Is it OK to have a long prologue?

Explanation: A prologue (at least in the writing sense) is an introduction to the story or piece you are writing. In terms of length, it should be as long as you need it to be to get the background or facts across you need the reader to know for the story to make sense.

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.

How long should a prologue be in words?

As for length, there’s no set limit. However, If your prologue is even longer than the average length of your chapters, you may want to think about what you can cut out or disperse throughout those main chapters instead. As much as I love a good prologue, even I would find one upwards of 10k or more a bit too wordy.

What book has the longest prologue?

Crossroads of Twilight is the longest prologue ever written. I’m re reading WoT for the first time since AMoL released, and I noticed that CoT was much more enjoyable than my original read when it came out years ago.

Does a prologue count as a chapter?

In answer to your question, yes, it counts as a chapter, if it’s anything longer than a page. BUT: A prologue can count as a disqualifier, since it so often indicates that the author is not only an inexperienced writer, but an inexperienced reader.

Does the prologue count as a chapter?

Should I read prologue of a book?

Yes it is absolutely necessary to read the prologue. Robert Jordan has written 80-100 page prologues for his 1000 page books, that’s 10\% of the book. No writer would write unrelated things in prologue, they want you to be hooked to the book, not leave it. So prologue is quite important.

Does every book need a prologue?

Not every book needs a prologue and if yours truly doesn’t, the actual prologue can then take away from the book, giving away too much or being irrelevant in general.

Should my book have a prologue?

If you have the information you must convey to the reader that can’t be worked into the main novel, you may need a prologue. If the story doesn’t make sense without the prologue. If you can remove the prologue (or a reader can skip it), and their understanding is not damaged, a prologue is not necessary.

What happens if your prologue is too long?

4. Prologues that are too long. The modern reader (often) prefers shorter chapters—prologues included. If your prologue is longer than most of your chapters (or if both your prologue and chapters are longer), it might be time to reevaluate the structure and pacing of your chapters.

What is a prologue and how do you write one?

What is a prologue? A prologue is like a short story—a small glimpse, set in your story’s world, written in the same style as the rest of your book but with clear separation from the start of your story.

What are the most common mistakes authors make when writing prologues?

One of the most common mistakes authors make when writing prologues is using them as a place for info-dumping. Fantasy authors are especially at risk of this if the prologue is used as a means of world-building. Info-dumping in your prologue is a no-no for a number of reasons, chief among which is that it makes for a rather slow start.

How long does it take you to read a 9K prologue?

On the blog reading basis, the whole book nominally should take 15 hours to finish, or double that to 30 hours. Two hours is 7\% of total book-reading time. Again, the 9K prologue doesn’t seem too taxing when seen in that light. The prologue is an outline that serves as an introduction.