You want to get the proverbial hook in right away to make readers want to keep reading. Don't think because you have a hook in the prologue that you don't also have to have one in the first chapter. Think of the prologue as a separate entity. A good general rule is that it should have all the components of a short story, except that no conflict is resolved. Make the length appropriate. You don't want the prologue to drag on for half the book. It should be an introduction to the main story.
Use it to set the mysterious tone for the novel. Limit the background information; there are other techniques that can be used to weave the history into the fabric of the novel. Don't dump too much on readers at the very beginning.
If you're having trouble deciding what to do, read other authors' prologues. There are so many styles to choose from, so reading what's been done before may give you a great idea for your own. Have you Read? Related Posts. How to Get Published Congratulations! You've completed the long, arduous task of writing a novel. You have an error-free manuscript, and we've helped you put together a winning query package.
It's time to send your baby out to seek its fame and fortune. Traditional publishing or self-publishing: which should you choose? Let us walk you through the advantages and disadvantages of each so that you can choose the best option for your book. Start by telling us who you are. English as a Second Language English is not my first language. Academic I need to have my journal article, dissertation, or term paper edited and proofread, or I need help with an admissions essay or proposal.
Author I have a novel, manuscript, play, or ebook. Business or Corporate I need editing and proofreading for my white papers, reports, manuals, press releases, marketing materials, and other business documents. Student I need to have my essay, project, assignment, or term paper edited and proofread. Personal I want to sound professional and to get hired. Some stories have two beginnings. The first beginning offers you a little pre-story or teaser called a prologue.
This snippet might only be one paragraph, or it may encompass several pages. For example, in Star Wars , the opening crawl prologue provides viewers with the conflict backstory for the fight of the rebels and the evil Galactic Empire. Other important functions of a prologue include:. Explore the importance of a prologue by looking at several famous examples. From classics to modern stories , see how each works with the novel.
In Romeo and Juliet , Shakespeare sets the stage for the viewers by telling us about the Capulets and the Montagues. Readers are prepared for a tragic love story. Come forward. Come in from the summer heat and the flies. Come in from that assault on all senses, that pummelling of rod and cone and drum and cilia.
Come in from the great spotlight of the sun, sweeping across the white sands, making everyone, and therefore no one, a star. Come inside and meet the prologue…. Catherynne takes a unique approach with her prologue. In Radiance , she intrigues the readers through her prologue, enticing them to relax and enjoy the story. But there be bad and good, as the pirates say. Take September, a bad month: school begins.
Something Wicked This Way Comes provides an interesting look into the point-of-view the novel will take. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish and unkind.
Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart. Once upon a time In a far-off kingdom There lay a small village At the edge of the woods. The opening scene of Into the Woods is a prologue. This prologue helps the audience quickly understand the issues the characters are facing.
A prologue tells you what happened before the main story; an epilogue tells you what happened after. Sometimes, for example, a movie will end by showing various characters on screen and telling you what happened to them: this character is in prison, this character got married and is living in Montana, etc. Epilogues put a cap on the story and give readers a sense of closure. A prologue sets the stage and lets readers know how things got the way they are. More often, this information is explained later on as the story progresses.
The Terminator HD Intro. Into the Woods: Stephen Sondheim. List of Terms Action. Ad Hominem. Alter Ego. APA Citation. Comic Relief.
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