{"id":19420,"date":"2023-12-07T14:24:29","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T14:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/?p=19420"},"modified":"2023-12-07T14:24:33","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T14:24:33","slug":"what-is-a-prologue-how-to-write-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/what-is-a-prologue-how-to-write-one\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Prologue &#038; How to Write One"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Sometimes the beginning of a book can be confusing. Some books may have an introduction, a foreword, acknowledgments, and a prologue before you ever read line one of the main text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In an effort to de-shroud some of the mystery about a book\u2019s beginning, I\u2019ll explore what a prologue is and how to write one. (Hint: It's different from <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-write-the-preface-of-a-book\/\">a preface<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Note: This is one of <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/parts-of-a-book\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">many posts<\/a> on the subject of book parts, from the prologue to the author's bio. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"toc\">\n\nIn this article, you will learn:\n\n<ol>\n\n<li>What a prologue is and its purpose<\/li>\n\n<li>How a prologue is different from a foreword, preface, or introduction<\/li>\n\n<li>How to write a prologue<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-a-prologue\" data-level=\"2\">What is a Prologue?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-the-purpose-of-a-prologue\" data-level=\"3\">What is the Purpose of a Prologue?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-is-a-prologue-different-from-a-foreword-preface-or-introduction\" data-level=\"2\">How is a Prologue Different from a Foreword, Preface, or Introduction?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-great-examples-of-prologues\" data-level=\"2\">Great Examples of Prologues<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-leviathan-wakes-the-expanse-book-1-by-james-s-a-corey\" data-level=\"3\">Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse, Book 1) by James S.A. Corey<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-romeo-and-juliet-william-shakespeare\" data-level=\"3\">Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-every-star-wars-movie\" data-level=\"3\">Every Star Wars Movie<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-to-write-a-prologue\" data-level=\"2\">How to Write a Prologue<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-tips-for-writing-a-prologue\" data-level=\"3\">Tips for Writing a Prologue<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-not-to-write-a-prologue\" data-level=\"2\">How Not to Write a Prologue<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-info-dumping\" data-level=\"3\">Info-Dumping<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-first-chapter-crutch\" data-level=\"3\">First-Chapter Crutch<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-flexing-the-prose-muscles\" data-level=\"3\">Flexing the Prose Muscles<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Should You Trust Me?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I've actually been writing and formatting books for a long time. Over 10 years so far, and counting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that's not the real reason, because there are plenty of authors who have lots of experience, but know next to nothing about the different parts of a book, or book formatting in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The real reason you should trust me is because I actually created my own formatting software that solved all my problems. I called it Atticus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this isn't meant to be a sales pitch. I just want to make sure it's clear that I know what I'm talking about. The amount of research that went into not only formatting my own books, but also creating a formatting software is huge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I researched everything, which led me to learn all about every. single. part. of. a. book. And there were a lot more than I realized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And of course, that includes Prologues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So if all that makes sense, hopefully you'll come along with me as show you everything I've learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-prologue\"><strong>What is a Prologue?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A prologue comes before the first chapter of a novel. It is part of the narrative and serves to set up the main story, provides some vital information, and prepares the reader for what is to come.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Prologue&#8221; comes from the Greek prologos, meaning, &#8220;before word.&#8221; In an ancient Greek drama, the prologue was the equivalent of the first act of a play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-purpose-of-a-prologue\">What is the Purpose of a Prologue?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Prologues are used in works of fiction for a variety of reasons. <strong>They <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/book-writing\/\">allow the writer<\/a> to give the reader some vital information regarding the conflict of the story, the main character or characters, or the overall tone and meaning of the story.<\/strong> A prologue can also provide background detail and important (but limited) exposition.<br><br>The prologue is separate from the bulk of the story but still important. If the reader skips the prologue, they will be missing some key piece of information that will come into play later in the book.<br><br>And since the prologue is separate, it allows the author a bit more freedom to get creative. For example, it\u2019s common for a prologue to be written from the point of view of a minor or secondary character. This different perspective may never be used again in the book, but the <strong>events of the prologue will most certainly be referenced at some point.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A good prologue should:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Provide some foreshadowing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Introduce a major character, even if only by name or in passing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide some vital information on a character's backstory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set the tone\/feel for the rest of the story.