To prologue or not to prologue.
That is the question that plagues my mind. Because, I’m thinking of doing it; I think I’m going to include a prologue in my current WIP.
*gasp*
I know. I am a professed prologue hater, never did much enjoy them, and most often skip them all together to get right into the meat of the story.
So why in the world am I doing this to myself? Why wouldn’t I simply take that bugger of a prologue and rename it “Chapter One,” like most writers do (like most writers are told to do)?
For me, here’s why: It doesn’t work as a first chapter. With my current query/book blurb, to use this prologue as a chapter one would be rather confusing and not to mention super odd. I’ve tried it. It’s just not right.
I’ve also tried dumping it from the book all together thinking maybe I could get away with not having it. I couldn’t. My alpha readers want it. They love it. They think it adds a sense of mystery to the story.
So what’s a writer to do?
I think I’m keeping it as a prologue. I think I am. I’m pretty sure I am. I don’t know.
I’ve been reading about prologues and have read the following posts: Why Prologues Often Don’t Work and also, To Prologue or Not to Prologue. Check them out. They offer great advice and reasons for and against the dreaded prologue.
Because let’s face it, most prologues don’t even need to be there. They are often times confusing, add nothing, and are simply a bandaid to cover up what is most likely a horribly written beginning. Most writers, especially newbies, don’t know where to begin their story. Thus the prologue crammed with backstory, strange prose, and a whole bunch of weirdness.
I don’t like prologues. I don’t. A great portion of them just don’t work. I get that.
Arg . . . (my frustrated pirate’s voice).
But gosh darn it (I’m from Utah and this is how we swear) I think I need this prologue. Not because I want it, but because I NEED it.
I also know I stand in great risk of writing an epic fail here, becoming another reason why you should never write a prologue. Few prologues actually work, and I realize the chips are stacked against me.
So, I think I’m going to do a brave thing here. I’m going to post my prologue it in a tab above (only posting it for a few days and then I'm removing it) and let you, my comrades, give me your opinion. It is still in the editing mode, it’s rough in nature so be patient and kind with me and its flaws.
But before you do, pop over to the Got Zombies tab and read my blurb. This way you can understand why this prologue won’t work as a chapter one--Who is this Trace guy you mention in the query/blurb and why isn’t he in this chapter? This author is weird.
Oh, and just so you know, this book is written in third person from both Trace’s and Red’s POV’s.
Anyway, your help is mucho appreciated.
What are your opinions on prologues? Like them? Hate them? Do you write them? Read them? Or are you a skipper over like me?
That is the question that plagues my mind. Because, I’m thinking of doing it; I think I’m going to include a prologue in my current WIP.
*gasp*
I know. I am a professed prologue hater, never did much enjoy them, and most often skip them all together to get right into the meat of the story.
So why in the world am I doing this to myself? Why wouldn’t I simply take that bugger of a prologue and rename it “Chapter One,” like most writers do (like most writers are told to do)?
For me, here’s why: It doesn’t work as a first chapter. With my current query/book blurb, to use this prologue as a chapter one would be rather confusing and not to mention super odd. I’ve tried it. It’s just not right.
I’ve also tried dumping it from the book all together thinking maybe I could get away with not having it. I couldn’t. My alpha readers want it. They love it. They think it adds a sense of mystery to the story.
So what’s a writer to do?
I think I’m keeping it as a prologue. I think I am. I’m pretty sure I am. I don’t know.
I’ve been reading about prologues and have read the following posts: Why Prologues Often Don’t Work and also, To Prologue or Not to Prologue. Check them out. They offer great advice and reasons for and against the dreaded prologue.
Because let’s face it, most prologues don’t even need to be there. They are often times confusing, add nothing, and are simply a bandaid to cover up what is most likely a horribly written beginning. Most writers, especially newbies, don’t know where to begin their story. Thus the prologue crammed with backstory, strange prose, and a whole bunch of weirdness.
I don’t like prologues. I don’t. A great portion of them just don’t work. I get that.
Arg . . . (my frustrated pirate’s voice).
But gosh darn it (I’m from Utah and this is how we swear) I think I need this prologue. Not because I want it, but because I NEED it.
I also know I stand in great risk of writing an epic fail here, becoming another reason why you should never write a prologue. Few prologues actually work, and I realize the chips are stacked against me.
So, I think I’m going to do a brave thing here. I’m going to post my prologue it in a tab above (only posting it for a few days and then I'm removing it) and let you, my comrades, give me your opinion. It is still in the editing mode, it’s rough in nature so be patient and kind with me and its flaws.
But before you do, pop over to the Got Zombies tab and read my blurb. This way you can understand why this prologue won’t work as a chapter one--Who is this Trace guy you mention in the query/blurb and why isn’t he in this chapter? This author is weird.
Oh, and just so you know, this book is written in third person from both Trace’s and Red’s POV’s.
Anyway, your help is mucho appreciated.
What are your opinions on prologues? Like them? Hate them? Do you write them? Read them? Or are you a skipper over like me?
