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| Tips & Advice Share your tips, tricks and advice. |
04-07-2008, 09:37 PM
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#1
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Addict
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Gateway to Death Valley
Gender: Male
Posts: 151
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What are Alternatives to a Prologue?
The title says it all. I am curious about this for my current book. I know prologues are common but that is one of the reasons I'd like to try something different. The only other things I can think of his a journal entry or a prophecy (which I am not looking to do). Please let me know if you have any other suggestions. Thanks and I appreciate it.
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Faithful Until Death
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04-07-2008, 11:11 PM
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#2
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Ink Slinger
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: AmbientArtists
Gender: Private
Posts: 3,634
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Appendices... though that doesn't seem to be what you are looking for.
If you want to give the reader information outside of the novel itself, you're pretty much stuck with something that reads like a prologue. Some writers have also used poetry at the beginning of sections, as well as excerpts from books and treatises.
Alternatively, you could just drop the idea of a pre-story section altogether, and dive right in.
To give really constructive suggestions, one would have to see the story.
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04-08-2008, 12:24 AM
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South-east UK
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,500
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The alternative is don't write one.
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04-08-2008, 12:31 AM
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#4
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Wordsmith
Join Date: May 2007
Location: On islands
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,961
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Or write one, but keep it to yourself.
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04-08-2008, 02:41 AM
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#5
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Mentor
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Location, Location
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,926
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Prologues aren't all that common really--except in the kind of fantasy trilogy that contains elves, a dark lord and a Quest for the Magic Wossname.
Just start with Chapter 1.
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Born naked, helpless, unable to care for himself and completely open-minded, Non Serviam has subsequently surmounted all these difficulties and gone on to become a decently-clothed, self-sufficient, close-minded sod.
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04-08-2008, 03:38 AM
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#6
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Ink Slinger
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Crossmaglen, Ireland.
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,920
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As Serv has said, prologues are unnecessary (thanks for that, NS!). There's no reason why you can't have a first chapter instead of a prologue.
Sam.
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04-08-2008, 07:12 AM
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#7
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Aug 2007
Gender: Female
Posts: 439
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Non Serviam
Prologues aren't all that common really--except in the kind of fantasy trilogy that contains elves, a dark lord and a Quest for the Magic Wossname.
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And the ancient slumbering evil, just awakened, that can only be defeated by a callow youth.
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I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalog: "No good in a bed, but fine against a wall." --- Eleanor Roosevelt
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04-08-2008, 03:35 PM
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#8
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Addict
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Gateway to Death Valley
Gender: Male
Posts: 151
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Thanks for the suggestions. I appreciate it.
__________________
Faithful Until Death
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04-08-2008, 04:13 PM
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#9
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Ink Slinger
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Out in the bush, Queensland, Australia, far from the madding crowd
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,468
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Winchester
As Serv has said, prologues are unnecessary (thanks for that, NS!). There's no reason why you can't have a first chapter instead of a prologue.
Sam.
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Umm . . . how about where your main story starts in, say, 2010, or 2000, or 1990, and much of what happens is caused by something way, way back in time? How does gentle reader learn this without a prologue?
For example, how about a psychotic murderer whose deed is caused by something that occurred in the murderer’s infancy?
F*ck, but you have annoying ways. Here’s me trying to write my book and being derailed by reading nonsense like this. Maybe you’ll learn. I sure hope so. |
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04-08-2008, 04:38 PM
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#10
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Ink Slinger
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Crossmaglen, Ireland.
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,920
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Hi, Ox, when you take the time to bother posting a ridiculous "Fare Thee Well" crap thread, and make a big deal about leaving the site behind to tackle your brilliant novel, the least you could do is stay away for more then a few days! But I see you lack the self-restraint to do even that.
"Prologue" is just a word. A simple word. There's no reason why you can't start chapter one "July 1990" and then move on to the main part of your story in the next chapter. You show me a rule that says you can't.
And if you're so pressed for time to write this stupid book, how about you stay the f**k off the forum? No one asked you to come back. Certainly not me.
Sam.
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04-08-2008, 05:25 PM
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#11
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Aug 2007
Gender: Female
Posts: 439
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Esteemed Ox and Esteemed Sam, (placed in that order for alphabetical purposes)
We get it. You two annoy each other. Ever considered putting each other on "ignore"?
No? Oh well, just a thought.
Regards,
Rose
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I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalog: "No good in a bed, but fine against a wall." --- Eleanor Roosevelt
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04-09-2008, 09:57 PM
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#12
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Writer
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Soap Lake, WA
Gender: Female
Posts: 34
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What about having a "flashback" scene -- then it's not a prologue but does give the necessary background you might need.
Judith
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04-09-2008, 11:02 PM
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#13
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,414
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But, flashbacks can also be put in prologue, as well.
Don't let anyone tell you how to write.
If you want to write prologues, then write them; if you don't--don't. It's your fucking story. Why do you let someone else dictate you how to write?
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04-09-2008, 11:38 PM
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#14
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Mentor
Join Date: Jun 2003
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,491
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My kneejerk reaction to Prologue's isn't pretty. Write one if you want, then once you're done your project assess whether you need it or not.
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His sins were scarlet, but his books were read.
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04-11-2008, 12:20 AM
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#15
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Addict
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 149
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It didn't even cross my mind to write a prologue for my book. Of course it depends on what type of book it is and whether one is relevant or not to your story.
Why is it you think you need one?
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