Prologues: The Untold Story!

There is a lot of debate as to whether a book needs a prologue or not, and it's the writer's decision, if they want one, then they'll write it, and if not, then they won't... that's simple. However, there are some people who will be like "no, I don't like prologues, EVER!" similarly, people who go "yeah, I love prologues" << I'm that person. I do like prologues, but only when they're used properly.



So it was around today that I finished Lumen last year, and I'm now really annoyed at myself because I haven't self-published it yet, and I've been writing other things and not wanting to read over it. NOW it's almost done and it will soon be released! Don't forget to add Lumen to your Goodreads 'to-read' list.



I mentioned Lumen just then because I wrote a prologue to that. If you want to read it: Prologue, Lumen! I know that if you're ever in doubt then you should just cut it out, but I feel like I need to keep this in because it's what the story came from, THIS is what the rest of the story formed from... I'm just in doubt as to whether the book needs it. But then again, who's to say what a book NEEDS.



Let's start with what the word 'prologue' actually means. You can't write one until you understand one. Prologue (Greek πρόλογος prologos, from the word pro (before) and lógos, word). It's basically the information that you give before a story, it can give background information, which you need, especially if you're setting the book in some completely different world etc. or something has happened to society which you feel the reader would benefit from knowing before the reader starts reading. It could also have something to do with the main plot, or sub-plot.



I've created a bit of a rant-like list thing, where I'm going to say "why you should" and "why you shouldn't" so then you'll know if you're doing it for the right reason or not... in my opinion, obviously.



Why & When You Should Use One




1. To pack in some action and make the reader want to read more!

2. Because it gives something away, but not too much that it could have been explained in the first couple of chapters.

3. Use it to show an even from the past. It doesn't have to be directly linked to the first couple of chapters at all. It could be something where the questions you had from the prologue are answered right at the end, making way for the second book.

4. Like the above, use a prologue to hint at some SUPER EVIL VILLAIN WHO WANTS TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD! Muahahaha!




Why & When You Shouldn't Use One


1. Don't use it as a huge back story for your characters etc. you're not allowed to do it in Chapter 1 and you're most certainly not allowed to do it in the bloody prologue.

2. NEVER take a paragraph or two from the middle of the book and call it the prologue. You'll only make your reader feel cheated when they read it later on in the book. I have felt cheated (unhappy face).

3. If it doesn't add anything to your story. (Although sometimes I'd like to disagree with this, because it's your story, if you like it, and you want it, then have it, you are after all writing for yourself --- WELL YOU SHOULD BE!)




To prologue, or not to prologue?

Do you have any tips you'd like to share?


-Joseph

(I hope this helps. I hope you can understand what I'm saying, sometimes I can go off on weird tangents.)




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