Prologues - Writers Forum

bob rulz · 08-27-2006, 01:04 AM

Well, I always write prologues to my story. It essentially is the event that kick-starts the story and is action-packed and intense (or at least, I try to make it that way). It also deals with one of the key plot points of the story. However, recently I have been thinking; when people see "prologue" do they just think of some long info-dump that unloads tons of backstory on you? I've heard about people just skipping over prologues or just seeing them as an instant turnoff by assuming that it's just one long piece of info-dumping. I treat it and write it just as a normal part of the book, essentially just as a short first chapter.

However, is the "prologues are just long infodumps" view a common one? Or even if it isn't a common view is there any other reason why people wouldn't bother reading a prologue? If it is, then if I want people to read that particular piece of work, should I just forget about writing one completely and integrate it into my first chapter?

Thanks for any help in advance.

Dookie · 08-27-2006, 04:51 AM

Well when I open a book and see "prologue" or "introduction" I just see it as a big information dump and tend to skip over it. It's been like this from the beginning of literary history. Look at Shakespeare for example, all of his plays have introductions that last about twenty pages in non-play form, ever read one? No, you go straight to the play. I'd say this is a common view. Hope I helped, as always, please try to help in return.

Nickie · 08-27-2006, 05:21 AM

Bob, when I was younger I also wrote prologues to my full lenght novels. I was of a mind that this was really important to the storyline.
But later on, on re-writing one of these earlier books in another language (Dutch, as where the original work was in English) I left out the prologue and got the into offered there directly into the story itself. Those readers who saw the two different versions told me they liked the latter one better. (Maybe also because I added extra chapters?)

Nickie

Mike C · 08-27-2006, 06:27 AM

If I see a prologue I'll put the book back on the shelf and move on or, if I already own the book, skip it and cut to the story.

Prologues are usually the lazy or inept writer's way of imparting huge chunks of superfluity.

fictionwriter · 08-27-2006, 08:42 AM

I don't necessarily mind prologues, if used properly. It sounds like your prologues should usually just be "Chapter 1". You should really only be using it if there's a long time lapse between that 'intro' part and the first chapter. Or maybe even if there's a big gap in the plot between that intro and the rest of the novel. But don't use it if that prologue and chapter 1 are basically hapenning at the same time. And don't use it if all your doing is changing the charachter point-of-view.

k3ng · 08-27-2006, 11:16 AM

I use my prologues differently. Most of the time I use dialogues in my prologue. I try to write something that will be related in the much further future in the book. I try to get my readers to read the prologue and then read further to see how the prologue fits into the story.

CroZ · 08-27-2006, 11:22 AM

Turn the prologue into chapter one.
Try leaving many unanswered questions, like, is there a demonic ritual? Maybe you could have a main character partaking in the ritual.

Randatos · 08-27-2006, 12:06 PM

Or turn the prologue into chapter 0. If it doesn't follow one of the main characters, having the first chapter follow this random person would seem slightly strange, at least to me.

I'm one who skips prologues aswell. Sometimes, usually after reading the book, I'll go back in and check it out, but I'll only actually read it if it's interesting.

Banzai · 08-27-2006, 12:52 PM

I tend to do the same as you; write a more action based prologue as an introductory first chapter. I would definitey say that they weren't infodumps, but I do tend to be a little kinder to the reader and more informative. However, when I began writing my current story, I later found that my 'prologue' was almost identical in writing style to all of my other chapters, so I renamed it "chapter 1". So I would say, don't steer clear of the using a prologue just because of the label (I personally see a prologue as indicative of a better thought out plot, and thus a better story; not always the case I know, but I do think it is correct quite frequently). But equally, do not write a prologue urely for the sake of it; lest your readers think you're just trying to mimic other great books. Hope you find this little spiel helpful.

bob rulz · 08-27-2006, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

If I see a prologue I'll put the book back on the shelf and move on or, if I already own the book, skip it and cut to the story.

Prologues are usually the lazy or inept writer's way of imparting huge chunks of superfluity.

That's the problem...it's not "huge chunks of superfluity" as you say. It's written the same as the rest of the book and they usually actually reveal very little information to the reader.

Either way, I think Mike C's comment was enough to show me that no matter what the prologue is actually about a lot of people will just skip over it. Most of the time it's an event that occurs a long time before the main plotline begins that serves as a key event to the story, and then you see how it ties into it in the future. Maybe I will simply integrate it into Chapter 1. What fictionwriter says applies to me, though, due to the huge time difference between them, so now I'm not sure if I should write it as a prologue in that case.

Mike C · 08-27-2006, 05:11 PM

Integration is best, if you expect people to read it. It might just improve the story too.

suzakugaiden · 08-29-2006, 01:28 AM

A prologue is an info-dump insofar as it contains an infodump.

Personally I like to have several prologues at arbitrary intervals, and they may or may not contain relevant story details, or infodumps, or text.

aspiring · 08-29-2006, 05:24 AM

I don't mind prologues. I think they can be good or bad, and aren't necessarily always infodumps.

My YA novel has a prologue. However it is only one page and contains a 'stream of consciousness' from the main character as she is about half way through the book. So the prologue is actually a teaser, rather than any kind of back story.

Neither my agent nor my editor has suggested that I take it out.

KyleColorado · 08-29-2006, 03:52 PM

I guess it's really preference. But as you can see, many people skip over prologues.

I'm beginning to view a prologue as evidence of weak writing, in that the author uses it as a crutch to enhance his plot with a disjointed scene. It makes me think he isn't confident enough in his writing to figure out how to integrate it into the story. Isn't that what makes for good writing: the author's ability to weave a good story? A prologue right away hints to me that the author can't do that well..

As a reader, I think that authors write prologues because they feel like their chapter 1 isn't good enough. Literary make-up, if you will.

imrhati · 08-29-2006, 04:26 PM

a prologue is a good way to hook the reader.

i once wrote a prologue where it followed the MC's father through a battle and ended as the MC was born.