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?
23 Comments
Huh. This is tough because like you, I've heard all the arguments for and against prologues. I actually like them if there's a point = necessary point in history to understand the context of current events. I'm expecting Elizabeth is Red, and understanding the personal tragedy she endured helps the reader know why she's committed to hunting down zombies. I'm curious how/why she survived. Was her family the point of inception, is she the vector for spreading the contagion? It reads really nice. I've read stories where the prologue sets up the historical framing for the current dilemma and enjoyed them, but sometimes the prologues are so long it's jarring when the reader suddenly moves forward 100 years. I'm guessing that isn't the case with your work. I didn't get the feel the length was too great. As a reader, I'm committed to finding out what happened, why it happened, and what comes next.
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I say go for it! It sounds like you've thought it through, and in this case a prologue fits. I agree that sometimes they can be annoying/boring/unnecessary, but other times if you've got something great that sets a particular mood and gets the reader asking the right questions, I think they can be effective, sort of like the hook that grabs you and introduces you to a world before you get into its details and grit. I think they work well in the A Song of Ice and Fire Series, for instance. As a reader, I def read prologues and wouldn't skip over one, for what that's worth. Best of luck!
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8/19/2011 03:56:58 am
I read prologues, though I have read some that I ended up skimming because it was just bogged down backstory. I think prologues work when it covers an inciting incident that you can't tell from your MC's POV. I plan on having a short prologue for a future book in my series. I write in first person, and the inciting incident isn't something my MC witnesses.
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8/19/2011 04:59:51 am
This is a tough question to answer. I don't mind a prologue if it's really needed. I never skip them either.
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8/19/2011 05:49:11 am
Read your query and your prologue. I think you should go for it, but agree it is too long. Here's my suggestion.
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8/19/2011 06:06:55 am
Thanks so much guys (gals). I appreciate it. The feedback has been wonderful and the suggestions highly appreciated.
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Merry Farmer
8/19/2011 06:25:11 am
I'm with you on generally hating prologues but finding one necessary every once in a blue moon. And I do mean blue, blue moon. I've written several and scrapped them later. But one, only one, I've kept. That was because it depicts a crucial scene from my hero's childhood. Yep.
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8/19/2011 07:34:56 am
I think it totally is up to the story. Keeping in mind that some stories need them, most do not. Like everything in the craft, if it's absolutely essential, use it. If it is even a tiny bit superfluous, cut it out.
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8/19/2011 07:52:20 am
From what I can surmise, the prologue establishes that there are zombies, as well as some of the physics of zombies in this world: it's spread through bites and changes the person very quickly.
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8/19/2011 09:23:35 am
Angela, fun to read you as always.
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Aaron
8/19/2011 09:49:11 am
I know what you mean about prologues not working. In many cases they don't and should just be called Chapter 1. But, then there are those prologues that just wouldn't work as Chapter 1, and what are you to do with them?
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8/19/2011 11:48:11 am
Wow Angela - that prologue packs a lot of punch!
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Angela, You are right, most prologues should not be there. I think you should put yours in if you feel strongly about it, but it needs to:
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8/20/2011 08:53:58 am
I don't see anything wrong with them so long as it's a precursor to something that is going to happen and not one great big info dump. I wonder sometimes instead of using the naughty word 'prologue', why it's just not Chapter #1.
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8/21/2011 05:54:11 am
A tough one to make a decision on indeed. I think it depends on the context of the story, think of X-Men, in that movie the first sequence was of a concentration camp, which gave a sense of history and where it all began.
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8/21/2011 07:54:02 am
If its sole function is to set-up the story through preliminary foundational info (rather than taking a shortcut on current info that belongs in the story), and it's both critical and short, most readers will manage it.
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I read your prologue and boy was the writing riveting. But I don't like that I have so much invested in the girl only to have her succumb to the virus at the end. That pisses me off. I want to see her live, I want to see her survive. I feel cheated that she is going to die and I have to learn another character.
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8/22/2011 10:14:30 am
Great blog.
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