tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post1814275310475843917..comments2023-11-03T04:40:00.257-05:00Comments on Author Jennifer Shirk's Me, My Muse and I: Prologues: bad rap or ditch worthy?Jennifer Shirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16970585847385511795noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-67308721060582872872009-11-11T21:05:54.048-05:002009-11-11T21:05:54.048-05:00A prologue is a funny thing. I just did a post on ...A prologue is a funny thing. I just did a post on the same subject, and I got a bunch of mixed reactions as well. I don't usually like them, but I just wrote one. It's a very intense action scene that happened two years prior to the beginning of the novel, it's weaved into the entire plot of the novel, and my husband absolutely loved it and how my Chapter One starts after that. I'm going to try it out on many people before I ever submit it, but for now, it stays.Heather Sunserihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12552506888985553471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-68073097353075403382009-11-11T01:39:09.129-05:002009-11-11T01:39:09.129-05:00I like to dive right into the book. It's like ...I like to dive right into the book. It's like movies. Word of mouth tell me 'this is a great movie, you gotta watch it' and so I do. The previews most times give away the whole movie. I like to be surprised. Hope that made sense.Ellie Kingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14711249217634726986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-27794875904019030602009-11-10T14:47:56.312-05:002009-11-10T14:47:56.312-05:00That was news to me, thanks for sharing.
I have re...That was news to me, thanks for sharing.<br />I have read good and bad prologues. I pondered with the idea but decided against it.Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-12592003740408854832009-11-10T11:20:22.407-05:002009-11-10T11:20:22.407-05:00I was an epilogue addict until very recently - fun...I was an epilogue addict until very recently - funny, I never read or write prologues, but I always read (and until recently, wrote) epilogues. I look forward to any future analysis you give on the topic!Cammiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03861378825187133888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-46922705549997530112009-11-10T10:27:44.262-05:002009-11-10T10:27:44.262-05:00I'm opinionated on this one. To me, a prologue...I'm opinionated on this one. To me, a prologue is usually just a bunch of backstory that I don't want to read. Ditto on starting with a flashback. Just a personal pet-peeve! I'm sure there are terrific prologues out there!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-31426041816870273332009-11-10T07:20:31.320-05:002009-11-10T07:20:31.320-05:00I have a prologue for my inspirational romance but...I have a prologue for my inspirational romance but it's the only one I've written. I always thought it worked - the editor never mentioned deleting it. But I agree, I usually like to jump right into the first chapter. <br /><br />Good luck on starting a new story.Diane Craverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09543155150824715253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-11651725452040184172009-11-10T05:09:00.227-05:002009-11-10T05:09:00.227-05:00I think prologues work in some books. If I feel I ...I think prologues work in some books. If I feel I need a prologue then I'll use one. I'm not big on writing rules. :)Shelley Munrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03090469550227550713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-85481674924032802052009-11-09T20:07:25.149-05:002009-11-09T20:07:25.149-05:00I don't mind prologues. My current WiP has on...I don't mind prologues. My current WiP has one which will either be drastically revised or eliminated. The planned epilogue will likely remain. We'll see. Interesting post.Stephanie McGeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16507025637411479409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-65732319910509241512009-11-09T16:45:25.566-05:002009-11-09T16:45:25.566-05:00If you have previously been published, and are an ...If you have previously been published, and are an established writer, you could probably get away with writing a "good" prologue, but if you are writing a first or second novel, or if you are writing in certain genres, no way Jose.Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-28227854400528353932009-11-09T15:05:14.492-05:002009-11-09T15:05:14.492-05:00Love the different views on prologues. I just wro...Love the different views on prologues. I just wrote a blog post on beginnings and how my a prologue is, like another comment said, for ME. It's part of the writing process and a way to introduce ME to the story. Whether it stays depends on a lot of things.Everything of Interest to a Romance Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11325200005671609112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-74174111986590270712009-11-09T13:48:24.669-05:002009-11-09T13:48:24.669-05:00In my first novel attempt, I wrote a prologue, but...In my first novel attempt, I wrote a prologue, but nixed it when I read all the advice out there. Now I just make a habit not to have one. It's one of those things that seems like it's either going to at best cause indifference and at worst hurt you with an agent. So until I'm multi-published, I'm not going there.<br /><br />Having said that, I don't mind reading a prologue if it's brief and has some action, but a lot of times they do seem unnecessary.Roni Lorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719679344024635326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-69822438210679255592009-11-09T13:29:34.155-05:002009-11-09T13:29:34.155-05:00I agree with Kristen Painter, "never" is...I agree with Kristen Painter, "never" is a pretty strong word and in an artistic field, I don't think there should be rules. Guidelines yes, grammar rules, yes...but rules like this...I don't know.<br /><br />I always read a prologue f it's there...obviously the author had a reason to put it there...there's information I need to know.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17401931638397651614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-30104598134599462952009-11-09T12:42:08.816-05:002009-11-09T12:42:08.816-05:00Cindy: Very interesting you should say that.
