_edited.png)
Description:
Prologues can be a double-edged sword—while writers may love them, readers often don't. This episode explores why prologues are often criticized and might do more harm than good, offering insights on when to avoid them and how to execute them effectively if your story truly needs one.
Listen
To Prologue or Not to Prologue
You are listening to The Novel Writing Podcast, episode 140. I'm your host, Colleen Mitchell. Grab a cup, cozy up, and let's get to writing!
Introduction: The Prologue Debate
Today’s episode is the companion to episode 138, To Epilogue or Not to Epilogue. As I mentioned then, both epilogues and prologues are often criticized as “pseudo-chapters.” Essentially, they are chapters at the start or end of a book, but their contents might not directly impact or be necessary to the main plot.
Prologues, in particular, tend to receive more criticism, especially given their popularity in genres like fantasy. Despite their prevalence, they often serve no real purpose beyond presenting backstory that could be integrated into the main plot. While I have a soft spot for well-executed epilogues, prologues need to be truly magnificent to win me over.
The Problems with Prologues
The real issues with prologues are manifold:
Character Disconnect: They often feature characters who aren’t central to the main story.
Time Gaps: Prologues can cover periods long before the main story begins, making them feel disconnected.
Weave the Information: The information or exposition in a prologue can usually be woven into the main story.
Cool But Unnecessary: Prologues sometimes feel like excuses to present cool pre-story information that doesn’t need to be there.
Delays the Start: They can delay the reader from getting to the real chapter 1, where the story actually begins.
If you decide to use a prologue, remember that you’re essentially writing two first chapters, and both need to hook the reader effectively.
A Cautionary Tale: When a Prologue Falls Flat
Let me share a personal example. About a year ago, I started reading a novel with a prologue and ended up not finishing the book. The prologue was in third-person, focusing on an older man watching his grandson on a racetrack. It then head-hopped to the grandson’s perspective without warning—a literary sin that didn’t help my emotional investment in the story.
But what really killed the book for me was when chapter 1 began in first-person from yet another character’s perspective, with no connection to the prologue. This lack of connection is a common pitfall. If your prologue doesn’t tie into the main plot early on, you risk losing your readers.
The Reader's Journey: From Cover to Chapter 1
Consider how readers discover your book. In a bookstore, their first introduction is either the title on the spine or the cover, followed by the blurb on the back. If the blurb hooks them, they’ll likely open the book to read a few pages. The same process applies online, where readers browse covers and read descriptions before using the “look inside” feature.
If you start with a prologue, you might repel some readers right off the bat. And if you do hook them with the prologue, you then need to hook them again with chapter 1. That’s a lot of pressure when you could just start with a strong first chapter.
To Prologue or Not to Prologue?
My advice? If you can avoid using a prologue, do so. They are often unnecessary and can do more harm than good. Instead, try to weave any relevant information into the main story.
Writers often like the idea of a prologue as a way to present extra pre-story information. But from the reader’s perspective—the person who validates your work by buying it—they want to be drawn into a story and suspend their disbelief. If your prologue puts them in one world and chapter 1 yanks them into another, you’ve broken that promise.
Even Game of Thrones could have cut the prologue. Published in 1996, it catered to a generation of readers more forgiving of prologues. However, that prologue was relevant, setting up and introducing elements used almost immediately in chapter 1.
If you still want to write a prologue, go for it. But be open to feedback from critique partners, editors, and beta readers if they feel it doesn’t fit.
Conclusion: What's Your Take?
So, what’s your take? Do you like prologues? Hate them? I’d love to hear your thoughts through our new texting option in the description.
That’s it for today’s episode! If you found this helpful, I’d appreciate it if you left a rating or review on your platform of choice. While it doesn’t do much for me, it helps other writers find this podcast.
Thanks for joining me, and remember, the first draft is supposed to be garbage!
Show Notes
Dive into the first episode of the Novel Writing Podcast with your host Colleen and her sometimes-guest Halie Fewkes Damewood! Here, we give you the gist of who we are, what we do, and what you can expect from this podcast.
What to do next…
Halie & Colleen are both authors! Find their books below:
Secrets of the Tally, by Halie Fewkes Damewood
The Chronicles of Talahm, by Colleen Mitchell
Comments