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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/39044
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/39044
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

It is not uncommon for fictional works to start with quotes from real or fictional personages. _Dune_, in particular, makes heavy use of this tool, starting every chapter with excerpts from fictional history books, written by one of the main characters, and providing commentary, and "additional sources", and additional perspective, to the narrative.

However, there is an expectation for things to come together, fit together in a story, for all ends to be tied up nicely. If your A.B.G never shows up again, is never mentioned again, never makes any sort of appearance, it's like a broken link, a path that leads nowhere. Readers would find it disappointing and confusing.

If you "quote" a fictional character you've created, they should make an appearance in your story. Moreover, it should be clear why it's _them_ that you're citing at the start of your tale. If a fictional character makes the claim that they are the writer of the story presented to the reader, it must be made clear why it is _they_ who are the writer, what this perspective adds to the story, why it's not just your (the real writer's) novel instead.

Original score: 10