tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050630514662355379.post592222268491563916..comments2023-10-10T10:57:13.195-05:00Comments on Writing, Food, and Life: UncertaintyMeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718382178913859357noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050630514662355379.post-66060148622717255512009-04-29T14:37:00.000-05:002009-04-29T14:37:00.000-05:00I definitely have mixed feelings about prologues. ...I definitely have mixed feelings about prologues. I also agree that if it's part of the story, it should be in the first chapter, or become the entire first chapter.<br /><br />My writers group told me to put some of the backstory (I prefer one word) into a prologue. I do not like it, but they all thought it worked better.<br /><br />One thing I like, and I tried it, is an "Author's Note" or whatever you want to call it. It's very short and to the point. It tells where a Star Trek or Star Wars story fits in the entire history of the two series. I haven't read either series for many years, but I liked the information given to me by the author and not having to figure it out by myself.<br /><br />I used it to explain a tiny bit of otherwise confusing background to my science fiction novel. Anne McCaffrey write a prologue in her early "Dragonriders of Pern" books, but it was more like a very long author's note.<br /><br /> James Rollins uses a prologue in most of his books. It usually is a bit of history, or fictitious history, that takes place usually several years before the novel. This is closest to what I believe a prologue should be.Dave W. Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18122812960282406701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050630514662355379.post-83677471471719155482009-04-03T12:26:00.000-05:002009-04-03T12:26:00.000-05:00I'm glad to see people do like and read prologues!...I'm glad to see people do like and read prologues! I was getting worried. <BR/><BR/>Helen, sometimes I'm completely baffled as to why an author chose to have a prologue. I can't think of an example right now. Prologues just don't always make sense with the rest of the book. That bugs me.Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08718382178913859357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050630514662355379.post-39122210729119245222009-04-03T07:34:00.000-05:002009-04-03T07:34:00.000-05:00I consider prologues part of the book, so I read t...I consider prologues part of the book, so I read them. They don't bother me. Sometimes I wonder why they're there. If that's how you want the book to start, then start it there.<BR/><BR/>Helen<BR/>http://straightfromhel.blogspot.comHelen Gingerhttp://straightfromhel.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050630514662355379.post-14463159886356812282009-03-31T22:57:00.000-05:002009-03-31T22:57:00.000-05:00Hi Meg,Speaking of writing in different genre’s…My...Hi Meg,<BR/>Speaking of writing in different genre’s…<BR/><BR/>My one (just about) completed novel is a romantic/science fiction story. Most of the characters are good. The situation is the antagonist. …and it contains a prologue!<BR/><BR/>I have three other semi-completed books, and they’re all thrillers. (One has a paranormal edge to it) Some of the characters in those books are just plain evil. …and no prologues – yet!<BR/><BR/>I write what I feel, regardless of genre. It’s as simple as that. (I avoid writing porn)<BR/><BR/>To answer your question on prologues: If an author included a prologue, then I’m going to trust that he/she knew what they were doing and read every word.<BR/><BR/>Happy April Fools Day! (in three minutes)Charlie Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02347938747849177632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050630514662355379.post-28036592228397651692009-03-31T15:15:00.000-05:002009-03-31T15:15:00.000-05:00I also used to skip prologues, now I love them. I ...I also used to skip prologues, now I love them. I used to be good with flashbacks, now they tend to annoy me. Tastes really do change over time. I don't mind if they are short flashbacks. But sometimes when the author constantly jumps back and forth in time I just end up confused, frustrated and stop reading. <BR/><BR/>I'm heading back over to your blog now to see the change. :DMeghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08718382178913859357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050630514662355379.post-791262547466135642009-03-31T15:03:00.000-05:002009-03-31T15:03:00.000-05:00I do read prologues. I usually enjoy them. I don't...I do read prologues. I usually enjoy them. I don't read flash backs, they have a tendency to annoy me. <BR/><BR/>I responded to you post on my blog. I gave the the wrong info. OOps. Thanks to you I corrected it :)Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.com