Is Your Prologue Necessary?

[Story_Marc]

I so need to decrease the pause between some words when working in Descript. But that aside, I tackle prologues in this one and I realized I should start making diagnostic flow charts and decision trees to help people navigate decisions with writing better.

 

[DireBadger]

The answer is simple: 'sometimes'.
If you have a situation where the entire premise of the book changes from the intro, and where that premise is almost a completely separate sub-story, then yes... for instance, I had a character from another world, whose world got destroyed. Her biology, world, and basic understanding were utterly alien, and then she arrived as a human with zero understanding of humanity. In that case, a prologue chapter with the 'mini story' of her world's destruction is absolutely critical. I could make it chapter 1, but it's self-contained.


Basically, it all comes down to the artist's touch and the needs of the story. I have read some prologues even by successful authors that were absolutely awful digressions that ruined the book, but some (like Fred Saberhagen's) that were NECESSARY for the story.

But, in general, prologues suck when the writing sucks.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

I've reviewed a number of prologues and first chapters, and I've seen instances where the prologue could actually fit into the first chapter, with a little exposition, dialogue, maybe some scenery. If your prologue isn't telling a complete story, I honestly think it's safe to chuck it. That's how I see it.

 

[Story_Marc]

The "sometimes" thing is the reason why I'm starting to make diagnostic flow charts and decision trees. I feel it's too vague and I'm hoping to give concrete means to navigate these things.

 

[Eldoria]

In classic novels (those dusty papers in the corner of the library), a prologue isn't necessary because the synopsis already contains the story's moral premise. Readers already know the rough outline of the novel from the synopsis alone. But in the web novel era, a prologue is almost essential as a hook for new readers and can even determine whether a novel will be popular or not. Unless you already have a large fan base, even without a prologue, your novel will still be read by your fans.

 

[DireBadger]

In classic novels (those dusty papers in the corner of the library), a prologue isn't necessary because the synopsis already contains the story's moral premise. Readers already know the rough outline of the novel from the synopsis alone. But in the web novel era, a prologue is almost essential as a hook for new readers and can even determine whether a novel will be popular or not. Unless you already have a large fan base, even without a prologue, your novel will still be read by your fans.

Hehe, yeah, webnovels sort of broke me of the habit of reading the blurb for a novel. Now I look at tags, and if they match, I start reading. If I am 'surprise raped' by the writer with something massive that is not in the tags, I give it a crappy rating. But seriously, hunt through the actual synopsis on half of the webnovels, and it's complete baloney, poor advertising, or childish ranting.

As a result, a short prologue that ACTUALLY talks about the novel or helps things get started off is both helpful and gratifying.

Pro tip- ranting about people stealing your books on the title page is not going to stop them from stealing it, it's just going to piss off your readers. I don't care how mad you get. To you, it is an unalloyed horror; to the thieves? it's a tuesday.

Heck, Chinese 'market writers' (and people who, mysteriously, are trying to SOUND like Chinese market writers) will give you more of a synopsis in the title than in the actual synopsis.