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.
Nicole Zoltack says
Personally, I almost always hate prologues. They can too often be confusing, and not enough is explained so they make little sense, almost like they're out of context. Now, if the prologue is a flashback, then it usually works better.
Another prologue that I hate: a scene from the middle of the book.
bethhull.com says
I really enjoy writing prologues. They usually feature a murder victim dying his grisly death. Oh the drama! And then, after I've stopped prologuing (read: procrastinating) I write the rest of the manuscript. After that, if the prologue doesn't fit, I take it out. Simple.
The "poetic," mood-setting prologues I've seen in a lot of YA novels lately–I can do without those.
ee hershey says
Refusing to read a prologue on principle seems arrogant.
The writer may choose their method of storytelling; if I love their story and their voice, I'll love every word they've given me, whether it's labeled prologue, footnote or afterward.
Toby Speed says
This is discouraging. I had no idea people hated prologues so much. I read a short prologue in a book by Michael Connolly that so inspired me with the device's potential that I never forgot it. It would not have been the same book without it. (Sorry, I forget which title it was. The narrator was a female whose SO had been killed in Las Vegas, if this helps.)
I have a prologue in the novel I'm writing. It's a piece of backstory from many years earlier, and by the time the subject comes up in the body of the novel, the reader will already know this crucial piece of information that (I hope) will enhance the suspense of the story. When it comes up again, at the end of the book, the foundation has been laid.
Call it chapter 1? I don't know. All the other chapters have the story in order, with the usual flashbacks here and there. It doesn't seem at all like a chapter 1 to me.
Shelli Cornelison says
I'm okay with a SHORT prologue. Otherwise, if you want me to read that stuff, call it Chapter 1. Or sprinkle it in throughout the first few chapters. But I'll read a short, relevant prologue.
Shell says
You would ask this question. I have a prologue, but I really didn't want to do one. However, I'm writing a middle grade fantasy and was getting completely contradictory input on whether to start it in the 'real' world or the fantasy world. Having a VERY SHORT prologue set in the fantasy world allowed me to start chapter one in the real world with the understanding and expectation that the magic was coming. Laziness on my part? Quite possibly. But at least my readers on both sides of the real vs. fantasy controversy seemed to have been satisfied.
Amanda Borenstadt says
I don't mind a short prologue. If it's long, it should be called Chapter 1. Otherwise it feels like I've started the book twice or even a separate book if the prologue seems to have nothing to do with chapter one.
Scott says
The way I see it, a prologue is a miniature Chapter 1 that hooks the reader, which isn't long enough to form a whole chapter (less than two pages) but still provides a good intro to the story.
For instance, a mysterious stranger arriving on the shores of an exotic land and doing VERY LITTLE ELSE might make a good prologue. Anything beyond that is Chapter 1.
Amanda says
It has to be good. I think it works when catching up on past information that is vital to the story. Also, flashbacks throughout the story do provide and element of mystery. It all depends on how it's done.
Sori says
I abhor prologues and even more flashbacks. Both take me right out of a story.
swampfox says
I'd say it depends entirely on the book, ie: the type of story, and what exactly the prologue entails.
Nicole L Rivera says
Sometimes prologues are necessary sometimes they aren't. I don't hold a grudge against them. Stephanie Meyer had a phenomenal prologue for Twilight. However, I think they need to be short, sweet, and to the point. I can't stand long prologues.
Koneko says
Prologues have their place.
They can set the scene and mood, in a way jumping into the action at the start of chapter one can't. Done well, you can weave in foreboding and subtle clues – but dreams* and prophecies, especially in prologues, seem to be little more than obvious crutches and tell you exactly where the story will go.
In fact, I find prophecies are more boring and useless than prologues. I see one of them, the book doesn't get another look. You don't want to know how the story ends before it's begun!
* Which have a chance to make a comeback! I wouldn't mind a fantasy book that wove dreams and visions in well.
