- Introduce the main character(s). Some twentieth-century plays have used prologues to great effect. …
- Drop hints. Crime fiction and thrillers often make use of prologues to hint at characters, locations, and the mystery that is to come. …
- Add only relevant details.
What is an example of a prologue?
Sometimes we provide a short prologue before launching into a story. For example: “
I was hanging out with Sandy and Jim the other night.
How do you start a prologue?
- Introduce the main character(s). Some twentieth-century plays have used prologues to great effect. …
- Drop hints. Crime fiction and thrillers often make use of prologues to hint at characters, locations, and the mystery that is to come. …
- Add only relevant details.
How many words should be in a prologue?
Some sites suggest no more than 1,000 words while others say
up to 3,000 words
is an adequate number. If it helps, my average chapter is about 1.5K words.
What is a prologue and should I read it?
A prologue is typically used only in fiction.
It gives the reader information about the story, in the same form of the story
. So the prose of a prologue will have the same writing style and vibe of the rest of the book, even if it's in a different timeline or perspective.
How short can a prologue 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
. “I don't mind prologues if they fit the story, and I do like them fairly short,” says agent Andrea Hurst, president of Andrea Hurst & Associates.
Is prologue before or after?
A prologue is a scene that
comes before the story
. It's something of import but something that doesn't flow with the chronology of the story.
Can a prologue be 400 words?
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.
How many pages is 1000 words?
A 1,000 word count will create about
2 pages single-spaced
or 4 pages double-spaced when using normal margins (1′′) and 12 pt. Arial or Times New Roman font.
What is a good prologue?
A good prologue performs one of many functions in a story:
Foreshadowing events to come
.
Providing background information or backstory on the central conflict
.
Establishing a point of view
(either the main character's, or that of another character who is privy to the tale)
What is the difference between prologue and introduction?
Prologue — A prologue is similar to an Introduction, and in my view it is really exactly the same. The difference is simply that
if you write a Prologue, it makes sense to also write an Epilogue
, while with an Introduction you don't expect any type of closing to the book other than the last chapter.
Should u read the prologue?
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.
Does a prologue count as a chapter?
There is no difference between a prologue called a prologue
, and one called ‘chapter one'. If the information is irrelevant to the story, do not include it. If the information is relevant to the story, but only in a setting/atmospheric context, include it only when you need to establish that setting/atmosphere.
What is the longest prologue?
The term “Longest Prologue Ever” is popularly used to describe
the first part of Kingdom Hearts II
, and was even a former Trope Namer. The game's prologue with Roxas takes between three to five hours to complete.
Can a prologue be one sentence?
Explanation: A prologue (at least in the writing sense) is an introduction to the story or piece you are writing. … So in the above example, I can literally do a
1-sentence
prologue.
Can a prologue be a flash forward?
As long as the prologue isn't just chapter 1 with a different name and as long as they have a real use which wouldn't be better implemented throughout the writing, they can be okay.
Flash forwards can be used to good effect, but be careful
.
