How do you write prologues?

[Drewby]

How do you write your prologues?

Do you just spit out all sorts of information, like the entire history leading up to the story. Or do you leave some loose ends to grab the reader and plunge him into the story.

I am thinking of adding a prologue to my current WIP, but not quite sure how to do it. Personally, I don't enjoy reading prologues that are just information to set up the rest of the story, it seems like a chore you have to do before getting to the good stuff. But if I were to make the prologue some tidbits of info and throw in some mystery (make it sound more like something you would read on the back cover or the inside flap, the summary), do you think that would be more enjoyable?

 

[Bardos]

Usually, I don't make prologues.

But, when I do write one, then I use it to set the mood for the story, to show the readers where they really stand and what is the 'place' around them. Nor do I make prologues more than 1000 words.

I never use prologue as a teaser: a dark unknown someone who gets sttabed in the back; an archdemon who roars that he'll take over the world; a great volcano erupting -- you get the idea, I think. This is the oldest trick in the book, and my opinion is that it should be avoided, if possible, and replaced with something really interesting. Apart from a few fan boys, I don't think that a serious reader is to be atracted (sp?) by that kind of staff.

 

[mistri]

I like interesting prologues that read much as the actually story would. I don't like prologues that read as dry history or exposition - I tend not to read them fully, and this can cause problems later on.

I've thought about using prologues, but so far, the two fantasy novels I've worked on just haven't seemed to need one.

I did write a prologue to something about ten years ago (I was thirteen) when I was writing a story about adult twins and needed to show what happened when they were born, but that's the only time I can think on.

Don't write a prologue if it doesn't feel right for the story, or doesn't add anything of value to it - but if it does, then go for it!

 

[OgreWolf]

When I write prologues I usually it might not mean anything in itself. Most often it presents a mystery which is important later in the story (which is the whole point of a prologue, I think). I find that I seldom name any characters, usually to make the reader think later in the story "maybe that's him", then you can make another character a possible 'suspect', and confuse the reader to some extent, and you can surprise him/her later on.
A prologue should also try to catch the readers attention, make him/her want to read on.
Prologues are also usefull to set up the story and events without using you main characters, and events that does not really involve your caracters. If you write a chapter about a new character, the reader most often expect that character to pop up from now and then, but in a prologue it is not necessarily so.

 

[Richardb]

I use the prolog to set up the conflict, but generally offer it as a slice of action and story, not history. I deal with history within the novel itself generally, either embedded in dialog or as a separate chapter integrated into the overal story. I think that a history lesson in the form of a prolog can turn the reader off, as they are seeking to get engaged in story right away.

 

[milamber_reborn]

I think the only time I would use a prologue is if I'm presenting a viewpoint or situation not involving the main character, like Martin's Game of Thrones. With my first chapters I plunge straight in. Not necessarily into action, but there's no need to deluge a reader with details right off the bat.

 

[juzzza]

I love using prologues.

I like to think of them as a snapshot of what is to come. Not so much setting the scene, I would never use it to bring the reader up to speed with the history of my world, but I might use it to grab their attention and make them want to read more. Sometimes I use it to 'showcase' an important character.

I think the best prologue I have ever written, centres around two men sitting in a tavern having a dialogue. Through their conversation I set the scene for my world. Sounds boring I know, but it worked.

Some writers use the prologue like the first five minutes of a movie, you know the bit before the credits. Think the opening sequence of any bond movie.

G R R Martin offers a good one in aGoT, introducing 'The Others' and keeps you waiting an age before bringing them back into the tale.

Gemmell is great at using prologues.

By the way, sometimes it is good to write the prologue last. Once you have completed your tale, you can then come up with something that really grabs the reader as you know exactly how the entire tale unfolds.

 

[Lucky Joe]

Originally posted by juzzza

By the way, sometimes it is good to write the prologue last. Once you have completed your tale, you can then come up with something that really grabs the reader as you know exactly how the entire tale unfolds.

I couldn't agree more, in fact that's exactly what i did in my last book, the prologue was only 3 pages long but - i believe - it introduced the story perfectly giving you an idea of what you were about to read without giving anything major away, hopefully creating the desire to keep reading.

 

[Jude]

I bounce back and forth on whether to write a prolouge or not. My concern of such is whether the reader will read it. I know in my own reading, I've often skipped it just to get to the story.

