tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post4469645548240161054..comments2024-03-27T23:13:43.597-05:00Comments on Prairie Rose Publications: Prologues Kill by Sarah J. McNeal Livia J Washburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958199886826207363noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-34471406921810623182018-03-09T13:56:59.459-06:002018-03-09T13:56:59.459-06:00Hey Zina,
Ya know all of us do something the power...Hey Zina,<br />Ya know all of us do something the powers that be tell us not to. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.<br /><br />As I mentioned in the article, I am guilty of writing prologues. I may need a prologue intervention. LOL I did delete the prologue in Dark Isle and good riddance, but I will not remove the prologue (disguised as chapter 1) in Fly Away Heart because I, Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-23870484121539493352018-03-09T12:25:52.185-06:002018-03-09T12:25:52.185-06:00I like prologues. Always have, especially as a rea...I like prologues. Always have, especially as a reader before I started seriously writing. I don't like characters or situations that pop out of nowhere on the first page, even if that is where that particular book's story begins.I liked either (a) background story that helped me understand what was going one, or (b) a mystery that I expected the rest of the book to resolve. I will Zina Abbott Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06514497895329220725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-23175447785013509112018-03-08T08:47:54.046-06:002018-03-08T08:47:54.046-06:00Thank you for being so kind, Kristy. You're ri...Thank you for being so kind, Kristy. You're right, it IS hard to look at earlier work before I knew as much as I do now. I know, even when I finish slogging my way through it making changes, it will not be perfect.<br /> <br />I yearn to write something new, but I am determined to get these older books up to muster first. One nice thing about rewriting this trilogy, since I know where all 3 Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-31568653186300909742018-03-07T19:05:31.025-06:002018-03-07T19:05:31.025-06:00Sarah,
Don't be so hard on yourself. I don'...Sarah,<br />Don't be so hard on yourself. I don't believe all prologues should be scrapped. It depends on the content. So, as Deborah says, never say never. And like Kaye mentioned, a good writer can make a prologue work. I think the key, of course, is what's in the prologue. How necessary is the info? Would it be better now or later? I would probably follow the advice that if you'Kristy McCaffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11097717361053482260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-69082106757399062362018-03-07T16:44:57.556-06:002018-03-07T16:44:57.556-06:00LOL Tracy--you're right. It was needed there. ...LOL Tracy--you're right. It was needed there. There certainly are times when they are appropriate and as long as there is action that gets the story off to a great start like yours did I'm all for them. I've seen plenty that were "It was a dark and stormy night..." types, though. LOL <br />Cheryl Piersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18116526340220274282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-7069565859638307872018-03-07T14:16:46.059-06:002018-03-07T14:16:46.059-06:00Well Tracy, I have a "prologue" that I c...Well Tracy, I have a "prologue" that I called chapter 1 in Flay Away Heart. It does have action and Cheryl didn't take it out, but mostly I couldn't think of another way to show how my characters related to one another from their earliest years. As I mentioned in my comment to Kaye, it also shows Lily's bravery in the face of adversity and Robin's phobia about water. So,Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-27877093998857089032018-03-07T14:05:48.416-06:002018-03-07T14:05:48.416-06:00Kaye, I think there was a time when prologues were...Kaye, I think there was a time when prologues were popular. I did have what could be called a prologue in my story, Fly Away Heart, but I called it Chapter 1. The reason I put it in there was to show the connection between Lilith Wilding and Robin Pierpont from the time when they were kids including Lilith's bravado and Robin's fear of deep water. So, it might not be necessary and it Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-9665114675937392272018-03-07T13:59:11.465-06:002018-03-07T13:59:11.465-06:00...good points though, Sarah!...good points though, Sarah!TracyGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432297803219920111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-6816734250623417682018-03-07T13:57:44.336-06:002018-03-07T13:57:44.336-06:00As with everything, there are exceptions to the &q...As with everything, there are exceptions to the "rules"--if we can call them rules at all. If a prologue has all the required elements--action, it holds your attention, etc.--there are times when a prologue is the only way to start a story. At least Cheryl didn't "kill" my prologue in Wild Texas Hearts. ;-)TracyGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432297803219920111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-88888419028676024082018-03-07T13:46:44.718-06:002018-03-07T13:46:44.718-06:00Deborah, I've seen very few prologues in the b...Deborah, I've seen very few prologues in the books I've read. The ones I did see weren't really needed, but, as you said, "never say never." I might come across one that makes all the difference in the world. I don't know that I'll hold my breath on that though.<br />Thank you for continuing to try to post your comment in the face of adversity. I appreciate your Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-40180143552679404702018-03-07T13:34:03.822-06:002018-03-07T13:34:03.822-06:00Cheryl, the first book is taking a great deal of t...Cheryl, the first book is taking a great deal of time since it was my first published work. I've been working on it for 2 months and I'm only in Chapter 6. These books are a big leap from the Wildings and I want them to be good enough to attract readers who are used to my western stories. That prologue on Dark Isle was shocking and unnecessary, so I ditched it. Boom! I still have a huge Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-3871810475527883152018-03-07T13:28:50.778-06:002018-03-07T13:28:50.778-06:00While I don’t necessarily disagree, and I haven’t ...While I don’t necessarily disagree, and I haven’t published a story with a prologue, I do read prologues. Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels are an example of how a prologue adds the mindset to how the story will unfold. I recall Agatha Christie used prologues a few times, too. As with any writing device, the author’s storytelling skills and delivery will make or break a story. Kaye Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13530735658588595790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-11503660692068544312018-03-07T12:51:36.898-06:002018-03-07T12:51:36.898-06:00Every editor I have had in Trad publishers killed ...Every editor I have had in Trad publishers killed a prologue without even looking at it...lol. And I agree. Most of the times they serve no purpose. You need to jump into the story and pull readers into your world. Prologues rarely propel the story forward. However, NEVER SAY NEVER is a banner for publishing. So I am sure there are a few that a prologue worked for. I cannot recall one, butDeborah Macgillivrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15871266987559473741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-40147463317601309432018-03-07T12:19:17.828-06:002018-03-07T12:19:17.828-06:00Sarah, this is an excellent post. I agree with the...Sarah, this is an excellent post. I agree with the "dangers" of the prologue--a lot of people just skim it or don't read it at all. And it's really a risk, as some people will just lay the book down. I usually put that information in flashbacks and memories. Great post, and very informative. I can't wait to see your revamp of your trilogy!Cheryl Piersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18116526340220274282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-21624066526997113842018-03-07T11:52:21.342-06:002018-03-07T11:52:21.342-06:00I've had some problems getting the comment sec...I've had some problems getting the comment section to work. Hopefully, I have fixed the problem now. Sorry for the inconvenience. Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.com