Readers: Opinions about prologues

[Sara]

I've been wondering how other people feel about prologues. Do you, as a reader, like them? Hate them? Indifferent? Would love some insight on other people's opinions.

Thanks for reading. :)

[Bree]

I've always felt that a prologue was a good way to give a little background on what happened before the start of the story or to foretell what's to come.

I've found, on numerous google searches, workshops, and classes, that some authors/editors think they are a terrible idea, saying that readers just skip over them. There is also the question of why couldn't the 'prologue' just be 'chapter one'?

I admit that when I see PROLOGUE at the top of the page, I read it with a little attitude because I do kind of feel that it's keeping me from starting the actually story. But that's only when it's a few pages long, bordering on a short chapter. But if you give me a page or two - or something shorter - then I don't mind because it sets the tone of what I should/could expect from the story, and the shortness of it is kind of.... suspenseful.

[Joel]

Personally, I'm a bigger fan of the 'Chapter 1' approach.

[Sara]

Thanks, guys. :)

[J.T.]

Joel wrote: "Personally, I'm a bigger fan of the 'Chapter 1' approach."

I agree, Joe. While I sometimes don't mind a prologue, I have to ask - if you need a prologue, have you actually started the book in the right place? They are generally used to give some background to the story. My opinion is all background should be a natural part of the story anyway.

[Marina]

I like to have a Prologue if there's back story that needs to be covered. It's better that having action stop dead for exposition in the body of the book.

Especially if the Prologue takes place long before the main story, putting it in Chapter One just wouldn't feel right.

[Sherri]

In know the "experts" are putting Prologues and Epilogues in the "thou shalt not" category, but personally I like them. I feel it gives the book great "bookends" to set up and wrap up the story. It's my trademark in all of my books and frankly, I'm going to keep doing it as long as it works for me.

That being said, I believe they should be brief. If you go much past 2 pages, you need to eliminate it and integrate it into the story. The purpose of prologues is to give a quick, exciting set up, and the purpose of an epilogue is to give a fast follow up to the conclusion so you can see it's bigger effect "down the road" (and to throw in the surprise ending or red herring to shock your reader).