mwd

A well written opening is a good way to hook the reader. I don't think it matters much if it's a prologue, or chapter one, or whatever. I see your point though, that prologues *can* hook the reader and *can* be useful. They can also not be. It depends. At the end of the day, chapter headings don't count for much. Prose counts. The writing counts.

S1E9A8N5

When your story doesn't begin with your main character, does that mean that it should either be integrated into the story or considered a prologue? Or can you begin your story not starting with the main character?

Because my story doesn't begin with the main character. I was going to make it a prologue but I'm not sure.

Sean

fictionwriter

Absolutely. Just make it chapter 1. When the reader sees that new chapter starting, or even when they see a mid-chapter break of some kind, they know that they're about to get a different point of view.

S1E9A8N5

Thanks.

Sean

bob rulz

I know exactly how to integrate it into the story, at least, on the story I'm writing at the moment. I'm keeping it a prologue for now, since I'm not planning on anybody reading it again anytime soon, and it's not like it's ever going to be of publishable quality or anything like that. However, I'm starting to think that that's the reason it only got 1 response when I posted it in the critique forum a while back.

wis3on3

i never use a prologue, i think they are a waste of time, but i sometimes read them, if it is short.
i usually merge it into the story, sattered around, but i write in 1st person now...

cryptika

I had a prologue but I scrapped it and integrated the necessary info into chapter one. I think it's considerably stronger this way.

Lord Raiden

Overall I'd suggest only writing a prologue on a story if there's a need to have a teaser at the start of the book. I've done that on a few of my books, but not others. Clive Cussler does it brilliantly and uses it to setup the story. I've used it as a teaser to hint at something farther down in the book to keep the reading going until they find what the teaser was about. By then they've hit about 2/3rds of the book already and will likely keep going to the end at that point. They're also good for laying out some basic history, backstory, or something else that would be awekward to add into the novel once it gets started. It's especially good in situations like that where the reader has to be somewhat up to speed as soon as they step into chapter one so that they're not lost by all that's going on. But overall, if you can avoid using them, I advice it.

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NANCYEC46

Hi I am new here, so I may sound stupid. writing a novel about the house with the open doors, and I have been trying to research introductions vs prologues and forwards. what is the difference? can you tell me, or do I need to look on the internet? publisher likes the idea, but I have to finish the story. had 6 chapters written, then went blank and have no introduction? any advice? thanks

John61480

I used a prologue in my novel because of a time gap between what happens.

It would make absolutely no sense if I changed my prologue into chapter 1 because of the many years taking place. The later chapter would read as if it took place right after, confusing the reader.

So I don't think if you started chapter 1 with a large enough time gap before chaper 2, that it would make sense. You would have to take immediacy from the writing style by giving "information" in the beginning of chapter 2 to say: many years passed— or something equally ridiculous when the point is to drag the reader in the first few chapters. Later in the book is fine for small transitions in time (a few hours, days, a week even), but skipping around with years would be better served in the beginning, rather than in the middle of the novel.

Just my observation and opinion.

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cbrmale

John61480,
I believe that you are correct in using a prologue where there is a large time difference between the introduction and the body of the story. I don't think readers or publishers will have a problem with this.

Dawnstorm

With forwards, I think you may mean "Forewords". Else, I have no idea what you're talking about.

The difference between a foreword/introduction (I think the words are synonymous) and a prologue is that the prologue is part of the novel, but the foreword isn't. A prologue may contain exposition, historic episodes, a frame story (often: frame story [prologue] - story - frame story [epilogue]), or such things. A foreword usually has instructions on how to read the novel in question, autobiographical stuff about the writing of the novel, things like that.

Of course, there are "Forewords" out there which pretend to be "forewords", but are actually "prologues" (i.e. part of the fiction). For example, Michael Moorcock writes about how he received and researched the manuscript by the protagonist (a first-person-tale) that he's now "publishing". It's part of the game; technically, a prologue but nominally an "introduction" (I just checked; "introduction" is the word used in [i]The Laughter of Carthage[i]).

But, as a rule of thumb:

Prologue: Part of the novel
Foreword/Introduction: Author talking about the Novel

NANCYEC46

Sorry about the spelling in forewords. I did say I was new at this. I've had a diversified life and lived in a lot of places and it was suggested that I write my experiences in a fiction novel. I could have researched the difference, but I wanted to hear what the forum thought it should be. Of course, if anyone has any ideas to help me get this project done, I am welcome to suggestions. I wrote 6 chapters about 8 years ago when I was in the military, and never finished it. So, i have a lot of work to do. Where is the best place to start?

Omnisu

I plan on going back and writing a prolouge to my nanowrimo novel. It'll probably be only two or three pages long, and it takes place about two years before the novel proper, which manages to cram itself into a measly three days.

No, it doesn't make any sense as chapter 1.

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bob rulz

Okay, I think I'll leave mine as a prologue. The prologue actually takes place a full 16 years before the rest of the story, and after taking people's advice, it seems the best path to take.