Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Prologues

This is topic Prologues in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :

Just out of curiosity, what do you guys think about prologues? When are they useful and what should they be used for? (Or, if you have an example of a bad use, that would be good too.)

Posted by Doc Brown (Member # 1118) on :

A lot of great books have prologues, including Speaker for the Dead. I think they can serve a useful purpose of filling in some background info. But they can be tedious, too. If you write Chapter One but call it Prologue, your readers may think you are being snooty.

Posted by GZ (Member # 1374) on :

I think prologues are most useful for filling in some select bits of critical background info that happened prior to the story that cannot be worked into the main narrative without making the story come to a full stop.

There is something to be said for keeping Prologues short (I’m thinking 1-3 pages here). Otherwise, it either starts feeling too much like chapter 1 or an extended info dump.

Posted by cvgurau (Member # 1345) on :

OSC says that Prologues are most often not needed, and I agree, most of the times. Sometimes, though, there's no way you can start your story--and have it make sense--without a prolgue.

But what do I know?

Chris

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

If I remember correctly, TIGANA, by Guy Gavriel Kay, has a prologue which shows stuff that happens years before the events that start with the first chapter.

The prologue of TIGANA is probably not terribly necessary to the book as a whole, but it helps to set up one of the most effective and horrific revelations I have ever encountered in a story.

I read the book years ago, and it still packs a whallop.

Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :

I guess what I was really wondering is whether or not information that a reader needs to know should be put in a prologue. I've got a chapter that occurs many years before any of the rest of the action. It's important to set up the story. I've tried putting it in dreams and flashbacks but it loses power, and honestly, it's a good attention getting opener. I've relabelled it chapter 1 and prologue several times, and I'm not sure which it should be. Does anyone have any ideas?

Posted by Balthasar (Member # 5399) on :

Unless you're writing an episodic novel (Willa Cather, Death Comes for the Archbishop) or a multi-character epic (Stephen King, The Stand), the first few chapters should be a tight as possible. Thus, it seems to me, that essential backstory that doesn't fit elsewhere should be put in a prologue. Of course, try to keep the prologue as short as possible so the reader doesn't get overwhelmed by it. For a example of an excessively long prologue, read the prologue of Robert Jordan's The Eye of the World.

Posted by James Maxey (Member # 1335) on :

In general I dislike prologues, which makes it ironic that I wound up having to put one on my upcoming novel Nobody Gets the Girl. It's a science fiction novel, but set in present times, and the first chapter has about ten pages of the character living his life before the first real SF element comes on screen. I felt that the first ten pages were very important, since I wanted the readers to feel like they knew and understood the character before I completely destroy his life mid-way through the first chapter. The editor kept pushing me to open with some sort of dramatic SF event in the first paragraph to "grab" the reader. I thought my opening was effective, and opening with the SF meant that I would then have to tell the main character's life story in flashback, a technique I dislike. So the compromise we arrived at was a prologue that focused on the villian of the novel. It's short, only three pages, and it does serve the purpose of alerting the reader of what the main action of the novel is going to be about more effectively than my original opening did. In a bit of shameless self-promotion here I'll point out that the prologue and first chapter are available at www.nobodygetsthegirl.com, so you can judge for yourself whether I should have stayed with my first opening or not.

--James

Posted by teddyrux (Member # 1595) on :

I hate prologues. I agree with OSC. They're unnecessary in most cases. I usually skip them when they're included. Sometimes I read them after I've read the story, and for me, the prologue doesn't add anything significant to the story.

After I'm a multi NYT Bestseller and my novels have prologues in them, you have permission to remind me what I just said about them. :}

Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :

In a novel I've been working on for a while (I shelved the project after completing first draft and will return to it when I feel up to the complete rewrite it needs...) I have ~1000 words before the main characters are introduced, telling the story of the discovery of a new solar system that will later be colonised by the main characters. I've considered it as a prologue, but to be honest I think it works OK as just a section of chapter 1 - I then show the protagonist reading about the events to introduce him and a couple of other characters that are close to him, then cut to chapter 2.

