How Do You Write A Prologue?

1. Introduce the main character(s). Some twentieth-century plays have used prologues to great effect. …
2. Drop hints. Crime fiction and thrillers often make use of prologues to hint at characters, locations, and the mystery that is to come. …
3. Add only relevant details.

How long is a prologue?

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.

How do you start a prologue?

1. Introduce the main character(s). Some twentieth-century plays have used prologues to great effect. …
2. Drop hints. Crime fiction and thrillers often make use of prologues to hint at characters, locations, and the mystery that is to come. …
3. Add only relevant details.

Do you have to write a prologue?

If you have the information you must convey to the reader that can't be worked into the main novel,

you may need a prologue

. If the story doesn't make sense without the prologue. If you can remove the prologue (or a reader can skip it), and their understanding is not damaged, a prologue is not necessary.

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.

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.

How many words should a prologue be?

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.

Is 500 words enough for a prologue?

Make it very short,

no more than a few hundred words

, and work at it like you would the first paragraph. If at the end of the prologue the reader isn't saying ‘wow!

What is the longest prologue in a book?

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.

What is the difference between a forward and a prologue?

Foreword

– Written by someone other than the author of the book, typically to endorse it or to discuss its relevance to the subject area. Prologue – An introduction that sets the scene for the story to come.

Is prologue good or bad?

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.

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.

How do you use prologue in a sentence?

1. The play's prologue provides the audience members with insight into what they are about to watch.
2. Because the prologue was so short, I had no idea what to expect from the novel.
3. As a prologue occurs at the beginning of a novel or play, it should trigger the audience's interest.

What is the purpose of a 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 comes after a prologue?

Epilogue

. Like a prologue, epilogues are only in fiction. It comes after the story and often wraps up the story nicer than the ending did. Think of it as an ending after the ending.