Ermo says
Honestly, who cares? I think an author should be free to craft his story in any way they think is best. If that's a prologue – so be it. If that's a one word chapter then that's fine too. As long as it works.
Cathy says
I voted no, but really I read them and grumble.
Rrrandy Wurst says
Seems to be as many opinions on prologues as there are on the great social issues of our time. Regarding whether agents/editors want prologues, wait a month, it'll change. Questions such as this can and do draw some interesting opinions, but the question takes me back to a "truth" I heard long ago, that there are only three rules to know about writing, unfortunately nobody knows what they are. Maybe it comes from Mencken, maybe not. But I think it's a good thing for writers to keep in their thoughts. Write a good story without worrying about the shoulds and shouldn'ts. Oh, and I do read prologues because the writer thought it important enough to include it.
[Nathan: apologies if you have already offered the "3 rules" comment; I'm new to your very helpful and interesting blog.]
Linda Adams says
I voted "It depends," because there are some prologues that are clearly out of the timeline of the story. Those make me wonder how that event is going to fit in with the main story. The first thing I think of is a Clive Cussler book which shows a historical event like the sinking of a ship or burying of an ancient treasure, then segues into today's events. You know that treasure is going to be in the story, so that's where the fun starts!
But I've also seen ones that leave me wondering why the author needed it.
Jillian says
I find it hard to get into a book (particularly part of a series) if chapter one is mixed exposition and back-tracking. I find a prologue is better in these cases to set the scene, and get a reader ready to *experience* the story.
I LOVE the Sookie Stackhouse series, but that is an example of needing a prologue, to set the atmosphere and get introductions and descriptions out of the way.
Backfence says
I think it depends on the story. Some stories call for a prologue; some (I'll even go so far as to say MOST), don't. The writer needs to know their story well enough to recognize which it is in their case.
R.M.Gilbert says
I used to begin books at the end or the epilogue (whichever the story concluded with)–yes, you read right, I'd read the end first. And if I liked it, I knew I wouldn't care whether the beginning started with a prologue or Chapter 1.
That admission aside, I've grown up some. More and more I've started reading books from their beginnings. And while there are bad prologues out there, there are crappy endings too.
What's important to remember is one persons 'cup of tea' is another persons 'cup of coffee'.
Claudie says
Most of the time I'm not bothered by a prologue. It helps to set the mood, and can carry details and some information that helps comprehend the plot or setting. Admittedly, I come from a fantasy background, where prologue can do a great deal towards grasping the setting.
One of the problem is that prologues often don't feature the same characters, and it's like starting twice the same book. I can understand how that's hard, but I'm curious… isn't it the same as multiple Point of Views? So if we're to disregard prologues with that argument, shouldn't we be wary of books that demand we follow more than one character, even when they sometimes start it completely different part of the world?
I've always seen the prologue as an integral and essential part of the story that, unfortunately, doesn't fit with the rest of the narrative. An example of this is when you need to convey information about a past event. A prologue, where we see things happen, will always be more interesting than an infodump.
Prologues that raise more questions than they answer are also fun. It's a good way to hook your reader.
Cheers,
Claudie
Magdalena Munro says
I checked my personal library and noticed that the greats (Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Kafka, Joyce, Mann, and Hesse were a few I checked) did not use prologues. Post modern greats like Murakami and Mitchell also don't use them. I trust the masters on this one.
Simon Haynes says
I don't read prologues so I don't mind if they're included or not.
Most prologues just dump a ton of back story on you, discussing people and events I'm supposed to magically recall in chapter 15. Unfortunately I'll have forgotten most of the essential data by the middle of chapter one.
Far better to mention relevant people and events in chapter 13 or 14.
Jennifer says
Prologues usually take action from 3/4 of the way into the book and yank it to the front so it starts out "exciting," THEN we start the actual book and have no idea what is going on until we get 3/4 of the way through the book. I hate that.
The Zuccini says
Good writing being nonnegotiable,I choose option 4: It depends upon the book.