I think that works OK, but if I couldn't have worked the protagonist in to that along the way (say because there was a large gap of time before he became involved in any way), I wouldn't have been able to do that and I guess that a prologue would have been more appropriate in that case.

I think the real answer is - as long as it hooks the reader, it probably doesn't matter _that_ much. A long expository prologue can be tedious and turn a reader off before they get to the start of the story. But if the prologue is interesting by itself then I think its fine. My sort-of-prologue forms a complete subplot by itself, so I reckon it should be interesting enough. If my memory serves, the one mentioned above from Speaker also is a complete subplot (I think it tells the story of the beginning of Novinha's career up to the point where she restricts access to her files - is that right?).

Posted by Alias (Member # 1645) on :

I am writing a story which I feel needs a prologue.

To give an example:
I have an event that occurs, it's kind of an illegal execution of a science team, which is done as a way of the Government in my milieu to "Erase the evidence" when things went wrong. However one character survives and with his own life rescues data that is vital to the rest of the plot. Also it is clear to the reader that he was considered dead, and the data destroyed. This takes place a score of years before the actual story.

When reading this as a prologue, the way I have written it, it is very unclear to the reader who is who, and what is going on. When the story finally gets rolling it isn't until very deep that they are reminded of what happened in the prologue, and they finally get an upclose and personal look as to who was who. So suddenly everything clicks, but until then it might be a source of confusion. Though I hope not.

Do you think a prologue is still the best solution?

Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :

Well, Alice, if I could answer your question I could answer my own

I've got a similiar situation, a scene taking lpace year earlier than the rest of the story. Technically, the main character is n it, but she's just a baby so it's not from her point of view.

From what I've read, I'm wondering if this is the answer:

Do people always read prologues? Because if not, then the answer to both Alice and myself is that our information needs to be in chapter 1.

I'm thinking that people don't always read the prologue. I guess what people expect in a prologue is a few pages of boring background material that could, technically be skipped and they would enjoy the story just as well. Although I have to say I haven't found this to be true about all prologues I've read in the past. They seem to vary widely.

What I'd really like to know is the common thread that makes them all prologue material instead of chapter 1 material.

Posted by nellievrolyk (Member # 1616) on :

I always read the prologue, if there is one. With the price I pay for a paperback I read every word to get my money's worth.

I'm also a person who even finds exposition a neat thing to read.

In the latest rewrite of the novel I'm writing, I have a two paragraph prologue sitting at the top of chapter one -or what counts as chapter one as it isn't labelled as such.

Posted by Alias (Member # 1645) on :

When I reformatted my novel to enrich the story it called for a lot more evnts to occur 20 years before the actual story. There are quite a number of them, to the point where it would almost make the prologue ridiculously long. What point is ridiculously long? and what is the most tactful way of "skipping years ahead" in the storyline, especially if you need to change POV's?

Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :

When is a prologue too long? When it starts to get boring...

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

Jules is right. If a prologue starts to get boring (i.e. not arousing the readers' interest) it is too long.

To many writers think that the prologue is just a free "data dump" area. This is simply not so. A prologue is a portion of the narrative that is set apart from the following chapters by narrative style, POV, or other narrative qualities. It should not be set apart by being deadly dull.

I've actually said this all before in Introducing major conflict.

quote:
I am fond of "artificial transmitted document" and "unconventional POV" prologues. I despise "uh, hi i'm a newbie author and there's some stuff i thought you should know about my backstory before you start reading" prologues. Partly because if the author doesn't know how to present background information in an interesting manner, it means either that the background itself is deadly boring and incoherent or (inclusive or, probably meaning and) the author is unable to present even information important to the narrative in an interesting manner. Which means that at every point in the story where an event of narrative importance occurs, you are likely to be treated to an out of character exposition lump rather than an interesting story.
So I never skip prologues. I read them, and decide whether I want to risk wasting my time on the rest of the book
....(a prologue and epilogue are only exempted from the rules of structureal unity imposed on the rest of the chapters--whatever those rules may be).

