Prologues & Epilogues, Oh My!

by Abigail Owen

I have heard over the years from various readers that they skip prologues or epilogues. 

Skip them? How? Why? Maybe that reader had a bad experience? Or just thinks that a prologue or epilogue is information they don’t need?

Do prologues and/or epilogues fit with or enhance every single story? Or course not. But if a writer is doing their job right, every part of the book has a purpose and moves the story forward. Including the prologue and the epilogue. Sometimes, especially with those. So let’s explore these together as writers. Maybe we can change those readers’ minds!

PROLOGUES

Let’s start off with a definition: A prologue is a separate introductory section of a literary or musical work.

Well, that’s boring and not all that helpful. No wonder readers are struggling with prologues. I like this non-literary one a bit better: an event or action that leads to another event or situation.

To me, a prologue-gone-wrong is one that is boring, does nothing to drive the story forward or give critical context, is too long, and/or is only used for an info dump. When done well, I find that a prologue is like an appetizer–it leaves the reader wanting to dig into the main course.

So let’s look at some of the most compelling reasons to write a prologue into your story:

Hook the Reader

This should be your main reason for adding a prologue to your story. To hook your reader from page one. If you already do that with chapter one, then great, no prologue needed. But if you need to pull the reader in first, then slow it down, a prologue is a great way to do that. There are tons of articles and workshops on how to hook a reader, so please go read up, but here are a few different things to try out:

• Lead off with action that immediately pulls the reader into the story.
• Leave the reader questions relevant to the central plot—and therefore eager to learn those answers in the opening chapters (or patient to wait for them later).
• Immediately evoke an emotional response (Bonus Movie Example: Up – if you know, you know)

Show (Don’t Tell) a Critical Backstory Element

Is there compelling or very important background / backstory information that the reader must know to understand the character, world, motivations, or catalyst for the plot? Showing that in a prologue scene can eliminate the need of flashbacks, dialogue, or info dump.

Create Intrigue for a Different POV / Character

Is it important to see the world through a different character’s perspective, even if only for one scene? Or can you offer the reader information they wouldn’t get from the main character’s perspective? Is this a good chance to introduce the antagonist?

Introduce / Hint at an Upcoming Conflict Earlier

Is a conflict or character not introduced until later in the story, but knowing of that or seeing a hint of that might make the earlier pages more compelling?

Foreshadow Future Events

Create suspense for the reader with foreshadowing, again in show don’t tell format, so that is in the back of their mind as they read the book.

Create an Emotional Attachment to a Character

I see this one less in books, as the reader will get to know the characters through the course of the story. But what if that character doesn’t reach the “strongest” part of their voice, or it takes a while to warm up to them, until much later?  It can help to show the reader where the character is coming from or might end up so that they are more invested in the character early on.

Set the Tone

This one is harder (for me at least). I’ve seen writers use setting the tone as a reason for long, drawn out scenes that don’t move the story forward. But sometimes to ground the reader in the genre (think of things like horror, mystery, adventure) or hint that there might be a tone shift later, a prologue can be helpful.

EPILOGUES

Let’s start off with a definition again: a section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a comment on or a conclusion to what has happened. Again, boring. This one is a bit better: a final or concluding act or event.

To me this means that, when done well and for the right reasons, epilogues can leave readers satisfied with the book they’ve just finished and/or wanting the next one (if there is a next).

So let’s look at some of the most compelling reasons to write an epilogue into your story:

Show the Suffering was Not in Vain

Did you know that studies have shown that the most instinctual parts of the brain can’t differentiate between real people and characters from a book? If readers have traveled a rough road with the characters, it can be emotionally cathartic to show them that the suffering (the characters’ and the readers’) wasn’t in vain.

Show the Consequences

The main character got what they wanted, solved the conflict, won the game, found love (or didn’t). What does that mean to them down the road? You can also ask yourself what does the finale mean to the world? To other characters? To the reader?

Release Tension After a Banger of a Climax

Sometimes you need to let the reader digest a violent or startling climax, or even just sit with the impact of a victory or loss. But you also don’t want to end there, leaving them with a hangover of “then what?”. 

Wrap Up Loose Ends

It’s okay if not everything is solved by the climax. Let me say that again. The climax is going to solve your biggest issue(s), but maybe not the smaller ones. An epilogue is a great way to tie all those little bows up neatly for the reader.

Remind Readers of the Moral or Theme

Use the epilogue to highlight the theme of the story all along, especially if the climax might distract readers from thinking back over it.

Show an Outside Perspective

Sometimes the main characters are too close to the story. Showing an outside perspective can wrap things up but could also introduce new questions. 

What About the Secondary Characters?

If you have a terrific cast of characters, or a found family situation, you might want to show the reader what’s going on with them too, post climax. Sure the main character is all taken care of, but what about the others?

Set Up the Next Book or Series or Characters

Because I write in series, and often spinoff series, this is one of my favorite ways to set that up. Show a new character’s POV, or hint at the conflict that will come next, or highlight the loose ends that aren’t tied up yet but will be in the next book. 

A Great Place for a Cliffhanger

I find my readers hate me less if I use the meat of the story to give that story it’s happy ending, but use the epilogue to leave them hanging, or drop a bomb (like questioning the protagonist’s version of the truth all along). That way they get a little of both. 

BONUS TIPS

I hope I’ve at least convinced you that prologues and epilogues can be very effective tools in a writer’s toolkit. As a small epilogue to this article, here are two bonus tips when it comes to using these devices:  

Use More Than One Reason

This is of the best tips I ever got as a writer. Think of the purpose of the scene. Every scene, including prologues and epilogues should have one. But it’s way better if a scene can serve multiple purposes. Which of the reasons above (or other reasons) could you combine to make your prologue or epilogue scenes even more compelling?

Rules are Meant to be Broken

That is, if the reason for or method of breaking the rules is compelling. So go out and find what works best for you as a writer, and for your story!

About the Author 

Abigail Owen is an award-winning author who writes New Adult and Young Adult romantasy and paranormal romance. She is obsessed with big worlds, fast plots, couples that spark, a dash of snark, and oodles of HEAs! Other titles include: wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex– competitive skydiver, AuDHD, spreadsheet lover, Jeopardy! fanatic, organizational guru, true classic movie buff, linguaphile, wishful world traveler, and chocoholic. Abigail currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero, their (mostly) angelic teenagers, and two adorable fur babies.  To learn more, visit her website www.abigailowen.com

THE GAMES THE GODS PLAY

The gods love to toy with us mere mortals.
And every hundred years, we let them…

I have never been favored by the gods. Far from it, thanks to Zeus.

Living as a cursed office clerk for the Order of Thieves, I just keep my head down and hope the capricious beings who rule from Olympus won’t notice me. Not an easy feat, given San Francisco is Zeus’ patron city, but I make do. I survive. Until the night I tangle with a different god.

The worst god. Hades.

For the first time ever, the ruthless, mercurial King of the Underworld has entered the Crucible—the deadly contest the gods hold to determine a new ruler to sit on the throne of Olympus. But instead of fighting their own battles, the gods name mortals to compete in their stead.

So why in the Underworld did Hades choose me—a sarcastic nobody with a curse on her shoulders—as his champion? And why does my heart trip every time he says I’m his?

I don’t know if I’m a pawn, bait, or something else entirely to this dangerously tempting god. How can I, when he has more secrets than stars in the sky?

Because Hades is playing by his own rules…and Death will win at any cost.

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Tags: featured, women writers

Category: How To and Tips