WhisperingWriter says
I don't mind prologues.
In my novel I don't have one but I do have an epilogue and I wasn't sure if that were strange or not.
So long as I enjoy reading the book, I don't care what it has.
k m kelly says
Don't like them. Generally don't bother reading them unless I get into the book and it's interesting. Then I might go back and read the prologue. I figure if it's important enough to be in the book, it belongs in the first chapter.
Marva says
Since I read all the blurbs at the front, the dedication, acknowledgements, and copyright page, why wouldn't I read the Prologue?
I've used prologues a couple of times, both describing something that occurred years before the events of the story. I didn't want the reader to get whiplash jumping from 1540 to 2010 from one chapter to the next.
Anonymous says
I don't see what the problem with prologues is. I actually rather like them, but really, I always just start with page one no matter what it's labeled. Chapter One, prologue, introduction, whatever, so long as it's interesting and well-written.
Anonymous says
Snobbery is the public face of insecurity.
90% of everything is crap. Just because you've never read a good prologue doesn't mean there's something flawed about prologues.
And vilifying the books that have them doesn't make your book any better.
alynnwise says
Talking about actual prologues and not Forward by SoandSo, I say they Rock the Casba! Unlike those lame Epilogues.
Prologues work by perspective. Everyone sees things their individual way. Finding out a whole different is part of the fun.
Epilogues kind of take away the reader's imagined continuation.
Lindsey Edwards says
I know of some novels that have beautiful prologues that supported the book beautifully. I think the key is to keep it short and make it interesting!
Jolene says
Only if it's brief.
Lindsey Edwards says
Um, yeah, I just realized I used beautiful twice! Just goes to show I love a good prologue! LoL
Sommer Leigh says
I love a good prologue and am pretty indifferent to bad ones. I don't really agree with hating them on principle…that doesn't seem to make sense to me.
Here's what I like about a good prologue: it's not back story that we could read somewhere else. It's another piece of story that you CAN'T get otherwise. It doesn't fit, but it's important. It could not be told by the main character if it were not told separately in the prologue. Those are the ones I like.
For example take China Mieville's Perdido Street Station. China is an amazing author, and he starts out this book with a killer prologue. I'm glad it was there and that someone wasn't like "Prologues suck, take it out." And I hope that when people read the book they don't skip that scene, because man, they'd be missing out.
wendy says
I remember when I once read a lot that I would flinch if I came to a prologue. It usually seemed a piece of writing devoid of anything interesting. So when I came to doing a prologue, I made sure to make the writing exceptional and the events full of magic sparkle and fantastic elements. As I was writing a novel focusing on fairy people, Magination, this was relatively easy to pull off. (Actually, it took tons of rewrites to get it how I wanted it.) This prologue was written in first tense and directly addressed the reader as if a character in the story. It was a part of the story which didn't involve the MC, but lead to the events of the first chapter. From then on, whenever I wrote a scene that didn't have the MC, I would make that scene similar to the prologue stylistically, although without addressing the reader.
mvs says
I don't mind prologues at all, but I feel that not EVERY book needs one.
Nick says
Usually a prologue is kinda boring, but if it's not too long then it's not super detrimental. Usually a prologue is just a way to have two intro chapters which take time to ramp up.Definitely don't put a boring chapter at the end of an earlier book series as the "sneak peak" to the next volume. I almost didn't continue a good series because of a sneak peak prologue.
Star-Dreamer says
I voted that it depends on how good the prologue is. I've read some pretty good ones, but I've also read some pretty bad ones… or ones that just don't seem nessisary. An example of a good one would have to be the prologue for "Eregon". I felt that it had just the right mix of action and info to keep the reader going, and it wasn't info that could be explained easily in the story. An example of one that is unnessisary would have to be from some of the Redwall Books: they're good books, granted, but half the time the prologues are just about an elder telling a youngster a story… and then the whole book ends up being the story.