I may have also discussed prologues in other places. The central point is that a prologue is useful when it is interesting in and of itself, and develops interest in the narrative that you unfold in the main body of the novel. In any other case it is worthless (or worse), because the sort of person that reads prologues will stop reading if the prologue fails to be interesting in and of itself as well as develop interest in the main story.

I have actually put down a book more than two-thirds of the way through because it became clear that the resolution of the story would have nothing to do with the prologue. Admittedly, the rest of the story was embarrassingly bad, so I was really only continuing to read because of the payoff promised implicitly in the prologue, but I just slapped that book down and have never said a good word about it or the author to anyone since (at least while I was reading it, I claimed that the basic premise seemed interesting).

Posted by Alias (Member # 1645) on :

quote:
Jules is right. If a prologue starts to get boring (i.e. not arousing the readers' interest) it is too long.

Isn't this true about books in general? (oh well just my opinion, ignore it)

So in my setting I have plenty to keep the reader interested, but it's all set apart from the main story by time and POV. It equals to being chapters long though. Should I still have a 2-6 chapter long prologue? It's interesting, all of it, but it's long.

Posted by Rahl22 (Member # 1411) on :

That to me seems to be far too long for a prologue. Nothing, however, immediately presents itself to me about what you should do instead.

Perhaps break the book into sections, of which this would be the first. Or maybe you simply want to start the book at the beginning of the prologue. It's ok to switch POV's, within reason, throughout the book.

Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :

What I've done right now is just have my early stuff in chapter one. (It's respectable length, probably too long for a chapter.) I think it's interesting, it's certainly full of action. Then chapter 2 starts with the line "42 years later..."

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

You could divide the narrative into "books", although 6 chapters might be on the short side for that trick.

For now, I suggest that you just give it a name and leave aside the question of whether it should be a prologue.

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

Another approach might be to start the book with what is happening now, and then, at various places along the "now" narrative, insert "then" chapters.

In fact, you could even call them "NOW: Chapter 0ne" and "THEN: Chapter One" or some such in order to make it clear where in the timeline they are.

As long as they are clearly marked, interesting, and provide helpful information to the reader, the reader should have no problem with them.

As a personal preference, though, I would like to ask that you not insert any of them after a chapter with a cliff-hanger ending. I would, as a reader, tend to skip such chapters and maybe go back and read them later. That may not be what others advise, but I am not a huge fan of cliff-hanger-ending chapters in any case. Chapters that follow cliff-hanger endings and don't resolve the cliff hanger (as in "meanwhile, back at the ranch" chapters) tend to make me throw the book across the room.

Posted by JK (Member # 654) on :

quote:
Then chapter 2 starts with the line "42 years later..."

Gah! Sorry, but I just hate that line, wherever it may be. True, it won't stop me reading the story, but you will have to work harder to get me back on your side.

In my not so humble opinion, a prologue should only be present if it begins the story. If it's there to fill me in on some vital background, it had better be a single event that is the catalyst for this story. If it's a recounting of history from two hundred years before, yawn. If there's too much info too relay in more than three or four pages, then it should be in the main text. Let me know as and when I need to know. If the info is interesting (and it should be), have some characters talk about it when it becomes relevant. That way, you can have a POV character's take on the past events or what-have-you; that way the reader now knows the info and a little more about the POV character's attitudes. Two for one.

quote:
Should I still have a 2-6 chapter long prologue? It's interesting, all of it, but it's long.

First question you need to ask yourself is: is it only interesting to you? Will it bore a reader? I'm fascinated by the mythologies and day-to-day rituals and history I'm creating for my world. But I know that most of it would bore people who aren't me. It's tough, but some babies have to be left in the blue folder marked "backstory".