Ste...Cindy: Very interesting you should say that. <br /><br />Stephanie: I bet your prologue works just great! :)<br /><br />Julie: You sound like my crit partner! She's an advocate, too. That's why books are so different and interesting. :)Jennifer Shirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16970585847385511795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-61634543124240279312009-11-09T12:32:32.078-05:002009-11-09T12:32:32.078-05:00It depends. if its well written of course I'll...It depends. if its well written of course I'll stick around if not I'l scim it.Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-74082164294381888332009-11-09T11:19:35.722-05:002009-11-09T11:19:35.722-05:00I do not enjoy reading prologues and laughed at th...I do not enjoy reading prologues and laughed at the party analogy. <br /><br />Poor little prologue. . . just skimmed an raced through. If it is important enough to write, just make it your first chapter and include it like a full member of the family!Ava Walker Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12968305681481056689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-87104878659574392212009-11-09T11:16:43.437-05:002009-11-09T11:16:43.437-05:00I really like prologues. Even Shakespeare used pro...I really like prologues. Even Shakespeare used prologues of some sort, didn't he? You can do so much for your story with them and I think they are only superfluous if they aren't carefully thought out. Foreshadowing is a biggie in a good prologue, and setting the mood or the theme of the whole story. I'm an advocate :)Julie Daohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13814052162359300933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-58471456577015054012009-11-09T10:47:31.893-05:002009-11-09T10:47:31.893-05:00It seems like I've read a lot about prologues ...It seems like I've read a lot about prologues lately and how they're, for the most part, unnecessary.<br /><br />I've written prologues before and have found that 9 times out of 10 they weren't needed and I ended up getting rid of them.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-5050639139103111982009-11-09T09:58:20.290-05:002009-11-09T09:58:20.290-05:00I almost always skip the prologue. I've never...I almost always skip the prologue. I've never missed anything because of it. That right there tells me something.Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-19521413736317967352009-11-09T09:54:35.813-05:002009-11-09T09:54:35.813-05:00I like to write them. But I don't always add ...I like to write them. But I don't always add them when I submit my stories. I guess they're kind of for my own personal enjoyment.<br /><br />But I agree with you, sometimes I like to read them in published stories, sometimes I'll skim too.Linda Kagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00259042112816376940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-29970859430714787602009-11-09T09:41:46.061-05:002009-11-09T09:41:46.061-05:00I love prologues! And yes, I write them. I really ...I love prologues! And yes, I write them. I really do enjoy them. I can see Cruise's point, but I don't necessarily agree. If you get a chance, check out Jessica Morrell's "Between the Lines". She has an entire chapter on prologues (and epilogues) that's really great.<br /><br />Wow, I really hope agents don't skip over them. I'd at least like a chance!Kristen Torres-Torohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15903038121623389560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-76906852877643616222009-11-09T09:40:03.537-05:002009-11-09T09:40:03.537-05:00I'm currently thinking of kicking mine to the ...I'm currently thinking of kicking mine to the curb. It's catchy and short, but it might be like asking someone to put down their umbrella, take off their hat, and wipe their shoes before they come on in.<br /><br />Excellent post.<br />~ WendyWendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-51903316795884019512009-11-09T09:35:05.339-05:002009-11-09T09:35:05.339-05:00Sorry you're bored today. Hope a fun surprise...Sorry you're bored today. Hope a fun surprise awaits you! :O)Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07604687906788800639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-77330553240492667332009-11-09T09:07:35.930-05:002009-11-09T09:07:35.930-05:00I heard the same thing from Mary-Theresa Hussey th...I heard the same thing from Mary-Theresa Hussey this weekend at our local conference. And since she is the executive editor for one of the lines I'm targeting...her advice is gold to me. ;)Chelle Sandellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03813658527826989105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-16177958908848903722009-11-09T09:03:21.254-05:002009-11-09T09:03:21.254-05:00I have a prologue in a book that's coming up. ...I have a prologue in a book that's coming up. It hasn't been submitted yet to agent or editor, so I'll let you know what they say. It's the first prologue I've ever written, but it shows extremely traumatic event that happened to the hero. In my opinion it has more power and weight if the reader experiences it rather than hears about it in bits through backstory. But...my editor could well disagree. :)Stephanie Newtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15242628477843155972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395293021442031324.post-66504305392457059382009-11-09T08:44:20.932-05:002009-11-09T08:44:20.932-05:00No one's opinion matters but mine and my edito...No one's opinion matters but mine and my editors, that's what I think.<br /><br />All this "never" and "must" business is basically crap. Do what works for you and ignore everything else until your editor tells you otherwise.Kristen Painterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07984459504977637298noreply@blogger.com