Author Catherine Hokin with the pros and cons and the dos and don’ts of the prologue . . .
Prologues can be divisive things, despite their long history as a writing device.
The word itself comes to us from Middle English, via the Greek prologos which translates as, ‘before saying.’ Prologues were a key feature of ancient Greek drama. Shakespeare used the technique, as did Chaucer, to walk their audiences through who and what they could expect to meet in the tale that was about to unfold. And yet go down any Reddit or Goodreads rabbit hole about what readers like – or vehemently dislike – in a novel, and you’ll quickly find a lot of foaming at the mouth on the subject of prologues. So perhaps the question we should be asking as writers is, what’s disappointing them? And what can we do – and I include myself here as somebody who regularly writes them – to convince reluctant readers that a well-used prologue merits its place?
Constructing a Prologue
Before I get into that, I do think it’s important to acknowledge that constructing a prologue is not an easy thing to do, so my first tip would be to read as many examples as possible, deconstructing the factors that either draw you into the main text, or push you away from it. You’ll make your own checklist of what works and what doesn’t, but the following are some of my red flags.
- It’s too slow. This could be because the author has used the prologue as a means to throw in a whole pile of backstory about a character the reader doesn’t know and hasn’t yet invested in. Or because it’s building a world in too many complicated stages. Or dumping research about a key event that’s going to matter later in the story but is far too dry to take up time now. Whatever the reason, the outcome is the same: the first few pages are so dull, the reader isn’t inspired to tackle the rest.
- It’s too much. In this instance, the reader is thrown at top speed into a piece of dramatic action that roars along at a sometimes confusing pace, and then… Everything drops off in chapter one and the novel feels like a different, and disappointing, book.
- It doesn’t make sense. Admittedly the reader might be a little further in than the first chapter or so before they realise that the prologue is completely disconnected from the main story, but that won’t make them forgive the writer any more than a dull prologue will.
- It never ends. In this case, the prologue isn’t the tempting snack it should be, it’s a whole meal with far too many courses. Somewhere between 1000-2000 words is the recommended length. I’ve learned to aim for the lower end of that, after a great deal of red-pen wielding by my editor. Which leads me nicely into…
If those are the pitfalls, what are the opportunities?
In other words, why write one at all? The key word here for me is investment. I want to give my reader a glimpse into the world that’s coming, usually by establishing a key voice in the story and raising questions about that character and/or the situation they’re caught up in. What I’m trying to achieve is a sense of high stakes which will make the story sticky and encourage the reader to quickly invest in it. There might be a sense of danger, or immediacy, or a task whose success/failure could have serious consequences. There could be a moral dilemma, or a hint that the reader has just met somebody they really shouldn’t trust. Whichever I choose, I’m aiming to be very concise in the delivery. That should remain the case however you approach a prologue, but there are, of course, other ways than with a character to do it, including…
- Using the classic attention grabbing opener. In many ways, a prologue is a short story that’s going to be picked up in the rest of the narrative, so why not let the opening line sing? Perhaps through an offbeat sentence, or one that poses multiple questions. Or one that instantly establishes a character’s quirks, or the dilemma facing them. Just remember that, whichever way you go, you’ve now set the tone for the rest of the book.
- Pulling your reader onto the edge of their seat. Create a vivid setting they can’t help but step further into, or a conflict they can’t look away from. Create tension or uncertainty, or fear. And then deliver what you’ve signposted.
- Dropping them into an event which will twist. Put your reader onto a path they don’t want to get off, make them think they can guess where it’s going. And then push them out of that comfort zone in the main story.
Stay Concise
However you do it, it’s important to stay concise – again, like a short story, every word has to earn its place – and don’t forget to pick up the thread you’ve dangled in the prologue later on.
We live in an era where we’re constantly being told people have less and less time and shorter attention spans. Against this backdrop, a prologue that adds value could be one of the sharpest tools in your writing tool kit. I like to think of it as the introduction at a party that stops you looking for someone more interesting to talk to. Hopefully my readers think the same way.
(c) Catherine Hokin
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About The Girl Who Told the Truth by Catherine Hokin:
Blood surges through Annie’s veins as she stares into the cold eyes of the Nazi who destroyed her family. This is her last chance to make it right…
London, 1941. The war has already taken everything from Annie. Her sweetheart Harry returned from the front with broken limbs and grief-stricken eyes, and her father betrayed his family by joining the Nazis. But with each new day at her desk in the War Office, a flame burns inside her to right her father’s wrongs and do everything she can to stop the war…
Nuremberg Trials, 1946. The war is over, but the search for justice is just beginning. Annie’s stomach churns when she sees Margarete outside the courtroom. This woman stole her father away and was one of the last people inside Hitler’s bunker. Since the war ended Margarete has continued to support the Nazis. Annie knows this is her only chance to expose her.
But if she tells the truth, Annie must also reveal her father ‘s dark past, putting her own family’s safety at risk. With an impossible choice to make, will Annie have the courage to tell the world the truth about who Margarete really is, no matter the cost?
An achingly emotional page-turner about risking everything to protect those you love, inspired by the real life story of a woman who was one of the last people in Hitler’s bunker. Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah, Roberta Kagan and Ellie Midwood.
Order your copy online here.
And read more from Catherine Hokin on Writing.ie here.
