How to Write a Prologue That Draws Readers In

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

A prologue sets the opening scene for a story, told in the voice and point of view of a character from the novel. The best prologues draw readers in, grab their attention, and set the stage for an engaging narrative. But how do you write an effective prologue for your book?

What is the purpose of prologues?

Prologues serve multiple purposes in storytelling, with each one contributing to the overall impact of the main narrative.

Captivate readers

The main job of an effective prologue is to grab potential readers’ attention and make them eager to continue reading. A great prologue can begin with a compelling event, a mysterious occurrence, or an intriguing character. If you do this effectively, you can pique a reader’s curiosity before your story even starts.

Set the tone

Prologues should establish the tone and atmosphere of your story. They provide you with an opportunity to convey the overall mood of your novel, whether it’s suspenseful, dramatic, or whimsical. By setting the tone early on, prologues help potential readers align their expectations with your narrative style. 

Create a sense of mystery or foreshadowing

Prologues can create a sense of mystery or foreshadowing, hinting at events or themes that will unfold throughout the story. They can introduce conflict, enigmatic characters, or unexplained situations, leaving readers eager to uncover the answers as they progress through the main narrative.

Does every book need a prologue?

Not every book requires a prologue — in fact, there’s no requirement at all. The choice to include one depends on the genre, the specific story being told, and the author’s inclinations as to whether the storytelling would benefit from giving the reader information to set the stage for the tale to come.

Some genres — such as epic fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction — commonly employ prologues to provide background information or introduce significant events. Other genres, like contemporary romance or mystery, do not typically rely on prologues.

Consider whether a prologue adds value to your story. If it enhances the reader’s understanding, creates intrigue, or adds depth to the narrative, then a prologue may be appropriate. If it amounts to unnecessary exposition that doesn’t contribute to the flow of the story, it’s best to omit it.

A prologue is not a substitute for a bad opening chapter

If you’re adding a prologue because you don’t think your opening chapter is strong enough, this is a mistake. Readers will lose interest if Chapter One isn’t captivating — prologue or not. Rather than patch up your opening with a prologue, focus on rewriting your opening chapter until it does the job you want it to do. If you’re still feeling like your first chapter isn’t getting the job done, it’s time to go back to your outline and take another look at the overall structure of your book.

How to write a prologue

Crafting a good prologue requires careful consideration and attention to detail. Here are some tips to guide you.

Tailor it to your story

The prologue should be specifically tailored to your story, providing relevant information that sets the stage for what’s to come. Consider the key elements, themes, or events that will be explored in the main narrative and incorporate them into the prologue in a way that captures a reader’s interest.

For my YA fantasy novel, The Dragon Squisher, I included a prologue that not only delivered necessary background information, but I made it as funny as I possibly could. This let readers know exactly what kind of book they were in for (not just a YA fantasy, but a YA comedy), and it allowed me to info-dump in a way that was as entertaining as I could make it. The feedback I’ve gotten tells me I did a good job with it.

Introduce key characters

Introduce important characters or events in the prologue, giving readers a glimpse of their significance in the story. However, you want to avoid overwhelming readers with excessive background details. Provide enough information to intrigue them, but save deeper character development for the main narrative. Originally, my prologue was twice as long, but I cut it in half and placed that section later in the story, after Chapter Five, so my readers were already invested in the story.

Edit and share with beta readers

After writing your prologue, revise and edit it thoroughly. Ensure it flows seamlessly with the rest of the story and effectively accomplishes its purpose. Consider sharing it with beta readers or critique partners to gather feedback and gain insights on how it impacts their reading experience. I’ve had great success hiring competent and affordable beta readers on Fiverr.com.

A great prologue can be a powerful tool to captivate readers’ interest, set the tone, and create anticipation for the main story. But take the time to carefully consider whether a good prologue is appropriate for your book and determine whether it will enhance or detract from your storytelling.

Once your manuscript is finished and you’re ready to publish, BookBaby is ready to help with all of your publishing needs. We offer book printing to book formatting, and our editing services are the best prologue to your self-publishing story. Find out more at www.bookbaby.com.

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