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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/44608
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/44608
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Yes, you can. And many authors do. But, as others have pointed out, it's something you need to tread carefully with.

My novel has a prologue (and an epilogue). I had it in my head since I conceived of my story and knew I wanted it there. My main character is a 12 year old girl living in the United States in 1995. The prologue is about her grandmother as a child. It sets up the main theme of my book and gives necessary historical background that's important for all the American characters.

When I wrote it, I wasn't sure if I should do it that way. I've heard all the negatives about using prologues. So I spoke at length about it to my critique group. They all love the prologue and think it should be separate. I had thought about using flashback or exposition or another method to relay the information and they thought a prologue was the best method and that it did not detract from the story. When I'm done, I'll see what my beta readers says. And then I'll, hopefully, have input from a publisher.

Using another example, my spouse has a comic series and, instead of a prologue (which would never work in this medium due to length breakdowns and publishing spacing), has put the background/setup of the heroes into sections of a few pages in each of the first few issues. It's necessary and the sections are fine, but some reviewers found it confusing. By the third issue, it all makes sense. There wasn't really another way to do this.

For other stories, the background information can come out piecemeal. This can help the reader engage with the story more. But it only works if the information can wait until the reader is immersed in the story. Another method is to amp up the background until it overfills a mere prologue and becomes a "Part." This has the disadvantage of upsetting the reader who enjoyed the characters and story and didn't want a huge time jump or location/character change.

**Ultimately, the question is "does a prologue make my story better?"**

It's an effective way to convey backstory, but it's not always the best way. Think about what you want the reader to know when, if the information can wait, and get feedback from a writer's group or friends about what does and doesn't work.

Original score: 1