For me, you use a prologue if you have important info that just can't be easily written into the story. In one of my books, I have such information; I tried to cut the prologue and write the info into the body of the manuscript, but it didn't work well at all. I tried to just cut the prologue period, but that didn't work either because it left the reader without some important information. So yes, I have a prologue, hopefully a well-written one. But usually I try to leave prologues alone and start with chapter 1. 🙂
Madeleine says
I went out on a limb and included a prologue in my book. I've gotten great feedback concerning that short-enough prologue, and I love it, so I'm keeping it. The passage is the sort of thing that would be difficult to incorporate into chapter one, so prologue it is, and prologue it shall remain.
Jan Rider Newman says
I voted against prologues. That said, I have read one or two I liked. But the majority of prologues annoy me.
cheekychook says
I think prologues, like everything else, can be great if they're written well. I've read some prologues that seem to have no real connection to story itself (I'd give an example, but I've blocked them out of my mind). They're jarring. Instead of pulling you more into the story they bring you out of it and leave you wonder "what was that all about?" I don't like those.
Other times a prologue sucks you right in, like the first words of story should, and when you get into the book you're glad that you know whatever it was that the prologue told you.
These comments show that some people are so opposed to prologues they won't even bother reading them, and I'd venture a guess that in general the people who read here are far more patient and avid readers than the general public, so a lot of prologues probably do go unread. That in itself can be reason not to go with one, particularly if you have a target audience would be among those more likely to skip it.
Regardless of whether you have a prologue or not your first chapter should still be strong, with a solid hook, and should stand alone. In other words a good prologue is there as a bonus for the people who bothered to read it. It's the literary equivalent of an "amuse-bouche"; you won't starve without it, you'll still enjoy the meal, but it's kinda nice that the chef decided to send it out to you while you're waiting for your real food to arrive.
Or maybe I'm just hungry.
Scott Marlowe says
Everyone always says don't do a prologue. Yet here I am reading Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb and it has a quite long prologue. I think it depends on the situation. Bottom line, though, it has to add to the story and be done right.
Mira says
Whoops. I don't usually re-post for typos, but I used the wrong words. 🙂
So, I remember your original post on this, Nathan, and I thought at the time you had a very good points about prologues needing to engage the reader twice, and how prologues make the reader work hard, so they may not be worth it. A prologue does give the reader a chance to put the book down twice.
Personally, I sort of sigh when I see a prologue.
So, I guess my feeling is a prologue needs to be done really well, and for a very good reason, otherwise, best not to use them.
Lisa says
I don't read them. That's awful isn't it. An author takes the time to write it, I buy the book, and skim over his/her words. I always feel guilty about it, but I ALWAYS skip it.
February Grace says
I don't care what you call it.
Make me care about your character(s) on page one.
If I love your character(s) I'll keep reading even if you call it your History to the Introduction of the Preamble and Explanation of All Past and/or Allusion to All Future Events: The Sequelogue
Just write well, drat it. Hang the headings, who cares. Amuse me!
Nicole says
I admit – I've never understood why people freak out over prologues. Whatever it's called, it's probably there for a reason. Granted, there are times when whatever is on page one has NO reason, but that's happened in first chapters too.
I don't care what you call it. It's there, it's done, and as long as it makes me want to read more, then more power to you.
Nicole says
P.S. Lyn I am with you COMPLETELY when it comes to flashbacks. Too many flashbacks make me want to shoot myself.
Ja'Nese Dixon says
I like them when they're short, sweet and punchy.
T. Anne says
I'm late to the party but I usually skim prologue's. Edgar Sawtelle has one so does the popular YA book Hush Hush. Those are the two I can think of off the top of my head that I've read in the last year with prologue's. Why is it such a sin for a newbie author? (not rhetorical 😉 And while I'm on the verge of a mild rant, I've also read a ton of books that 'tell' the story this year as well. I'll be nice to those authors and not name names. I don't mind the prologue at all though.