The Power of Prologue

In writing circles there is a debate going on about prologues. And let me tell you, if you thought something as innocuous as prologues couldn't possibly be controversial or titalating, think again. There are very emotional arguments on both sides of the spectrum. Some people are in love with prologues and absolutely refuse to let go of them. On the flip side, others claim that a prologue is just a way to cheat when coming up with an opening hook. As for me, I'm somewhere in between, but leaning more toward the champions of the prologue.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that every book should have a prologue. In fact, I think a writer should consider carefully whether or not a prologue is really neccessary before writing it. I am brainstorming for a new book right now about a 1000 year old fairy woman who has been in isolation for hundreds of years until she meets a 19th century sexy scientist. I was tempted to start off with a prologue, but after considering it I realized that there was nothing I could say in a prologue that couldn't be incorporated as back story throughout the story. On the flip side, Savage Grace begins with the death of Evangeline's mother. While her mother technically dies before the story begins, how she dies is of vital importance to the story. Hence, I determined that her death scene would work best as a prologue.

So when is a prologue appropriate? When I am considering this in my writing I have several questions that I answer with brutal honesty before making a decision.

1. Is the prologue neccessary to set up the main story?

The purpose of a prologue is to relay essential backstory that cannot be done any other way. This is done in a different voice and POV than the rest of the novel, in order to set it apart. As with my example above, the information should occur in a diffent time and/or location than the rest of the novel. And allow me to stress again that this information must be neccessary to the rest of the story.

2. Does the prologue have an exceptionally compelling hook?

If you decide to write a prologue, keep in mind that it is essentially a false start to your story. I know many readers who simply skip prologues (I have been guilty of this at times). As such, you must make certain that you have an almost supernaturally compelling hook. Something that will tell the reader that it is worth their time to read the prologue (false start) before the first chapter (actual start).

3. Are you using an exciting prologue to cover up an unexciting opening chapter?

As a reader, there is nothing that annoys me more than a gripping, edge-of-my-seat prologue followed by a dross opening chapter. If the only reason you are using a prologue is because you have no effective hook in your opening chapter, then you are using it for the wrong reason. If you open with an entire chapter of info dumping and backstory, then you need to rewrite the opening and consider dropping the prologue. The opening chapter must be exciting and compelling, otherwise you'll just annoy your readers.

This is my opinion; what's yours? To prologue or not to prologue. That is my question.

Bodice-Ripper Defined

While writing and perfecting my first book, Savage Grace, I participated in several peer-review author websites as well as some local writers circles. While I was submitting it for peer-review, I received several comments along the lines of "be careful, this [insert section here] could make people think this is a bodice-ripper" (or some variation thereof).

It could be that I was born in the wrong generation, but I wasn't quite sure what defined a "bodice-ripper". I gathered from the comments I received that it was considered a bad thing. So I relied on my old friend google and came up with several definitions. Starting with:

"a romantic novel containing scenes in which the heroine is sexually violated"
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Okay, definitely not any of the books I have or every would write. Kind of offended that people would even think my books would be classified as such. Moving on to the next definition:

"The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. ..." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodice_ripper

This is a very good description of my books. I call it romance, but some apparently consider it a bodice-ripper. Let's move to the next:

"A sexually explicit romantic novel, usually in a historical setting, especially one involving the seduction of the heroine" en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Bodice-ripper

Sure, that one works for me as well.

Of these four definitions, the only one I take issue with is the first about the heroine being raped by the hero. After reading these, I must say I am a bit offended by the term "bodice-ripper". It seems to imply that romance books have less merit than pieces of literary fiction. If I enjoy writing and reading romance some people might think that I am something of a mindless drone. Just because I enjoy Eloisa James and Julie Garwood doesn't mean I can't enjoy W. Somerset Maugham or George Orwell (two of my absolute favourite authors, by the way).

Think of it this way. There are thousands of movies in existance. Some of them are very important movies. Schindler's List, The Last King of Scotland or Hotel Rwanda, to name a few. But I have no desire to only watch these serious, important (and sometimes downright depressing) movies. Sometimes I just want something that is fun and emotionally satisfying. Something like Never Been Kissed, The Proposal or Singing in the Rain.

There are many very talented, intelligent people who write romance. Julia Quinn is an ivy league graduate with a post-graduate degree on top of that. I enjoy philosophy, history, psychology and politics. I read the NY Times and the Wallstreet Journal cover-to-cover on a daily basis. I am a subscriber to the Economist. I watch Charlie Rose and C-Span. I also enjoy "chick-flicks" and, apparently, "bodice-rippers". Does that make me a mindless drone? If it does, then I am remarkably comfortable with that determination. The world would be a better place were there more such "mindless drones" in the world.

Where Do Your Ideas Come From???

Today was a bad writing day. It was like carving the words into granite. Chip, chip, chip. Wow, I got half a letter T. Chip, chip, chip. And there's the rest of it. On and on it went all day long until I got all of two hundred words written. Awful words at that. I'm certain I'll scrap most, if not all of it tomorrow (technically today, as it is 3:20 in the morning).

So what's my point in revealing this to you? I'm so happy that you asked. Because after spending all day forcing the words out with a sledge hammer, I decided to call it a day and go to sleep. Unfortunately, as soon as my head touched the pillow my mind was suddenly full of ideas. Now I have two hours (if I'm lucky) until the wee one wakes up and I still can't turn off my mind. On the plus side, I've written four thousand words tonight plus outlined my next book.

My question today is this: Where do you get your ideas? And, perhaps more importantly, what do you do when the ideas stop flowing?

Id, Ego and Super Ego

Super Ego: C'mon, Jaime, get up. You should take a shower and get dressed, it's nearly noon.


Id: Naw, think of how much easier it is just to stay in your pjs all day


Ego: Id, you are genius, I tell ya. Pure genius




The End