3 Reasons to Ditch Your Novels Prologue

3 Reasons to Ditch Your Novels Prologue 3 Reasons to Ditch Your Novels Prologue 3 Reasons to Ditch Your Novels Prologue By Maeve Maddox The prologue is a legitimate story-telling device, but many readers admit that when they see the word Prologue, they skip at once to the page that begins with the words Chapter One. Sometimes a prologue is the ideal way to present information essential to the readers understanding of the story. Mystery writers, for example, often begin with a prologue written from the killers point of view, or perhaps that of the killers first victim. On the other hand, such a scene can be written as Chapter One as Martha Grimes does it in The Dirty Duck. Writers of historical fiction may wish to provide background information to orient the reader in an unfamiliar period. Writers of fantasy or sci-fi may write a prologue to equip the reader with unfamiliar assumptions held by the inhabitants of the strange world theyre about to enter. Too often, however, what some writers call a prologue is undigested back story, mere scene-setting, or what should be Chapter One. Ditch your prologue if 1. it seems boring even to you and you can hardly wait to get to Chapter One. 2. its a lengthy narrative of back story that could more effectively be doled out in small bits as the story progresses. 3. all it does is create atmosphere without having much to do with the story. Reconsider that Prologue (Update: link no longer active) Prologues and Epilogues Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Types of Narrative ConflictThe Writing Process3 Types of Essays Are Models for Professional Writing Forms