Welcome Guest Blogger Allison Brennan --and Happy Birthday Allison!!
Prologues
I was shocked to learn a few years back that some people don’t read prologues.
Why on earth would someone intentionally skip the beginning of the story? I always assume that the prologue is there because the author had a reason for writing it. There’s information in the prologue that I, as the reader, need to fully enjoy and understand the story.
Perhaps some of these readers got burned by a prologue that had nothing to do with the story. Or, the prologue revealed information they didn’t want to know at that point in time. But why would they skip all prologues on general principles?
There are some prologues that are bad, but off the top of my head, I can’t honestly think of a bad prologue in a published novel.
There are some mistakes (at least, I think they’re mistakes—another editor may find them brilliant) I’ve seen in contests. I’ve seen a prologue that is a completely different tone than the first chapter. In this instance, the prologue is usually dark and suspenseful and the first chapter is light and witty. Or, I’ve seen prologues that are essentially a first chapter with a lot of action and highly suspenseful, and the first chapter is rather drawn out and boring and focused on backstory.
When I was unpublished and entering contests, I entered The Hunt in the Daphne. One judge did not like this entry at all and scored me low across the board. I had included both the prologue (three pages) and first chapter (twelve pages.) (ASIDE: I now suggest that contest entrants not include a prologue with their entry—the first chapter is usually a much better entry. Kristin Nelson mentioned this on her blog a month or so ago.)
The judge told me that readers didn’t like prologues and that I should incorporate my prologue into the story either in dialogue or internal thought. Hmm, no. I intentionally wrote the prologue to show what my heroine had gone through twelve years before because I felt it was more powerful to SHOW the reader the scene than have the heroine bring it up later. First, it wasn’t something she’d talk about; second, the memory would be filtered by time, healing, and experience; and finally, it’s far more vivid to see the scene—where she watches her best friend shot in the back and she’s running for her life—in “real time” than later. I also had another reason: Miranda is very unlikable in the first couple chapters. I wanted the readers to cut her some slack and know WHY she was so angry and upset when another girl is found dead.
Not ALL prologues are mistakes. Suzanne Brockmann comes to mind as a master of the prologue. She sets up her characters so well. The prologue for Sam’s story is one of the best, and it stands out after all these years. In Roxanne St. Claire’s newest Bullet Catcher trilogy, her prologue sets up the connecting mystery and is brilliant. Sure, you can skip it—but the story is much richer if you read it.
I have my own “rules” about prologues. They should be shorter than a traditional chapter (10 pages or less) and should be a point in the past that directly relates to one of the main characters (hero, heroine or villain) and shows the reader something important, even if the reader doesn’t know it at the time. The prologue should show motivation or conflict or provide a clue to the mystery that follows.
I have a prologue in all my books. I wrote one book without a prologue, and my editor asked me to add one.
In Playing Dead (the last book of my prison break trilogy, on sale . . . tomorrow!) the prologue provides important information about the villains. It doesn’t all come together and make sense until later in the story, but when it does, the reader should be able to feel a sense of completion between the prologue and the ending. And because I don’t get into my villain’s head until later in the story, having the prologue from his POV shows the threat.
In my nine published novels, I have five prologues in the villain’s POV; three in the heroine; and one in a victim. My novella has a prologue—my editor asked me to include it—which is in the hero’s POV. I can’t imagine cutting any of them, though I’ll admit some are more intricately linked to the overall story than the others.
Sometimes, the prologue saves my butt.
I was revising my April 09 release, Sudden Death, and the last hundred pages were not working. I couldn’t find a plausible way to put my smart, savvy, and capable FBI Agent heroine into a specific situation. My original idea fell flat, as my editor pointed out (and I knew, but didn’t know how to fix it.) I thought on it for several days, my deadline getting closer, my panicking. Then I remembered the prologue and realized that I had the solution all along. Not only did it work, it was foreshadowed. Sometimes, I surprise even myself!
