Prologue or not?

prologue = auto skip

1. The topic of the “prologue” is the literary equivalent of “gun control” or “abortion” (or which way to position toilet paper on the holder)—and equally unlikely to generate “consensus,” general or otherwise. Furthermore, while you can bet most of us here have an opinion on it and a right to voice it, it’s questionable whether our opinions are relevant to your situation—or whether any one of us here really knows shit from Shinola ... (I get the two mixed up constantly)

2. I suggest you google “prologue or not to prologue” and read what professionals (editors and agents in particular) and other really wise people have to say about it.  Many of them have very good lists of questions to ask yourself in order to get you closer to an answer for your particular situation and your story.  Also, almost no stories, particularly in genre fiction, are truly original—so I would consult your past reading list and see how great authors in your genre handled similar situations.

3. Then, I would forget about and just write your story and deal with it later—as whatever you feel about it now is liable to change (multiple times) by the time you finish (and because any editor/agent worth her salt is going to have an opinion you’re gonna wanna heed, and you won’t get that until you’re done anyway).  Bottom line:  don’t let the question bog you down.  It’s just not worth handwringing over—you can always go back and cut it or add one.  And if you’re on the fence, write the damn thing, set it aside and be done with it—and if you change your mind down the road, rewrite it, rename it “Chapter One,” or abort it altogether.

4. Be wary of “absolute” opinions on the matter, as there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

My previous book (now shelved) opened with "Battle stations!", a long chapter that was set 23 years in the past where everyone got killed. I was told to get rid of it and put all of the history and world-building info into the rest of the story. One person suggested to change it so that it was a declassified report read by one of the main characters after the story opens. Personally, I don't see what difference that would make except to interrupt the flow.

My current story started off slowly and I was told I needed a stronger opening for a thriller. When I added a prologue to do that, others told me to get rid of it. When I got rid of the prologue, someone rightly noted that I was missing danger to the MCs in the first two chapters. When I added danger, I was told it may be too much too soon. At this point, it's a first draft, so I'm going with it as written, otherwise I'll never get past chapter one.

Bottom line, I refer you back to Temple's item 4.

Thank you all for the comments. I decided to nix the prologue idea, at least for now. I've posted the revised first chapter of LADY SILVER. If you get a minute, let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Bobbie

This is just my personal experience so take it with a grain of salt. I wrote a prologue for my first book and filled it with purple prose and background info.

About my 4th or 5th draft, I hid it on here. By the 7th draft, the prologue had been deleted. What I found with my prologue was that I was using it as a crutch to introduce my protagonist and the larger world itself. I even had a different POV and had this R.A. Salvatore-esque idea that I'd start and end with first-person pov for my main protagonist. My prologue handicapped me and my book became better by deleting the wretched thing.

I've read great and terrible prologues from all kinds of authors in many different genres but the one thing I've internalized from being here is to keep what is necessary and cut what's fluff. Prologues for me are fluff. They may not be for you, though. It's your book, write it your way.

Although the original question has been answered, I should qualify my earlier statement which was slightly misleading.

I autoskip prologues when I'm browsing for new books to buy. If the author is a fave, I will read their prologues, preface(s), dedications, even the table of contents so I can get a thrill off the chapter names.

If the author is untried or unknown to me (I try to keep this group at 90% of my purchases), I immediately head for chapter one because I want to know how the (rest of) the book is written and who I'll be spending the next few days of my leisure time with. Prologues can't tell me that. I've been tricked into a few lemons by ignoring this rule.

I'd be curious if other buyers use this approach. Library doesn't count because you're not out pocket money on a borrowed book that turns out little better than a dead frog. Also curious your approximate consumption. I hover around 10 books per month, so not huge, but enough I have no budget for lemons

It depends on the story. I use a prologue in my first book to give the reader information that sits outside the storyline and POV of the characters, but necessary just the same. It sets the stage and mood. I've followed writer's I admire who do the same. Sometimes you want the reader to know things your characters don't know, at least not yet. Maybe they're (prologues) not not trendy, but I don't believe fashion has anything to do with good story telling. If the story needs it, use it. If your story can handle the information in the first chapter, then that's where it belongs.
One of the first books I've ever read from my now, all time favorite authors, Jo Nesbø, used a prologue to convey information that took place years before the start of the story. It was satisfying to me, as a reader, to see where it fit later. When done well, prologues are awesome.
I don't believe just because an author uses a prologue the book should automatically be considered a lemon. Though I'm a glutton for punishment,  I'll force myself to finish any book I start, I feel invested in the story, even if its a bad one. Call it a character flaw. Personally, I like prologues.
CJ