like a prologue, and it worked for me.
dyockman says
I have to echo what Maybe Genius said/asked. In fiction, whether it is called a prologue or chapter one really shouldn't make a difference.
That said, there are good ones and bad ones. 🙂 The prologues I find I enjoy the most give me some insight into an event that shapes one of the MCs or as someone else suggested reveals an event that the MCs have no knowledge of, and would therefore be unable to share from their POV.
All prologues are not equal, but then again neither are all first chapters.
Neil Nyren says
I've never understood the fuss some people make about prologues. As with anything else involved in writing a book, there are good ones and there are bad ones. Why lay down blanket rules? And by all that's holy, why would you skip over something that the author thought was important enough to make it the first thing you read?
Charli Armstrong says
I chose option three even though I never really notice. I just begin at the beginning. Once I'm in the story, I usually forget the prologue was there.
Amy says
I normally don't like prologues. But then I actually wrote one into my latest novel. It's short, it's creepy, and it has a strong hook. Readers of my prologue and first chapter tell me it was the prologue that hooked them–the chapter itself is fairly quiet. The only reason I get away with that quiet first chapter is because of the prologue, which tells the reader what's really going on behind the scenes in that quiet chapter.
Steppe says
I like the idea of waiting and saving the prologue as a way of introducing back story once you have gone far enough to know which way the story is going to end.
Pin the hero, the hero's helpers, and the allies all in one scene in a small: skin of your teeth, hair of your chinny chin chin type of temporary early victory over
the opposition forces and the battleground they hold. Then start the real story, set the stage introduce the cast, draw the reader into the world building process as they walk along with the characters entering the new realm.
Prologue is good snapshot advertising the world and people up ahead and a good way to suggest the final outcome;
But never write the prologue first save that initial version for page 17-30 or first full rhythm peak around 60-85.
It's also a great way to achieve the first five pages hurdle in an authentic sensible way. A mini version of the story, then relax, then start the wind-ups.
Cheree says
It really depends on how good the prologue is. Most of the prologues I've read are either cheap ways to fit in back story or has absolutely nothing to do with the main story.
Fawn Neun says
I'll read them the first time I read a book. If I reread the book and the prologue is all 'tonal' and mood-setting, then I skip to Chapter One. If it contains important action or great dialogue, then I treat it as Chapter One.
Ha! Word Verification is "winge"!
heather says
What really makes that first little bit a prologue anyway, and not just 'chapter 1' by another name?
I suppose it would be that it's backstory, set-up for what's to come in chapter one. Personally, I'm neither here nor there with my feelings. I agree with charli. I just start at the beginning. And like I said, what's in a name anyway? 😉
Dan Holloway says
It was good enough for Chaucer. If you're book works better with one, use it; if not, don't.
Amanda says
I like prologues. I like the background info that they give or the mood that they set. I go into the book with a little understanding of what is there or something to expect.
I especially like them if they are necessary history to help develop the world. That being said, I also like them interesting.
Anonymous says
I voted for the third choice, however, I wished for a fourth.
I think prologues are often necessary with fantasy. Sometimes the previous story and the world itself have to be built before the story can be understood and to just drop it in along the way might be more cumbersome and keep the reader confused. At the same time, much as I hate just telling, it can shorten a complex prologue whereas showing prologue can make it much bigger and takes so much more writing.
I have a work with a lengthy prologue that I (so far) don't have any way around needing. (Beta readers don't mind it, but I worry over it.)
In another work, I changed a prologue into a Part I showing of the novel. It's longer than a telling, but I like it much better.
Leah Petersen says
I did go with a prologue, myself. Just two sentences essentially telling you you're not allowed to read the book.
That could backfire….
jjdebenedictis says
I agree with Neil Nyren's comment. We writers don't need another blanket rule to obsess over. Anything can be done well.
Also, people who dismiss novels based on the presence of the prologue might as well be dismissing them based on the cover art. It's a desperately superficial criteria to judge a book by.
Sandy Shin says
I voted for "depends on how good the prologue is," but the caveat is that, most of the time, it isn't good at all. Most prologues I have read could have been cut and the book would have been stronger for it.
Neil says
Look, the truth is a great writer can do anything he or she wants. I'm loving those of you who are saying you just start reading on page one and let things happen. That's absolutely how we should be as readers — open-minded and ready to be led, toyed with, stimulated and surprised. I can't understand those who are saying they don't read prologues as a matter of course; if the writer thought it was important, an agent thought it was important, an editor thought it was important and a publisher thought it was important enough to stay, then you can be damn sure I'll read it. I don't personally care if you open your book with a rhetorical question or a hundred-page prologue about how the zombies ruined Christmas. I'm up for the ride. Thrill me, shake me, make it happen and paint it vivid – and above all, don't stress about prologue-haters. If it works, it works.
