How important are they? I always read them and the outside cover of a book before I purchase it. But I have found in doing research that they aren't important. Which is it? I mean why write them if they won't be read?
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
That is the question.
I read prologues. If the prologue isn't well written, if it's boring, or really cliche, or whatever...then I don't read the rest of the book.
Some people skip them, because they believe that all prologues are boring and cliche.
Of course, some people read the last page first. You can't write based on what "some people" are going to do once they get ahold of your book. Some people will build a little shrine with your back jacket picture in a tiny golden frame surrounded by oddly coloured candles, and will sacrifice kittens to your image while engaging in rituals too grotesque to be described (meaning worse than the part about sacrificing kittens) at the appointed time (usually determined by some combination of the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun).
I'm not comparing people who skip prologues to that, I'm just saying, you shouldn't assume that people are going to do anything with your book other than reading it, front to back. Writers write to be read by readers.
If you write a prologue, write it to be read. That's all I'm saying.
Posted by Susannaj4 (Member # 3189) on :
rofl. Thanks.
Posted by cvgurau (Member # 1345) on :
Well put, Survivor.
Posted by arriki (Member # 3079) on :
It seems to me...that the best prologues (are NOT italicized!!!) relate something, usually some incident, removed in time/location/characters-involved from the main section of the story but which informs the reader so that the reader can better understand what is going on. In a thriller this is usually the murder or other dastardly act being perpetrated.
If the prologue is merely historical information or other real or made-up fact, then it better be written in an entertaining way.
My opinion, of course.
[This message has been edited by arriki (edited January 29, 2006).]
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
I second or third (whatever) Survivor. If you write a prologue you have entered into a social contract with the reader, to the effect that you are asking them to read something other than the story itself, thus implying that there is a good reason for it.
Don't break that contract.
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
There are those who've pulled it off, but, probably, most novels are better off without a prologue. If it's part of the story, even if it's a "facts concerning this story" kind, then it's really the de facto Chapter One however it's listed and numbered and it doesn't matter what it's called. If it's a "here's what I wrote" nonfiction account of things, you can skip it easily.
Posted by HSO (Member # 2056) on :
quote: Some people will build a little shrine with your back jacket picture in a tiny golden frame surrounded by oddly coloured candles, and will sacrifice kittens to your image while engaging in rituals too grotesque to be described (meaning worse than the part about sacrificing kittens) at the appointed time (usually determined by some combination of the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun).
Have you been spying on me, Survivor? By the way, with Saturn in opposition, more kittens are required. Mauve-orange candles are also preferred
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
Not you in particular, I just skimmed the summaries of a few sessions from the most recent "Culti-con" and interpolated a bit (and yes, most of my interpolation had to do with those "too grotesque to be described" bits).
Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :
I skip prologues. OSC advises against them: you start a story that lasts for a few pages, and then you start another one. (If it's the same story, you could call the prologue "chapter 1" and have done with it.)
Exceptions I can think of: sequels, in which we need a synopsis of the story so far.