April 26, 2021
Prologues and Epilogues. Yes or no?
This week’s blog hop question is simple. Are prologues and epilogues good writing? And my answer is a very firm and definite – maybe?
I’ve read prologues that were short and sweet and flowed into the story without a whisper. And I’ve read other ones that rambled on and on, building the entire world before the real story begins. Guess which one I prefer? I even wrote a prologue for Wolves’ Pawn, the first book I published. It’s a page and a half long. That’s it. As you can see, I tried for the first type.
I humbly think it worked. It was a short scene that set up the conflict for the rest of the story. It wasn’t long enough to make a chapter out of, and the way it was written, I couldn’t work it in as backstory. So, I included it even though I understood some people frown at prologues. It’s the only prologue I’ve included in any of my books and I don’t regret it.
Then there are epilogues. I use them frequently to wrap up loose ends and minor plot points. I hate leaving
cliffhangers at the end of my books! I started checking, and I have used them in most of my stories. Some are fairly short, a page or two, and some fairly extensive. The one for the Ranger’s Dog Tags was about four pages long, basically a chapter. But the mystery had been wrapped up in the last chapter and I was tidying up the entire series, so I don’t feel bad. It’s what the book and the readers needed.
And that’s what it comes down to. What does the story demand? The writer has to listen to the story and figure it out. Both prologues and epilogues should be used with care, but neither should be avoided entirely. That’s my take, anyway. Let’s find out what the other authors think by following the lings below.
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
April 26, 2021
Prologues and Epilogues. Yes or no?
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
Totally agree, sometimes the story wouldn’t be the same without a pro/epilogue. But they need to be constructed with care.
The “with care” part is the key
I hate leaving cliffhangers at the end of my books as well. Sometimes I use prologues and epilogues, but it depends on the story.
Some stories just end that way. I had a really long epi example for this post but dumped it. Thank God, huh?
If you had a really long prologue, I’d track you down. But an epilogue? No problem.
In the beginning there was firmament. And fter about a gazillion years there was a little town called Lottie. Back in 1813 Miz Lottie showed up by the crick that’s now called Lottie’s crick and then her eldest…
Brevity, Mr Huston. One word instead of twelve…
I couldn’t work it in as backstory – You can ALWAYS work it in as backstory. I always think of Kryptonite. Who knew until it was critical?
I have thought about it. And since it was an action scene, I think having it as a prologue was the best fit.
You could always go the “a shot rang out and all hell broke loose” opening chapter route. 😉
LOL. I tend to go with car and/or motorcycle chases!
I agree. You need a prologue/epilogue … maybe, sometimes. And other times you don’t. I’ve got a writer friend who is helping me dig through an abandoned project for possible submission to Kindle’s new Vella program. She’s insisting I need to write the scene where the couple saw each other the last time. I don’t think I do. I need to write them dealing with their different views of that event and that is fodder for later scenes. I’m going to do what I want, but she has some strong feelings on the subject. I looked at her books (I’ve beta read for her before to) and she doesn’t do prologues in any of her published works so I’m confused and so I’m still open, but I know in the end, I’ll do what the story requires.
Here’s a view from the nonfiction side of things. I added an epilogue in my latest book, which launched in Nov. 2020. The manuscript that I had sent to the copy editor in early March needed a bit of an update. Some of the advice in my book, like always bring a reusable cup to a coffee shop, was no longer an option. In the epilogue, titled “May 2020,” I put in the caveat of “by the time you read this” things may be back to normal or still in shutdown mode.
I never thought of that! It’s not like anyone’s crystal ball predicted what happened.
I agree, Patricia, if an epilogue or prologue sues you story idea, then use it. I am not restrained by the views of others. If something is good enough for a famous author to use, then it is good enough for me.