Why You Shouldn’t Write a Prologue for Your Fantasy Novel
(and can we talk about chapter one please).
This was the biggest, and possibly hardest, lesson I learned as a writer before I was published.
The prologue should do precisely one thing and that is to anchor the story in an action that took place long before the action in chapter one.
Even if your fantasy world is a whole new world never written about before ever, you should start with a life-changing incident. Your character’s reaction to that incident (perhaps a moment thinking about leaving their idyllic world behind) is your world-building moment.
N.K. Jemisin is AMAZING at this. I am in awe of how she weaves action and description together.
The actions in chapter one are happening as a consequence of the actions in the prologue. If the prologue is scene setting or other fluff, consider where you are headed and why.
The why is necessary to know so you can draw in the reader to keep reading.
Mystery and prophecy are good choices for your prologue but remember they need to serve a purpose more than set dressing. If the prologue is not asking a question or building tension then perhaps it belongs in your world building bible, not transferred into the book.
In short, it needs to be relevant. It might be the prettiest writing in the world, or the most incredible world-building, but if isn’t doing anything, then it needs to be cut (or woven delicately in among the action).
Some good choices for prologues are cryptic clues (like that prophecy) or foreshadowing of future conflict.
While we’re at it, chapter one should also start with the inciting incident. I know the hero’s (and heroine’s) journey starts with their “ordinary world” but this is back story.
Know it, write it, but trickle it into your books.
There’s this meme going around that asks you to take the first line of your novel and add “and then the dragons arrived”.
One sentence, one paragraph of normal life and boom! the hero’s world changes.
It’s all very well to share the entire history of a character … but it is so much more compelling to drop the reader into the middle of things and let them figure out why the main character is getting the side eye from the locals.
It’s about engaging the reader.
My first novel (admittedly historical romance not fantasy) had eleventy-million rewrites and they all began with my heroine having an absolutely wonderful time cantering about on her horse and thinking about her life.
All very pretty and stage setting but exciting? Nope.
When I rewrote that beginning out of existence, it sold. The new beginning?
She enters the stables, returning from her ride, and someone draws a pistol on her. (Our hero).
Now that’s a beginning.
I read a great prologue recently (actually there were two. I’m looking at you
). The castle’s under attack and on fire. We have no idea who this kid is (or how old until a few “pages” later). I mean it’s a whip cracker of a start, and I was hooked.
Funny thing is my yet-to-be-written book four has two prologues. The first may end up on the cutting room floor or appear as a flashback because I’m now realising that while it’s an inciting incident — it is one we already know about from book one. (How King Arthur got the Greal and used it.)
The second one… ah, the second one is all motivation and inciting incident — for the villain of the piece. I would say more but that would spoil the impact.
After that first chapter? Keep the momentum going. Frodo Baggins had no time to sit about and neither should our main characters.
What are your thoughts on prologues?
Lovely to share a meal with you and D Leanne. I just read your comments about prologue and look forward to reading your writings. I’m going to share your site with my son and his older children when I get home. They will love your work I’m sure. Best wishes to you and D. Martin Davies (Trafalgar)
Wow, that was quite the surprise seeing my name here. It's funny I never really think about prologues when I write, but this just seemed to fit and write itself. Thanks for the shout out!