Thanks so much to Samantha and the other gals here at LIAEC for having me here today, which is also my birthday. I’m giving THREE commenters books—any book from my backlist, winner’s choice.
So I ask you: What do you think of prologues? Do you read them? Skip them? Do you remember a book where the prologue stood out as being exceptional?
And because I guess this is sort of a blog tour for me (of sorts) I’m posting my Playing Dead book trailer for your (hopeful!) enjoyment.
Happy Birthday Allison
A GREAT BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!
Great book trailer. I always read the prologues in a book. It kind of lets me for see what the book is about. Sometimes it just a good little start into that books. So yes I do enjoy them.
Have a great Birthday!!!
Thanks Sam! And you know, I
Thanks Sam! And you know, I meant to add one thing to my post but forgot :) . . . Because people sometimes don't read prologues, I actually try to write two first "hook" sentences--Sometimes they're the hardest of the book!
Allison Brennan
PLAYING DEAD 9.30.08
Happy Birthday Allison!
Welcome! And what a great blog on Prologues. I have to admit, I'm pretty surprised that readers would skip any part of any book. I read everything from copyright pages to the last page or inside back cover.
I never found prologues to be useful in category, though I have seen them done well, and actually just wrote my first one for a Blaze that is perhaps unusual in it's scope. Tawny, Karen Foley, Lisa Renee Jones and myself are writing a 4-book mini-series where in the prologues and epilogues of each book tell a different story --a mini-romance for a different character, but this character has an impact on the main heroine of the actual book. It's kind of cool -though coordinating 4 prologues and epilogues has been interesting. ;)
I also wrote a prologue for the first book in my mystery series (being shopped now, fingers crossed), as part of the revision -- in the near-final draft, I knew I had too much narrative in the first chapter, and it was interrupting the action, so I realized I could more powerfully show what happened ten years before these events in a short prologue -- I think it's only 4 pages -- but it does it's job, and made the first chapter much tighter.
So I think Prologues can absolutely have a purpose. I have seen some that misfired as well, though hopefully not in print.
Have a great day!
Sam
What an ambitious project
What an ambitious project for a continuity series! Good luck . . . on that and your mystery :)
Allison Brennan
PLAYING DEAD 9.30.08
Prologues
Hi Allison and Happy Birthday.
Interesting subject re prologues. There seems to be 2 camps with writers - the doers and the no-way-nevers. I've heard quite a few experienced authors talk on this subject and they all have an opinion - usually quite vehement. One of my most favourite authors in the world, Jenny Crusie is a definite absolutely not-er. I heard SEP talk in SF and she said that the longer she wrote the less need she saw for them.
Personally as a reader and maybe its just me being lazy, I'll read the book any damn way the author wants to give it to me. And I certainly wouldn't skip it!!!
As a writer, I have written them but not always. Depends on a lot of things that you already outlined. So I pretty much sit on the fence.
But definitely, I agree - not too long. Might as well just call it Chapter 1...
I tried not to write one
I tried not to write one once, and my editor asked for it. In fact, she even had the scene she wanted to see "live" and not as a memory of the character. It was only three pages, but it scared the living daylights out of my best friend who wouldn't read the book after that . . . I suppose that's a good thing in the long run!
Allison Brennan
PLAYING DEAD 9.30.08
Happy Birthday Allison!
Happy Birthday Allison! Hope you have a great day.
I like prologues. They intrigue me and make me want to read more. I never skip them.
Well, I'll admit, my
Well, I'll admit, my birthday could be a little better. I practically begged my family to pick-up the house yesterday because today (Monday) I have the housekeeper come in. I just wanted the clothes/toys/stuff picked up off the floor and put away. That's it. Hmm, didn't happen (except my boys picked up the playroom this morning when I guilted them into it.) I hate cleaning. HATE IT. And I spent two hours picking up. If everyone had done their own room, I would have had only like 30 minutes in the kitchen and bathrooms and my office. Grrr.