 

[OgreWolf]

You sometimes skip the prologue?!!?!? Preposterous!! (I'm not being ironic)
Blasphemy

 

[Stewart]

Prologues... bah!

Prologues are just a way for writers to be lazy so the reader knows everything right at the start, that way they don't have to go through the more difficult process of revealing everything gradually in a way that grips the reader. My advice, don't write prologues.

 

[Lucky Joe]

If you've come across authors who seem to be using a prologue as a way of getting out of some hard work later on my advice would be don't read that author at all they're obviously not that good at what they do.

However I think it's ridiculous to suggest that that is the only purpose of a prologue, done well a prologue can add an extra dimension to a story, it's like everything, it only works if it's done well.

And as for skipping the prologue why would you do that? You're reading the book to share the authors ideas and adventures, the prologue is as integral a part of those ideas as anything else in the book, to me that makes about as much sense as saying I never read chapter 13, that's such an unlucky chapter!

 

[IaNo]

ok, this may really have nothing to do with prologues, but it reminded me of it. What's up with the page before the actual story that has an excert from the story on it. Do you know what I mean? Does that have a name or a reason? I find it in a lot of published works and can't for the life of me figure out why it's put there. It's usually not even a particularly interesting part of the story. Is that considered a prologue? Is that what you folks are talking about? If that is, well, then I hate them and find them annoying and useless, but I don't think that's what you're talking about. please let me know though. I always assumed those were something put in by the publisher and not the author.

 

[juzzza]

Originally posted by Lucky Joe

However I think it's ridiculous to suggest that that is the only purpose of a prologue, done well a prologue can add an extra dimension to a story, it's like everything, it only works if it's done well.

And as for skipping the prologue why would you do that? You're reading the book to share the authors ideas and adventures, the prologue is as integral a part of those ideas as anything else in the book, to me that makes about as much sense as saying I never read chapter 13, that's such an unlucky chapter!

I absolutely agree, I have never read a prologue that ruined the story to come or that came across as the author being lazy!!! No author in their right mind would write a prologue which did not add something to their story and as for skipping it all together?!?

 

[Lucky Joe]

IaNo; you're thinking of excerpts, this is a passage that is taken from the body of the book - and it usually seems to be at random - and i agree there really doesn't seem to be much point in putting it there, I finding it a bit irritating too.

But to answer your question, no it's not the prologue, the prologue is more of a prelude to the actually story and usually - though not always - sets the scene whether it be with a piece of history, or some other information that doesn't fit in at the begining of the story but needs to be known fairly early on.

 

[Susan Boulton]

In all my writing I have only ever used a prologue once. Not sure if it works or not this is it:

Prologue

A raven raised its head and for a second locked its cold gaze on the dull orb struggling over the eastern horizon. But the bird soon forgot the emerging day and returned its attention to the reason it was in this place.

The ebb and flow of the previous day’s battle had turned the autumn tinted valley into a charnel house. Many had fallen; they lay in scattered groups stacked up against one another like winter kindling.

A shroud of morning mist now hung over the landscape, its delicate wisps softening the brutal edge of the battlefield. Under this coverlet shadowy figures moved, but not all of them with good intent.


The best prologue I have read is this. Its by Janny Wurts and is at the beginning of " The Curse of the Mistwraith". After the prologue she plunges you into the aftermath of a sea battle!!

The Wars of Light and Shadow were fought during the third age of Athera, the most troubled and strife-filled era recorded in all of history. At that time Arithon, called Master of Shadow, battled the Lord of Light through five centuries of bloody and bitter conflict. If the canons of the religion founded during that period are reliable, the Lord of Light was divinity incarnate, and the Master of Shadow a servent of evil, spinner of dark powers. Temple archives attest with grandioquent force to be the sole arbiters of truth.

Yet contrary evidence supports a claim that the Master was unjustly aligned with evil. Fragments of manscript survive which expose the entire religion of Light as a fraud, and award Arithon the attributes of saint and mystic instead.

Because the factual account lay hopelessly entangled between legend and theology, sages in the seventh age meditated upon the acient past, and recalled through visions the events as they happened. Contrary to all expectation, the conflict did not begin on the council stair of Etarra, nor even on the soil of Athera itself; instead the visions started upon the wide oceans of the splinter world Dascen Elur.

This is the chronicle the sages recovered. Let each who reads determine the good and evil for himself.