tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post6349609510629269998..comments2023-12-08T13:21:54.131-08:00Comments on Dangerous With a Pen: Let's Chat: ProloguesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-78649545370305110232010-02-23T09:56:06.977-08:002010-02-23T09:56:06.977-08:00My novel actually starts off with a prologue becau...My novel actually starts off with a prologue because it sets the tone going into the first chapter. Actually the last chapter of my book and prologue of my novel all come to together at the end,The Rejection Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288683065588449736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-18204325180004703532010-02-23T07:10:15.673-08:002010-02-23T07:10:15.673-08:00I admit to not always reading the prologue...first...I admit to not always reading the prologue...first. I tend to read the book, get to a part that doesn't make sense, and then it dawns on me, the prologue will explain it all!<br />It frustrates me to read a prologue, then read it as a chapter further along. I am a quirky Brit though, so that may explain it. ;0Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-36899658895481974962010-02-22T20:13:48.535-08:002010-02-22T20:13:48.535-08:00I don't have a prologue, though I considered d...I don't have a prologue, though I considered doing one at one point. I think if you can weave the info into the main story, it's generally more interesting and less confusing that way, but there's always the exception. :)<br /><br />Love your blog! Thanks for stopping by mine and for following.Abby Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543937393055900844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-41574731860975711162010-02-22T07:45:22.996-08:002010-02-22T07:45:22.996-08:00Your blog is super cute! Thanks for stopping by mi...Your blog is super cute! Thanks for stopping by mine! I look forward to reading yours.<br /><br />MegMeghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17452122514523135172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-32697340898709318362010-02-20T20:44:04.090-08:002010-02-20T20:44:04.090-08:00Thank you, Hannah! :DThank you, Hannah! :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-40191970473149998492010-02-20T19:10:25.191-08:002010-02-20T19:10:25.191-08:00Great post!!
I left something for you on my blog....Great post!!<br /><br />I left something for you on my blog.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915603693944523761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-42397858083316491172010-02-20T19:09:42.347-08:002010-02-20T19:09:42.347-08:00I think prologues depend on the book. If your book...I think prologues depend on the book. If your book needs a prologue, put in a prologue. Agents be damned!! Unless, they're going to publish all of us and then I take back the damning. :)Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915603693944523761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-28904418159451090552010-02-20T19:02:40.732-08:002010-02-20T19:02:40.732-08:00And, you see, folks, this is why I heart Roxy. :) ...And, you see, folks, this is why I heart Roxy. :) You ALWAYS make me smile!!!<br /><br />I have to agree with you, anyway. I mean - look at Lisa McCann's Wake trilogy. They're short. And the style is very different. Does that mean they're not good books? Because they don't fit the norm?<br /><br />Deep thoughts, kids. Stay tuned.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-89732233539361996682010-02-20T18:56:04.387-08:002010-02-20T18:56:04.387-08:00What is wrong with the world today that you can...What is wrong with the world today that you can't have a prologue? I read the same post that you mentioned reading and I put in my two, little cents there as well. If a prologue intrigues the reader and enhances the story.... why not? I mean what is the deal with these fads which dictate what is accepted and what isn't? Let's not assume the consumer is dumb, shall we? If they open a book at the store and see a prologue, they aren't automatically going to flip it shut and say, "Uh-uh. Not buying it. There's a prologue in there." I am one of those consumers and I spend a huge amount of money on books. Some of them I like and others I don't, but I guarantee, if I dislike my purchase, it is never because it has a prologue. Thank you for the excellent questions, Dangerous. I will now stop drinking diet cola for the night and take some deep, yoga breaths.Roxyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09787088898112141579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-79777140912311321162010-02-20T18:25:54.276-08:002010-02-20T18:25:54.276-08:00Yeah. Prologues. I had one. It is now sitting in a...Yeah. Prologues. I had one. It is now sitting in a folder, waiting for the day that I can maybe add it back on. I really do love my prologue too, but I also know that if I only have so much time to get an agent interested in my story, I better do it right away. (Not that I think my prologue is boring either - just not a lot of action.)Tiffany Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13843374938222817346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-47437913066066815482010-02-20T16:51:48.996-08:002010-02-20T16:51:48.996-08:00LOL... that made me laugh. :) I have actually not...LOL... that made me laugh. :) I have actually not read Twilight or seen the movies. I read a few excerpts and it wasn't really my style.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-40785551686775152822010-02-20T14:54:48.289-08:002010-02-20T14:54:48.289-08:00I actually quite like a good prologue. If you can ...I actually quite like a good prologue. If you can do it well, why not do it? Many agents claim they skip the prologue anyway! :)<br />Though I think they do not...I think they SAY that so people will not continue to write absurd prologues. *cough* Twilight *cough*Alleged Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869021184116123477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-41631912175054854212010-02-20T14:42:56.004-08:002010-02-20T14:42:56.004-08:00I love all of this input. It's really helpful...I love all of this input. It's really helpful.<br /><br />My prologue is not overly mysterious (hopefully that doesn't mean it's not interesting, lol). It is backstory that explains what something is doing in a place where it otherwise does not belong (sorry, I know that's vague). It is told in third person through a scene involving the MC's parents and it occurs before she's born. I'm not sure how else to explain this misplaced thing, since it can't be through a flashback. It also helps, in 3rd person, to get a glimpse into her parents' perspectives on the thing itself.<br /><br />Lol that was probably very annoying to read. Sorry. :)<br /><br />I definitely need to work through the rest of the MS before I figure out whether or not it is necessary, but it's good to find out early that there are such strong opinions about prologues out there. I had no idea!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-69244040250718132692010-02-20T13:49:50.866-08:002010-02-20T13:49:50.866-08:00Nice post. Prologues are tricky.