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide information on the world, conflict, time period, or inciting incident.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some literary critics and editors think that writing a prologue can be a crutch, holding up a story with a weak beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Readers know that a prologue is simultaneously separate and part of the story, and so they\u2019re willing to indulge the author a bit &#8211; as long as it pulls them in, serves the main purpose of the story, and everything makes sense by the time the novel is finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#f7782d\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Video:<\/mark> How to Write a Prologue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For a nice summary of this article, along with a few of my own personal thoughts on the subject, be sure to check out this video on what a prologue is, and how to write one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/auGIm9vEJCs\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em><strong><em>Want more videos like this? Be sure to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/kindlepreneur\/?sub_confirmation=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">subscribe to my YouTube channel<\/a> for weekly videos!<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-is-a-prologue-different-from-a-foreword-preface-or-introduction\">How is a Prologue Different from a Foreword, Preface, or Introduction?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A prologue is within the world of the overall story and it is part of the front matter of a book. It\u2019s as fictional as the rest of the story and serves one or more of the purposes listed above. <strong>Prologues are tools used exclusively in works of fiction such as novels, plays, and films.<\/strong> A prologue is considered the opposite of an <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/epilogue\/\">epilogue<\/a>, which comes at the end of the novel.<br><br><strong>A Foreword<\/strong> is usually written about the book itself or the author of the book. Typically written by another author or a person of note familiar with the story, genre, or subject matter, a foreword can be found in both fiction and nonfiction books in the introductory section.<br><br><strong>A Preface<\/strong> is a place the author uses to acknowledge those who may have helped along the way and to give thanks to any influences they may have. Prefaces can be found in nonfiction and fiction books.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image shadow\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prefaces-in-Atticus-1024x549.png\" alt=\"Prefaces in Atticus\" class=\"wp-image-34033\" style=\"width:770px\" width=\"770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prefaces-in-Atticus-1024x549.png 1024w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prefaces-in-Atticus-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prefaces-in-Atticus-768x411.png 768w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prefaces-in-Atticus-24x13.png 24w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prefaces-in-Atticus-36x19.png 36w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prefaces-in-Atticus-48x26.png 48w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prefaces-in-Atticus.png 1370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Made in <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/Atticus\">Atticus.io<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>An Introduction<\/strong> is also written by the author but is designed to give the reader context about the book itself. Whereas the preface usually tells about the journey of creating the book, the introduction prepares the reader to understand the wider significance of the work. Introductions are usually found in nonfiction books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-great-examples-of-prologues\"><strong>Great Examples of Prologues<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some modern and classic examples of great prologues for you to check out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-leviathan-wakes-the-expanse-book-1-by-james-s-a-corey\"><em>Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse, Book 1)<\/em> by James S.A. Corey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first novel of the superb space opera starts with a prologue from Julie Mao\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/point-of-view\/\">point of view<\/a>. Although we never enter her <a href=\"https:\/\/thewritepractice.com\/point-of-view-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">POV<\/a> again in the book, this prologue is important to understanding the rest of the story, including the world the author(s) have created and the central conflict.<br><br>It's an effective prologue in that it <strong>pulls the reader in and sets up questions that are answered later in the novel.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image border\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"324\" height=\"499\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Leviathan-Wake-1.png\" alt=\"Leviathan Wakes book\" class=\"wp-image-19434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Leviathan-Wake-1.png 324w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Leviathan-Wake-1-195x300.png 195w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-romeo-and-juliet-william-shakespeare\"><em>Romeo and Juliet<\/em>, William Shakespeare<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps the most well-known prologue in any literary work is from Shakespeare\u2019s famous tragedy. In fact, several of Shakespeare\u2019s plays have prologues, which he used to set the scene for the audience.<br><br>The prologue in <em>Romeo and Juliet<\/em> begins:<br><br>\u201cTwo households, both alike in dignity,<br><br>In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,<br><br>From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,<br><br>Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. . .\u201d<br><br>The sonnet goes on for several more lines, but even those first four lines give the audience vital information about the Capulets and the Montagues without mentioning the two houses by name. It also does some foreshadowing, preparing the audience for the tragedy to come.