Glad you don't skip the prologues. I'm with you, they've always intrigued me.
Allison Brennan
PLAYING DEAD 9.30.08
Happy Birthday!
Allison- I always read the prologue. And, in fact, the dedications as well. I think they're fun and sometimes give insight to the author. I've heard that some people skip prologues or don't like them - but never figured out how the book would be the same without it.
For a series, when the prologue of every book is the same, yes I can understand that. (Though I always read it anyway - just maybe less carefully). Maybe some people think all prologues are thus?
I hadn't thought of it that
I hadn't thought of it that way, but maybe you're right. I didn't know there were books where the prologue was always the same or similar! I also read everything--copyright, how many printings, dedication, acknowledgments . . . .
Allison Brennan
PLAYING DEAD 9.30.08
Always!
Hi, Allison,
I can't imagine skipping a prologue--often the writer's setting up the story there, or giving some important backstory, or providing a peek into the character's choices later, or SOMETHING! I don't recall having read one that was meaningless. That said, I'm blanking at the moment on exceptional prologues :)
Hope you're enjoying an extremely happy birthday!! Any cake?
We're going to BJs for
We're going to BJs for dinner tonight. It's a small chain here and I love their margaritas :) . . . they don't do cake, but they have this thing called a pazookie. A chocolate chip cookie baked in a small tin with a scoop of vanilla on top. One of the best things in the world . . . I'm not a big sweet eater (my downfall is margaritas) but I do love the pazookies!
Allison Brennan
PLAYING DEAD 9.30.08
Yum!
We've been to BJs, and the kids--no, all of us!--love the pazookies! Mmmm! Have a fabulous time!!
Happy Birthday to another Libran!!
Many happy returns of the day!
I can't think of any prologues that are exceptional (aside from Suz Brockmann and you already mentioned hers). I can tell you some prologues that didn't work for me:
Stephenie Meyer's prologues in her Twilight series. I never could figure out how they related to the rest of the book nor could I figure out exactly who the prologues involved.
Unless they take place in the past (hers didn't), the prologue generally shows up again sometime in the book. The situation that was originally referred to so you understand how it all came together. I never found those moments in her books.
I was left scratching my head.
I take that back. I did figure it out in the second book (Eclipse?) but not the others.
I always read the prologue. I sometimes wish, however, that I didn't read the epilogue. There have been times where I don't want to see how the author tidied things up because it doesn't go quite the same way I had envisioned. And I like my ending better!
In one of Elizabeth Lowell's books, she posted an epilogue that talked about the generations continuing. Which should have been a nice thought but it just brought home to me that the characters I had invested so much time in were now probably dead. I didn't like that.
ani
Ani, you bring up a great
Ani, you bring up a great point that I never actually thought about, but agree wholeheartedly--epilogues. I don't like epilogues, either. I don't think I've ever written one. I have written short last chapters with a heading "two weeks later" or "one month later" which I use when there has to be a passage of time for some reason and I need to wrap a few things up. But I don't want to go too far into the future with the characters. I would hope that the reader will believe that the hero and heroine are together years from now, but I don't particularly want to see where they are. What if I want to bring them into another story? What if I take a secondary character and kill them off down the road, but they're in this epilogue three books ago and I'm stuck? It's also a little too neat for my taste. And it's like looking into the future. Maybe if I were writing an historical or something, I might write an epilogue at the end of a trilogy or series.
Allison Brennan
PLAYING DEAD 9.30.08
Happy Birthday Allison!
I hope you have a great day and congratulations on your new book. I always read prologues. I guess that every once in a while I didn't need to but I have found that they almost always add to the story by setting up some vital piece of information.
Happy Birthday! I always
Happy Birthday!
I always read the prologue. A lot of times it gives you an insight into a character you wouldn't have otherwise.
Hi Allison
Happy Birthday!
I love prolgues and wouldn't dream of skipping one. To me, they are a happy bonus, and when I open a book and find one, I usually read it to get the feel of the book.
