Do agents hate prologues?

PROLOGUES! “Most agents hate prologues. Just make the first chapter relevant and well written.” “Prologues are usually a lazy way to give back-story chunks to the reader and can be handled with more finesse throughout the story.

Is it okay to have a long prologue?

As for length, there’s no set limit. However, If your prologue is even longer than the average length of your chapters, you may want to think about what you can cut out or disperse throughout those main chapters instead. As much as I love a good prologue, even I would find one upwards of 10k or more a bit too wordy.

Why do people skip prologues?

The prologue is a legitimate story-telling device, but many readers admit that when they see the word “Prologue,” they skip at once to the page that begins with the words “Chapter One.” Sometimes a prologue is the ideal way to present information essential to the reader’s understanding of the story.

Should a prologue be in italics?

Prologues should be short. The reader understands that the italics set apart the prologue from the rest, but it’s hard to read, so keep it brief. Prologues should pass the “Why?” test. Sometimes a different POV character narrates the prologue, or there is a long time span between prologue and story.

Can a prologue be a flash forward?

3. Backstory-Dramatized Flashback, Dream, or Flash-Forward. Another prospect is including a flash-forward—an event that happens in the future of the story about to be told. This event is inserted as a prologue.

How long should a prolog be?

The length of a prologue depends on the nature of the story, but it’s best to keep it trim. One to five pages should suffice.

Should I skip prologue?

Generally, you’ll find that a strong first chapter (which is a must with or without a prologue) will provide a stronger opening for your story than will a prologue. Too often, prologues are little more than information dumps. Over the years I’ve written more prologues than I like to think about.

Can a prologue be a flash back?

A prologue stands out. You could also use a flashback later in the narrative or convey the past through dialogue or character thought. A prologue can be told in a different voice than the rest of the story or be presented by a different viewpoint character.

Are prologues bad for your book?

Fear not, writers. Prologues aren’t all bad. In fact, they come in handy in a number of scenarios: To provide a “quick-and-dirty” glimpse of important background information without the need of flashbacks, dialogue, or memories that interrupt the action later on in the book.

How should a prologue read in a short story?

A prologue should read exactly as if you were writing a short story without a true ending—your prologue should leave the reader questioning and curious. Note: Any questions you create in the prologue must be resolved by the end of your story.

What is a Prolog and why do you need one?

You have mere seconds to hook a reader (or industry professional—who are also readers!). Many, many writers use prologues as a means to provide tons of background information to a story (rather than to slowly introduce these elements by weaving them into scenes throughout the book).

Are prologue pages in the Query box bad?

Some even go as far as to say that when they see prologue pages in the query box, they are immediately wary of the story and submission. Why such an immediately negative reaction? This is largely due to the poorly-executed prologues littering query boxes and submission piles. You’d be surprised how many writers commit the deadly sins of prologues.