Becca says
I do like some prologues. I only really like them to help set the tone of a novel so that you can know ahead of time if it's going to be scary, suspense, or whatever.
Lisa Desrochers says
I write YA and, without even cracking open books, can think of at least 2 NYT YA bestsellers with prologues.
Personally, as a writer, I feel like they're a bit of a cop out. When I've written one, it's alway been because the begining of my story felt slow, so I needed to give it a boost. In the end, I've always pulled the prologue and rewriten the begining of the book.
Amethyst says
Depends on the prologue, quality and quantity. If it is a length of a chapter, call it Chapter 1. I am in agreement with some of the comments already made.
What doesn't work for me:
-a summary of what happens later
-used as a way to dump info that can be integrated throughout the novel
-one that ends as a dream sequence (sorry!)
I can't quite put a finger on what works. I usually know when I read it. Prologues I read. Introductions, especially from other authors about the book, I don't because most give away the plot. These are usually seen in literary works and especially in the classics.
csmith says
All I can say is that no-one has whined about mine yet. As it is a short story (30K) and published as part of an anthology earlier this month, there is still plenty of time left though.
The reason I used it was because I wanted to drag the readers a third of the way into the story so that my horribly unsympathetic main character (which for some reason, and I think in no short measure thanks to the prologue, people like!) is given context, so his amazingly self centred ramblings don't put the reader off too much as they can see what a self-delusional hypocrite he is. It also helps that he starts off this complete sod (literally and figuratively) and through massive amount of self revelation, and a minor war, turns into a half decent human. Sort of.
As a newbie, it was rather nice that the publisher chose my prologue as opposed to excerpts of the other three previously published authors, two of whom are "names" in the genre, as the titillation bit of the anthology.
PS. Am being purposely obtuse with regards to description as I am sure there will be some YA ppl following this blog.
patlaff says
Dan Holloway…If you're book works better with one, use it; if not, don't.
Preach on, brother.
Renee Miller says
It depends on the prologue. By that I mean, does it serve its purpose as a prologue or is it simply chapter one in disguise. A brief prologue that sets the atmosphere, raises a question, or gives the reader a little something to chew on throughout the story, therefore getting them to turn the page; absolutely.
If it does none of that, or if the same could be shown in the first chapter, then there's no need for it.
That's my opinion as a reader, and mostly as a writer. I usually start with one, but by the final draft I've changed it and it has become chapter 1.
Terry Stonecrop says
Wow, I'm in the majority for a change. I've read some books where they're needed, work well and are written well.
Others, not so much.
David R. Slayton says
I don't like prologues that never tie back in strongly enough. Great example: George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones contains a first chapter/prologue that quickly introduces us to some characters, sets them up, and kills them off. They've tied back in here or there in the massive series, but far past the point where I cared.
I dislike prologues when they equate to loose threads. They can work well when they setup a crucial moment later, but you've got to handle them with enough care to make sure the reader is fully invested (something Martin did extremely well in his).
I would also pose another question: how many times do you clearly see through a prologue masquerading as Chapter One? For me, it's always when I reach the end and ask myself: "But what happened to the dog?"
Munk says
Stories can be told in many ways. To have an opinion as which way is best is superfluous.
I initially began my novel with a prologue which admittedly sucked. It ended up as a list of facts adorned with sparkle words (see Josin's comments at 12:39). After an appropriate scolding by my betas I have re-written… but just because my prologue sucked doesn't mean they all do.
If you missed it, scroll up to Melissa Sarno's comment as well (12:49) I like the idea of setting tone rather than plot stakes at the beginning of a book.
Other Lisa says
It ALWAYS depends!
Tricia says
Mostly no.
It seems most prologues fall into two categories:
1.Info dump
2.Here's something exciting because my first chapter is really boring and I hope my prologue will keep your interest.
Katie Rob says
I just used a prologue in my most recent YA novel, but I ended up taking it out because it seemed like a cheap trick. I thought my chapter 1 wasn't exciting enough to catch an agent's eye, so I tried to create some excitement with a prologue. After removing the prologue, I was forced to take another look at chapter 1. A concise, relevant prologue can be wonderful, though. Particularly, I am thinking about The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.
Samuel says
An example of a brilliant prologue can be found in Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance. There, the prologue not only sets up wonderfully the story and the characters, it also acts as an anchor for the rest of the narrative, with Mistry several times referring back to the prologue to re-orient the reader.
