How long is too long for a prologue?

The length of a prologue depends on the nature of the story, but it's best to keep it trim. One to five pages should suffice.

Can a prologue be too long?

Prologues can also easily be too long, meaning the 'real' beginning of the story is delayed. Make sure you don't make your prologue longer than your standard chapter and possibly consider making it even shorter to add real punch. You need to lay the foundations for the plot to come, but without being long-winded.

How long should a prologue last?

The average length of a prologue is between 1500 to 2500 words long. As you can see, it is a little shorter than an actual chapter. And that is the golden rule of a healthy prologue length.

Can a prologue be 1000 words?

How Long Should a Prologue Be? Most novel chapters are around 1,000–5,000 words long. A good prologue can be the length of a standard novel chapter, but it's usually better to write a short prologue than a long one.

Can a prologue be 3 pages?

Prologues come at the beginning of a book; after any copyright, dedication, and epigraph pages. There's no set length, but a prologue is usually shorter than a standard chapter. A prologue is different from a preface, which is written from the perspective of the author and isn't fictional.

How to Write a Prologue | Novel Writing Advice

What is the longest prologue ever?

Crossroads of Twilight is the longest prologue ever written.

How big can a prologue be?

The length of a prologue depends on the nature of the story, but it's best to keep it trim. One to five pages should suffice.

What are the rules of a prologue?

What makes a good prologue?

A good prologue should:

Introduce a major character, even if only by name or in passing. Provide some vital information on a character's backstory. Set the tone/feel for the rest of the story. Provide information on the world, conflict, time period, or inciting incident.

Does a prologue count as chapter 1?

Prologues come before chapter one and could be expository/introductory prose, a poem, diary letter, news clipping, or anything in between. As a reader, when I start reading a prologue, I'm usually impatient to get to chapter one.

What makes a bad prologue?

Gives too many out of context details—say, a fantasy prologue that sets up what's happening, explaining circumstances—that mean nothing to the reader, creating the sensation of too much information at once without developing a sense of the story itself.

Do readers skip prologue?

Ask most readers across the globe, and they'll unequivocally tell you they tend to skip the prologue.

Can a prologue be a flashback?

Prologues can be anywhere from a few sentences to even a few chapters long, and they're always placed at the start of a novel. The four most common types of prologues are: Flashback: A prologue that explores an event that happened in the past, prior to the main story.

Why do editors hate prologues?

Because, at the risk of being repetitive, most literary agents hate prologues.

Can a prologue be 2000 words?

Length of Prologue

Some would suggest below 1000, while some would suggest otherwise. It can be of any length as there is no rule for a minimum or a maximum number of words to place in a prologue. But a maximum of 2000 words is appropriate for any kind of book.

How long is start again a prologue?

Four "endings" depending on your choices (as in, as in, four different ways the battle against the final boss can go)! Including one True Ending! 3-5 hour playtime!

How many chapters should a prologue have?

Your prologue shouldn't be longer than your average chapter length. It should be one event (maybe two), it shouldn't bother with developing characters, and it should only include the crucial information.

How many scenes should a prologue have?

Most prologues are successful if they are short and to the point. Try to use only one to two scenes in the prologue, as too many scenes can make the prologue feel too long and drawn out. Often, using one powerful scene as the prologue can be very effective and draw the reader in right away.

Are you supposed to read the prologue?

It is not required, but if you skip it and go straight into the book you may feel the book has a slow start and the first few chapters may seem boring to you. A prologue is something that sets the stage for the reader.

Should a prologue be written in first person?

It can be done both in first- and third-person POV. A different POV prologue describes a certain event from a point-of-view different than the main characters of the plot. This event may occur in the same time-frame as the plot, or years before or after.

What's the difference between a prelude and a prologue?

A Prelude and a prologue are basically the same thing. It is an introductory or preliminary performance or event; and in music, it is a short piece of music that acts as an introduction to a longer piece.

What comes after prologue?

Epilogue. Like a prologue, epilogues are only in fiction. It comes after the story and often wraps up the story nicer than the ending did.

What is a prologue example?

The most common type of prologue used in film is an exposition prologue which provides exposition, or information about some aspect of the movie. For example, an exposition prologue might explain what led up to an event that takes place later in the movie like in “Back to The Future.” It shows how Marty's parents meet.

What is opposite of a prologue?

An epilogue or epilog (from Greek ἐπίλογος epílogos, "conclusion" from ἐπί epi, "in addition" and λόγος logos, "word") is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature, usually used to bring closure to the work.

What is a sentence for prologue?

She is introduced in the prologue of the film. Thus, the audience does not receive an extended prologue as often seen in first novels.