That said, I've yet to have a prologue in a book. Before I was published, my one shot at a prologue was so much like one you just described that I had to stop and think about whether or not I'd entered it in a contest. (I hadn't.) My prologue was dark and exciting and had action. My first chapter was long and drawn out and loaded with back story. I've learned so much since then. And when the editor I'd submitted to mentioned that the prologue was good, but the first chapter was slow, I had an "aha" momment! Oh--editors like action. Cool! My next book was my first sale.
Jeannie
Playing Dead
Happy Birthday Allison. Congrats on the release of "Playing Dead." I like prologues and always read them. Judith E. French does a great job with prologues. In her current book, the prologue takes us to a case the heroine was investigating a few years ago. The prologue sets the stage for the first chapter.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Allison! I hope that by now you're enjoying a Margarita and saving room for your pazookie. Personally, I love prologues and enjoy writing them, too. I've also been dinged in contests for including a prologue and probably wouldn't recommend them for that reason, but as a reader, I really, really like them. I love how they set the stage and give the reader a little "aha" moment.
Congratulations on your new release; it looks like a great book!
Happy Birthday
I always read the book cover to cover. I enjoy both prologues and epilogues. However if the epilogue goes too far into the future I feel it is way too informative. A couple of years at the most for an epilogue.
Am I too late to say happy
Am I too late to say happy birthday? I hope not, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
And I love prologues. You're absolutely right. I think a prologue generally has a good reason for being a prologue and adds to the experience.
J.K. Coi
Immortals To Die For
www.jkcoi.com
Happy Birthday Allison. As
Happy Birthday Allison.
As for prologues.....I always read them because I feel if the author included it it had to have information needed and it is important to the story. There have been times when I have wished the author would have added one. I can not think of specific stories at the moment.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLISON!
Hope it has been a great birthday for you! In answer to your question, yes I always read the prologue. I find it usually is a good introduction to tne book and provides important information.
I read the prologues in a
I read the prologues in a book. It kind of lets me for see what the book is about. Sometimes it just a good little start into that books.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you!!
Thanks Everyone!!!
Sorry I couldn't come back last night -- it was a late night! I picked the kids up at 3, had activities, then dinner (I was stuffed--had only two bites of the pazookie), had to swing by the store for cat food so Toulouse wouldn't destroy my house in the middle of the night, and then there was still presents. The three little kids made me gorgeous pictures and "books" and my husband got me a present I wouldn't have bought for myself--a bobblehead of . . . me. It's amazing, designed from numerous photos to look like my author photo.
Thank you everyone for your comments! I'm so glad you all enjoy prologues, because I enjoy writing them :)
THE WINNERS!!!! CrystalGB, Goddessani, and Ellen . . . please email me at allison @ allisonbrennan.com (no spaces) and let me know
Have a great week!
Allison Brennan
PLAYING DEAD 9.30.08
WINNERS
Whoops, I messed this up!
The winners are: CrystalGB, Goddessani, and Ellen . . . please email me at allison @ allisonbrennan.com (no spaces) and let me know which book in my backlist you'd like:
THE PREY
THE HUNT
THE KILL
SPEAK NO EVIL
SEE NO EVIL
FEAR NO EVIL
KILLING FEAR
TEMPTING EVIL
WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE (anthology w/ Roxanne St. Claire and Karin Tabke.)
If you've never read my books, I'd suggest starting with any of the first books in a trilogy, though they're all loosely connected so can be read as stand-alones.
Allison Brennan
PLAYING DEAD 9.30.08
Thank you!
Thank you so much Allison. Congratulations to Goddessani and Ellen.
Wow!!
Thank you so much!
Congrats also to Crystal and Ellen!
Fun!
Sounds like your day was quite delightful! Thanks again for visiting! And congrats to Ellen, Ani, and Crystal!
Congratulations Crystal and
Congratulations Crystal and Goddessani!