Writer's Fallout Shelter

Prologues are effective tools used to establish setting, backstory, or mood, set-up a character(s) (traits, flaws, attitudes, etc...), or support some other element that usually isn't absolutely necessary to the advancement of the story. Perhaps you use the prologue to create a point of reference for an event that occurs much later in the story. Prologues have several valid uses. They also provide a prime opportunity for a cardinal sin among writers: The dread preemptive info-dump.

So, you say, "That disgusting pig, Liam Jackson, is against prologues!" To which I reply, "Nay!" I actually like them. As I've already stated, it's a great tool.

A couple of years back, someone took a survey regarding prologues, on a huge writing site. The answers amazed me. Approximately half the respondents claimed to never read a prologue. Justifications ranged from, "A prologue is just a info-dumping ground for lazy writers" to "If it was really that important, it would be Chapter One!"

I think many readers have been turned off by poorly written prologues, so they prefer to skip them and jump into the story. This attitude leaves many writers thinking, "Stupid readers!" Of course, when some readers see a prologue they grumble, "Stupid writers!"

For more "stuff" visit:
http://LiamJackson.com

"Have you ever been caught hiding bodies in your closet? No? Good place to hide them, uh?"

Proud member of the Horror Writers Association, International Thriller Writers, and the Authors Guild