Does Your Novel Need a Prologue?

What is a prologue?

A prologue or preface in many cases is an introduction written by the author to their story that includes information that won't be seen within the other pages of the story. Or another way to say that it's the chapter before chapter one.  

The reading and writing community is as split on the decision of whether or not to include a prologue as much as whether pineapple belongs on pizza. Some love it and some hate it, but even those on the fence about it can be swayed if and when it is done effectively. 

Here are a few simple Yes and No answers to whether or not your book really needs that additional few pages. 

YES

If your prologue is more attention-grabbing than your first chapter

I'll use Twilight by Stephenie Myer as the example here. The very first line of the book is given to the reader in a preface that says, "I'd never given much thought to how I would die." and it ends with the line, "The hunter smiled in a friendly way as he sauntered forward to kill me." (Meyer 1) This gives the reader a shock of, "wait, what?" and will have them unable to put the book down. They're not going to find out what's going on unless you actually read the book so off to the checkout counter they go.

Compare these lines with the actual first line of the story, "My mother drove me to the airport with the windows rolled down." (Meyer 3) This doesn't jump out and grab the reader, it simply starts the story because the reader has already been grabbed.  

NO

If your prologue is nothing more than an info dump for the reader

If all of the information you are putting in your prologue can be spread out and included in your first few chapters then a prologue is not necessary. 

Your prologue isn't the place to put your character's backstory, this should be reserved for the story itself. 

The information may be important, but if it's full of facts, figures, and other boring little side pieces of information the reader is either going to skim right over it or skip it altogether. The worst-case scenario is that they'll put down the whole book altogether because they think the whole thing is going to be boring. 

That's the exact opposite of what you want to happen. 

NO

If your prologue goes on forever.

If your prologue is more than a few pages, just write chapter one above it and call it a day. 

If you've reached the point where your prologue is five or more pages then you're just writing your first chapter. Prologues should be a quick snapshot into the story that gives the reader important details they won't find in the story. 

YES

If you're giving the reader something important 

Your prologue is going to be the first thing your reader sees. This can be the opportunity for you to give them a different point of view than the rest of the story, foreshadow a future event, or give an important snapshot of the setting set before or after the events of the book.  

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To prologue or not to prologue in the end is up to you as a writer. 

Nobody is going to dismiss your book solely on the fact that you have a prologue, but if in fact, you do a prologue just make sure it's in a way that doesn't make them dismiss your book. 

Whatever you choose is your decision, but no matter what keep on writing.

With love, 

B.K. xo

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