Yes, they can...Nice post. Prologues are tricky. <br /><br />Yes, they can work well, but they can also work against your book. The reasons listed in your post are valid -- for back story or to legitimately hook the reader. By "legitimately," I mean that the prologue should raise questions in the reader's mind that are gradually explored in the book, preferably starting early on. Nothing misleading.<br /><br />I'm not a fan of prologues <i>just</i> for the sake of having a "mysterious" beginning... only to find out that the questions raised in the prologue are completely ignored until the very end of the book, when the reader is bombarded with new information. If the author can't intrigue me with a regular opening chapter, maybe their story isn't so hot. (I'm mostly thinking of YA books I read in these examples.)<br /><br />Sorry for rambling, but I hope this helps put it into perspective.Shelley Slyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07981620646634240160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-31684550929266477882010-02-20T13:01:59.097-08:002010-02-20T13:01:59.097-08:00I like them. I blogged about it recently, having ...I like them. I blogged about it recently, having taken off my prologue, then 5 months later adding it back.<br /><br />I think it depends on the story.<br /><br />Shelleystoryqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07039684494823420722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-8004921133301363152010-02-20T12:48:40.722-08:002010-02-20T12:48:40.722-08:00Lindsey, having queried and been agent hopping blo...Lindsey, having queried and been agent hopping blogs, I have found the consensus is not to have a prologue. Personally, I like them, and I write them for my books but when I finish it, I take it off to query. If I ever get so far as to actually acquire an agent I will ask if they would like to see the prologue with the ms. I think it adds that little bit of something-something that wouldn't necessarily be seen if it were just in chapter one.Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-75166663980687634912010-02-20T12:45:37.024-08:002010-02-20T12:45:37.024-08:00Interesting. I guess it's good that I'm f...Interesting. I guess it's good that I'm finding these things out as I begin. :) Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-1906952073310231432010-02-20T12:29:14.109-08:002010-02-20T12:29:14.109-08:00Good post! I also remember reading a few agent blo...Good post! I also remember reading a few agent blogs that showed they were clearly anti-prologue. Don't remember who though :)<br /><br />I don't mind a prologue when I'm reading - as long as it's interesting. If it's all telling, I don't enjoy it.Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-18428705137272966212010-02-20T12:01:22.192-08:002010-02-20T12:01:22.192-08:00I'm new at this so take my comments with a gra...I'm new at this so take my comments with a grain of salt. I've observed the recent buzz over prologues, and as near as I can tell the reason why agents don't tend to like them is because they are so often resorted to in submissions, and are so often done poorly.<br /><br />IMHO, the way you've identified the possible functions of a prologue is important. Use a prologue only if serves a critical function, if it's absolutely necessary. You wouldn't add a chapter in the middle of your WIP--just cuz--so why put one at the beginning? If the same material can be covered another way--and the requirements of a catchy start are still met, then I say dispense with it and start from Chapter 1.<br /><br />Just my two cents. Nice post, BTW.Jon Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07824815967445843124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-51895228509832691872010-02-20T11:59:40.610-08:002010-02-20T11:59:40.610-08:00It's interesting that you said that about quer...It's interesting that you said that about querying - I have been thinking about that. I have not queried before (this whole thing is a wonderful learning experience for me) and it did occur to me that the first 5 - 10 pgs would not really represent the story if it's a prologue. That completely makes sense.<br /><br />I am still in the beginning stages, so I can see that I may do exactly what you said and find later on that the prologue is not necessary. Right now, I'm not really sure how I'd weave the info in otherwise, but that may well work itself out as I get further into the MS.<br /><br />I appreciate your thoughts!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-15558103580673101032010-02-20T11:52:39.174-08:002010-02-20T11:52:39.174-08:00I've read many, many agent blogs and interview...I've read many, many agent blogs and interviews and almost all of them are anti-prologue. If they ask you to send them the first 5-10 pages with a query they specifically don't want the prologue. <br /><br />I'm not against them personally, but I have to agree that there's usually not a good reason to have one in a book. <br /><br />If you need to write it for your own sake, as an author, that works. But when you finish the entire book, stop and ask yourself if it's truly necessary. Or could the book be just as good (maybe even stronger) without it? Ask your beta readers the same question. If everyone truly feels its necessary, than go with it. If readers point out that they could take it or leave it, it might be worth getting rid of.MeganRebekahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285116194891827858noreply@blogger.com