Re: Prologue's
You meant the opening crawl? I don't know that I'd call that a prologue, and it took an outside editor to cut it down to size.
- Mike Roberson
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Re: Prologue's
I have, for now, decided to move the flashbacks to Chapters 1,2. The crime, the investigation and it's outcome. It is now so much easier to keep the timeline straight. As I told Connie earlier, I was confusing myself. I do think prologue's work but I feared mine would be so long I might lose audience before the story started. The consensus hear of write what works for you, is what I thought to start with. Thanks for all the indepth discussion. Mike
- Randall Krzak
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Re: Prologue's
Interesting read through everyone's thoughts about the use of a prologue. I initially had one and if several people wouldn't have suggested dropping it and perhaps using some of the information throughout the book I would have come to the same conclusion after reading this. Glad to see so many people putting their views out there. Randy
- cobber
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Re: Prologue's
How about Star Wars? It's got a prologue and everybody likes Star Wars, right?
Good point. I think it works in a movie, especially when it is visually impressive. I'm just not sure it's needed in a book. Maybe in some genres.
I guess it really depends on the story. I'm a firm believer that there should not be any concrete rules in writing. Tell the story you want the tell in the most effective way possible. If that means using a prologue, then use it.
- njc
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Re: Prologue's
One more thought. I'm not very far into Randall Krzak's Bedlam but I'm left wondering how much the characters of the first chapter will figure in subsequent chapters. If the answer is 'not much' or 'not much, except for one of them' I would suggest calling the chapter a prologue, simply because the different characters make it a different-but-connected story.
- jack the knife
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Re: Prologue's
Where would Clive Cussler's novels be without prologues?
- Mariana Reuter
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Re: Prologue's
Which would be the characteristics of a prologue? I mean, what makes a prologue a prologue? Because if not, it'd only be Chapter 1. So, I assume there a certain features that differentiate the prologue from a regular "Chapter 1". Which are them?
I know there might be no written rules to answer my above question. However, it'd be interesting to read your insights about what makes a prologue a prologue.
Kiss,
Gacela
- njc
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Re: Prologue's
I'd say a long break in time, a big change in ensemble, or a strong change/break in the story such as creating the problem vs. solving it.
Now, taking EQ's The Finishing Stroke as an example: the section I'm calling a prologue is quite long and a small story of its own. It takes place something like 20 years before the main body of the story.
- jack the knife
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Re: Prologue's
You're right about there being a fine line between a "Prologue" and a "Chapter 1." I used Clive Cussler as an example above. The Chapter 1s in his books are prologues, in my understanding of the term, though I can't remember if he calls them such. But they usually are about something that happens in the past that will play a role in his story, but not be a part of it, if I'm making any sense. It sets up the adventure which will start sometime in the future. It happens, it's over, and then we go to the present day. To me, that's a prologue, regardless of the nomenclature. But I have no problem naming such a setup Chapter 1. And what difference does it really make? The reader knows it's a prologue as soon as he starts to read the next chapter. So this is much ado about not much, in my opinion. If your agent/editor/publisher frowns on prologues, for whatever reason, make them Chapter 1s instead.
36 2015-07-09 17:01:01 (edited by max keanu 2015-07-09 17:37:15)
- max keanu
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Re: Prologue's
jack the knife wrote:
Where would Clive Cussler's novels be without prologues?
How true! His next novel: Raise the Prologue!
As to CObber's point about Star War's prologue, animation will be added to eBooks and we'll all be able to create compelling opening visuals to compete with well-written prologues or first chapters. Mark my words,
Writing is s fine art, an art of words to pull in the readers and keep them in the grasp of the art. Like all arts the first impression is the most important; be it cover art, back-cover spiel, or images of torn bodices or rippling muscles on a blond Adonis, or compelling words that present a platform to invite the reader into a story vision... It all goes to style and craft.
In the lute suites of Bach, a prelude precedes the dance movements: gig, sarabande, gavotte, minute, Bourree (my favorite) etc... The prelude tells the dancers that it is time to pick a partner, get into dance formation and prepare to kick up the heels and reveal more cleavage... And a prologue, to me, should do the same. As in, get ready reader, this prologue is an invitation/invocation to the dance.
In music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi2gbTyGBnw
And, to me, a prologue can be an invocation... A tableau of thoughts, possibilities, eventualities that quickly call out to the inner demons, fears, loves or genre spirits of the reader or listener.