If you think it is interesting enough to be included, then two to six chapters is not a prologue. That's far too long. Perhaps a mini-story? POV, dialogue and all? I'm trying to think of an example (I know I've seen it done somewhere before), but I forget. Sorry.

I think that's enough from me, now.

Posted by mikehammond (Member # 1667) on :

quote:
Should I still have a 2-6 chapter long prologue? It's interesting, all of it, but it's long.

I don't think 2-6 chapters counts as a prologue. I'm pretty sure the definition of a prologue excludes that. In fact, let me pull up the definition right now...

pro·logue also pro·log n.
1. An introduction or preface, especially a poem recited to introduce a play.
2. An introduction or introductory chapter, as to a novel.
3. An introductory act, event, or period.
(dictionary.com)

I wouldn't try to label anything over one chapter as a prologue. Just make it the first few chapters of the novel, and utilize your excellent writing skills to make the transition work.

Another thing you might want to try is having your novel composed of multiple books, like some of the classic authors used to do. (I'm pretty sure Dickens did this quite a bit. Well, I know he did it at least once anyway.) The contents page would say "Book the First: whatever" and then some chapters and then "Book the Seconds: whatever" and then more chapters. If I remember correctly there were often time gaps or other such stuff between the "books," and the chapter numbering started over with each new book, which might feel more natural in your case. Maybe it wouldn't work, but you might think about trying it.

-MH

Posted by Alias (Member # 1645) on :

I intend to try it, though the only very clear place to seperate books is when the time transition occurs. I do not wish to make a book long prologue, and I do not wish to sound rough or, as one said "cheesy", by skipping abruptly ahead during narration. So I am at a loss, other than seperating the passages into books. Which creates another difficulty, after the transition everything flows together smoothly. So I would be cutting books out in odd, unnecessary places. For it would be inconsistant to have a 2-6 chapter long book, and then a 20 chapter long book both in the same novel, with nothing else.

So it is an enigma. Some have said to not be trepedatious about starting a new chapter with "twenty-years later" but I find I do not like those transitions, personally, so I prefer not to write one. I also don't wish to summarize or reduce the material that is said in the 2-6 chapter "introduction."

Any other opinions?

[This message has been edited by Alias (edited July 09, 2003).]

Posted by Lord Darkstorm (Member # 1610) on :

I am working on a story now which starts with the parents of the main character. I racked my brain for how to start with the main character and have something exciting happening. I had a couple ok ideas, but none of them appealed to me. So I decided to start with an event which would be more exciting and fill in desperately needed background information.

So far I have a good start and even one of the people I work with who is not a sci-fi/fantasy reader took an interest. Although it still needs more work it has been a good start.

I think if you work it well and don't go too long then just call it chapter 1 and be happy. If need be place more importants on the main character that will surface later in the story.

Posted by EricJamesStone (Member # 1681) on :

I always read prologues. (Although, if the prologue is in verse, I'll barely skim it.) I think prologues that give the reader a character and action -- as if it were an actual story -- are very readable and enjoyable. In fact, if the first few chapters are going to be a portrayal of the fairly boring normal lives of the people who are going to be caught up in the exciting events that finally begin on page 103, then a prologue with some action in it gives me more patience with the "real" beginning of the novel.

I believe that if you're going to have a chapter in a different POV that is not used the rest of the novel, it's better to make that a prologue rather than chapter one. The fact that it's a prologue signals that the rest of the book is not necessarily going to be about that time, place, and character, so it won't be jarring to shift to "forty-two years later."

I liked the prologue to the first Wheel of Time book. It was a very different setting and character from what was coming in chapter one, was a story in itself (to some extent) and it gave me enough curiosity to keep going through the rather slow beginning.

However, the prologue to the tenth book in the series is well over 100 pages, and as far as I can tell there was nothing to distinguish the scenes in the prologue from the scenes in the rest of the book. No major change in time, and the POV's and settings in the prologue are also used throughout the rest of the novel. There was no reason to make it a prologue instead of just chapter one.