The prologue is located at the very beginning of the novel, before the first chapter. A good prologue should feel like an important part of a novel and not just a bonus chapter or the author's ploy to fill the page. To write an effective novel prologue, you must first identify the purpose of the prologue. Draft one (or several) prologue drafts and edit them so they are neat and ready to print.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Identifying Different Uses of Prolog
Step 1. Use the prologue to tell the background story
One way to make the most of a prologue is to fill it with a backstory about one or more characters. This trick can help you as a writer to avoid stories that will block the plot in the middle of the novel, such as flashbacks or backgrounds. This trick is also especially useful if you're having a hard time slipping details of a character's past into the plot of the novel.
- However, many writers refuse to use the prologue as a way to spill the entire back story or past information to the reader. Instead, they prefer to include a backstory in the prologue that feels essential to the whole novel and contains information that cannot be placed anywhere else in the story.
- A heavy prologue that contains a backstory must be able to reveal the beginning of the character's journey or mission and provide the reader with information about the past that leads to current events. So, the content of the prologue can be the background behind an event, such as a war or conflict, or the background of a character who plays an important role in the content of the story.
Step 2. Create a captivating prologue that makes the reader want to finish the whole novel
Many authors use the prologue as a charm that triggers curiosity. This type of prologue should be able to raise interesting questions in the reader's mind, give them a reason to continue and provide an overview of the novel's content.
To create an engaging prologue, you can present a scene that introduces the characters and events that will form the core of the story. You can also give a glimpse of what will happen, so that the reader can get acquainted with one or more of the novel's characters
Step 3. Use the prologue as a tool to frame the novel as a whole
Some writers use the prologue as a frame, where the character opens the story about the novel. This character then acts as the narrator of the novel.
This method is effective if the content of the novel seems to be told by someone and is dominated by one or two narrators. The author can use the prologue in this way if he wants the reader to know why the novel needs to be told
Step 4. Focus on the perspectives of the different characters in the prologue
Sometimes a prologue is used to introduce one character's point of view. The rest of the novel may be told from another point of view or multiple points of view, and never again focus on the characters in the prologue. This style is usually done because it feels important or because there is a good reason, and you want the perspective of the character to play a role in the novel when the main theme/idea is presented.
This type of prologue gives you the opportunity to use a point of view that is not widely used or not used at all in the content of the novel. This technique also prevents you from spoiling the point of view in the story, because you've already drawn the character's perspective in the prologue
Part 2 of 3: Drafting the Prologue
Step 1. Choose the appropriate type of prologue for your story
To write an effective prologue, first consider what kind of prologue fits the novel. The prologue is often written after the novel is finished or in its final stages. If you wrote a prologue before writing a novel, make a prologue that ties the whole story together.
- Think of a prologue that can make the content of the novel more interesting and blend with the rest of the story. Does the content want to reveal a certain character, background, or point of view? Will it depict a backstory or frame the entire story in some way?
- If you're writing a prologue for a finished book, think about how to link the prologue to the first chapter. The prologue must be able to captivate the reader. The content should be as strong as or better than the details and events in the first chapter. The prologue should not divulge details or repeat the first chapter, as it will become boring and dry.
Step 2. Create scenes with vivid details
The prologue is often set within a scene, especially for action and mystery novels. A prologue like this will provide a fast-paced exposure with the aim of getting the reader interested as soon as possible. You have to think about which scene you want to tell in the prologue. You can determine it based on the point of view of certain characters.
Use all five senses to bring events to life, with a focus on telling how the scene smells, tastes, sounds, and looks. Get the character to describe these elements in the scene and use the character as a reader's tool to experience the events in the story firsthand
Step 3. Create a prologue containing one or two scenes
Prologue is categorized as good if it is short and straight to the heart of the matter. Include only one or two scenes in the prologue, because too many scenes will make the prologue too long and wide. Choosing a strong scene to serve as a prologue will be an effective way to immediately captivate the reader.
Don't make a scene that jumps too much from one moment to another, as this will confuse or make the reader feel jerky. Make the prologue in one or two time periods so that it is not too long
Step 4. Use the speech of a specific character
If you decide to make a prologue as a way to access a certain character's point of view, make sure you tell it according to the character's character. Think about how the character talks to other people or himself. Consider the character's age, background, and gender, and how all of these affect his storytelling style.
If you're using the prologue as a way to tell a story about a character who doesn't appear in the novel anymore or only appears as an extra, use the prologue to really explain the character's perspective. This is your chance to show the reader more about the character and explore what makes him or her so important
Step 5. Insert the backstory into the prologue
If the purpose of your prologue is to reveal past events in a character's life or discuss his or her history, make sure that there is enough backstory to be told in the draft. Include details of the character's past and show why these details are important to the story as a whole. Even though the backstory is about the character, you should still relate it to the larger theme/idea in the novel.
Part 3 of 3: Editing the Prologue
Step 1. Write a short and to-the-point prologue
A good prologue is usually no more than three to four pages. Reread the draft and edit it. Remove details that are not important or are not good for the overall content of the story. A short and concise prologue will be more effective in keeping the reader interested and moving on to the first chapter.
Step 2. Make sure the flow is fast and interesting
The prologue should be fast and sharp. Don't explain things at length or give the reader too much information, because you can do this throughout the novel anyway. Don't overcrowd the prologue with information that might be more appropriate elsewhere in the novel. Include only essential details in the prologue.
One way to check the flow of the prologue is to read it aloud to yourself or someone else. Highlight extended sentences or awkward events and edit them until they sound smooth and uncluttered
Step 3. Check if the prologue fits the whole novel
After the prologue is edited, you will put it at the beginning, before chapter 1. So consider, is the content appropriate? Does the prologue feel like an interesting start? Does it contain the information also contained in chapter 1? Does the prologue reinforce the story as a whole?
