To Prologue or Not to Prologue

[worldismyne]

I'm a big sucker for writing prologues for longer fantasy stories (usually focusing on a different character that impacts the story later down the line). Something about showing the audience information like a chekhov's gun the character doesn't know about entertains me deeply (but no more than 800 words).

How do y'all feel about prologues?

 

[Worthy39]

Make it a poll, if it's a question you're asking. And for me, I like prologues, the people who don't like them don't normally just skip a story because of a prologue, they just skip the prologue chapter and read the first real chapter. I don't think there's any harm in doing one.

 

[TheKillingAlice]

I like Prologues. I also always have them in my stories.

 

[worldismyne]

Make it a poll, if it's a question you're asking. And for me, I like prologues, the people who don't like them don't normally just skip a story because of a prologue, they just skip the prologue chapter and read the first real chapter. I don't think there's any harm in doing one.

Polls are great for some situations, but I'm not looking for statistics. I'm looking for more nuanced answers like the one you gave.

But yeah, I always keep in mind some people will choose to skip the prologue when writing one. Genre plays a bit role too, which is why for romance stories, I skip writing a prologue altogether.

I like Prologues. I also always have them in my stories.

It's like a teaser for the book >:3

 

[Ellie_in_Pink]

For me, it depends on how it functions. There are plenty of stories that need a moment to get on their legs. The author starts on the ordinary in order to propel the story into the fantastical. Which is valid. But they want to show what the story is going to actually be like from the first page, so they put a little prologue to give us a taste for what is coming, before moving back to the mundane. Which I find is a great use of a prologue. Especially when we are given a proper little introduction to something really cool.

However, I don't often see prologues being used it that way. Usually, it's more like ... a snippet ... with no context. (Kanga,, a Tier-8 Roobian swung her sword, catching the Tier-7 leader of the Robinites in the crackaggles.) In those stories, I wish the author had just started from the beginning.

 

[Kurayami]

Prologue when the first chapter can't establish a tone or can't act as a hook.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Depending on the ultimate goal, prologues can make or break a story. Some people routinely ignore them, and some overuse them.
It's tough to give a general opinion on it.

Edit: In general, they work best if they're done more as a vignette (at least from what I understand of the stuff @Story_Marc is posting down in the Writing Tips area) than a "chapter" or a "short story"

 

[Amateur_Artist2008]

They're not bad, it ust depends on how they're used. If they're used to explain an event in a character's past that has influenced them in the story's present, or if it revealed more about that character, then I see no issue with them.

 

[JessicaDrew]

Just thinking of my most recent experience of the prologue which was reading the Wheel of Time. I was trying to invest, remember the character names and new terms being introduced. And then you have to reset and do it all again when the main story starts. So for me it feels a bit frustrating. Then by the time the prologue became relevant I’d forgotten the names and couldn’t relate it back. Luckily Wheel of Time has a glossary which is useful.

 

[SouthernMaiden]

No prologue. Just get into the story

 

[Lysander_Works]

What I've learned is that, the purpose it serves is important when done right. Authors (including myself), tend to treat them as a very vague and mysterious exposition designed to hook readers in. But it's often too easy to miss this target and overshoot for the overall theme and idea for how the book is supposed to feel at a certain point, where readers might instead, want more immediate action.

If you can do a prologue very well and hook it in, go for it. Otherwise, I recommend either, skipping it, or writing it in a manner that feels more like an actual chapter with action than a chapter of vague riddles.