J. R. McLemore says
If the prologue introduces something significant to the story that the reader should know before diving into the main story, I think a prologue is the right place to do. However, I feel that prologue should be brief. Give me the quick info I need and let me get to the meat of the book.
Besides, I'm slightly bias since my very first novel starts with a one page prologue. 🙂
Rick Daley says
It depends on how good the prologue is.
For that matter, Chapter 1 depends on how good Chapter 1 is. Same goes for every chapter after that.
I don't get people who don't read prologues. The author wrote it for a reason, and if the prologue is part of the story, and if you respect the author enough to read the story, read the prologue.
There are also people who say prologues are lazy writing, but I disagree. Typos are lazy writing (or lazy editing). So are plot holes and dangling participles. Or not writing in general, that's totally lazy. If you write a prologue and stop there, than may that could be considered lazy. But writing a great book and then crafting an interesting prologue to set it up is not lazy. I loves me a good prologue, it makes me want to turn the rest of the pages.
But I'm the kind of guy who reads the entire cereal box, so I have my issues and maybe this is just one of them.
Kristin Laughtin says
Most of them seem rather unimportant or unconnected to the story, and in those cases, they can usually be left out. But there are some that seem vital to setting up the story, especially if they happen a long time before it but are still necessary to the main plot. So it really does depend.
Francis K7 says
My prologue is two pages, was included in the sample pages with the query, and got me a full request by my dream agent.
So yes, I like them.
Krista V. says
Maybe genius makes a good point: A lot of the time, you could just rename the prologue "Chapter One," and then the issue is moot.
The real point is, you don't want to info-dump at the beginning of your book. Whether you call it a prologue or chapter one, if it's info-dumping, get rid of it.
Anonymous says
Choice 4: It depends on how necessary and helpful the prologue is.
Pam says
I don't understand why people say the prologues is not where the story starts. It *is* where the story starts. It may not be where *these* particular characters start, but prologues provide hints and background so as you read along, you can start piecing the history together. I like prologues, I think they create atmosphere.
Lyn says
The venomous attacks on prologues have to do with two ideas:
1. The reader does not want to waste time. Excuse me? You call yourself a reader? No, you are a consumer of books. Different. If you like rushing around like that, take up drag racing.
2. Prologues are the output of a lazy writer. Not necessarily. Perhaps they are the output of an organized writer.
Myself, I'd a thousand times rather read a prologue than plow through FLASHBACKS!!! Okay, here's where I hiss and spit.
If there's backstory or worldbuilding I, the reader, need to know about, then I want you, the writer, or organize it and make it interesting so I don't think you're a bore, and spit it out. I feel bored and irritated when I get to a phrase like, "The last time she had worn this dress, things had been very different." Oh, Lordie, here comes the stinking flashback.
The Red Angel says
This is the first post of yours that I've seen a poll attached to it…I think you should use polls more often! It provides a lot of reader input and is a nice addition to a blog post.
I also think that it really depends on the prologue itself. Some are really important in setting the stage for the novel, while others just throw out a bucket of suspense but not a lot of valuable information about the characters. So yeah…it really depends.
~TRA
https://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com
Wendy Qualls says
If the prologue is a prologue because it's a short (<4 pages) bit of story that doesn't share the same setting as the "real" beginning of the book, then it belongs. If done right, the prologue can set up a hook that the protagonist doesn't know about yet.
On the other hand, if the prologue is there because the author can't be bothered to drop backstory slowly as he/she goes along, then the prologue needs to be fed into the meat grinder and sprinkled liberally throughout the first few chapters instead.
Alessa Ellefson says
As a reader, I have to say I like prologues when they don't reveal what happens in the future–meaning they're temporarily in line with the rest of the story. Ex: an event that took place in the past, that will/does affect the protagonist in the main part of the story. The key is to make sure whatever's brought up in the prologue is referred to again (discover what the meaning behind that passage was) later in the "actual" story.
The prologue needs to be as exciting as the rest of the story and I feel should can be from a POV other than the protagonist's (whereas I feel chapter 1 should be from the protagonist's POV).
Otherwise, I feel most prologues are detractors or false promises.
Janna Qualman says
I think the writer's style has more to do with a good prologue than anything else.
And generally, if it's in the book, I read it.
Jil says
I like short prologues which give a back ground, or reason for what is about to happen. I would rather have it there to whet my appetite that have it slowing down the story,as a flashback, later.
I don't like long prologues about someone or something that is only mentioned again at the novel's end so I am left throughout the whole book wondering what on earth those first pages were all about.
Courtney Price ~ Vintage Ginger Peaches says
If you've written a good prologue, as all of them SHOULD be well written, then it should be included. If it's all meaningless fluff, you should just ditch it anyway.
abel says
I never read prologues.