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image border\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"333\" height=\"499\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Romeo-and-Juliet-1.png\" alt=\"Romeo and Juliet book\" class=\"wp-image-19437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Romeo-and-Juliet-1.png 333w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Romeo-and-Juliet-1-200x300.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-every-star-wars-movie\"><strong>Every Star Wars Movie<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving away from literature a bit now, you may remember the beginning of every Star Wars movie to date. The text scrolling over the backdrop of space before the opening scene is a great example of a prologue.<br><br>The exposition in those prologues sets the stage for the movie to follow, sometimes condensing years of conflict into a couple of sentences. The background is only important because it tells the audience exactly what it needs to know to get right into the meat of the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-write-a-prologue\"><strong>How to Write a Prologue<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Determining whether to write a prologue is probably the hardest part. To determine if you need to write a prologue, ask yourself these questions before sitting down to your favorite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atticus.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">writing software<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Is there information the reader must have before the actual story begins?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can you present that information in a compelling and brief manner?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is it information that you can\u2019t provide the audience in the opening chapter?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you answered yes to all of those questions, you probably need a prologue. But if you answered no to any one of them, you may want to re-think the use of this literary device.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image shadow\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prologues-in-Atticus-1024x469.png\" alt=\"Prologues in Atticus\" class=\"wp-image-34034\" style=\"width:770px\" width=\"770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prologues-in-Atticus-1024x469.png 1024w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prologues-in-Atticus-300x138.png 300w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prologues-in-Atticus-768x352.png 768w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prologues-in-Atticus-1536x704.png 1536w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prologues-in-Atticus-24x11.png 24w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prologues-in-Atticus-36x17.png 36w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prologues-in-Atticus-48x22.png 48w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Prologues-in-Atticus.png 1601w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Made in <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/Atticus\">Atticus.io<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Remember that a prologue has one overall job: To <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-start-a-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">keep the reader turning the pages<\/a>. The other jobs of the prologue, like conveying important information, foreshadowing, introducing a major character, and setting the tone of the novel all come secondary to keeping the reader reading.<br><br>Having a hard time coming up with the first line for your prologue (or your first chapter)? Check out this <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/first-line-generator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">first line generator<\/a> to get you started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tips-for-writing-a-prologue\">Tips for Writing a Prologue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you decide you need a prologue to start your novel, keep these tips in mind <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-write-a-book\/\">as you write<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Remember to \u201cshow, don\u2019t tell.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep it as short as possible (as if you're writing a very short story).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure any questions presented in the prologue are answered in the main body of the novel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Know you\u2019re going to use a prologue before you ever begin writing? Make sure to put it in the <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/how-to-outline-novel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">outline of your book<\/a>! (If you outline, that is.)<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n<section class=\"standard-cta testimonial\" id=\"cta-block_60a2bbb51823c\">\r\n    <div class=\"cta-inner row\">\r\n                    <div class=\"cta-media col-md-4\">\r\n                                    <div class=\"cta-media-inner\">\r\n                    \r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/Atticus\" alt=\"Check It Out\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">                        \r\n                                                    <i class=\"fa fa-play\"><\/i>\r\n                        \r\n                                                    <div class=\"img-overlay\"><\/div>\r\n                        \r\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Atticus.png\" alt=\"Atticus - the #1 Book Writing and Formatting Software used by thousands of authors.\" height=\"1384\" width=\"2210\">\r\n                        \r\n                        <\/a>                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n        \r\n        <div class=\"cta-body col-md-8\" style=\"text-align:center;\">  \r\n                            <a class=\"cta-heading\" href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/Atticus\" alt=\"Check It Out\">\r\n                            <h3> Format Beautiful Professional Books<\/h3>\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                        \r\n            <p>Easy to use, and and full of amazing features, you can quickly turn your book into a professional book.<\/p>\n            <a class=\"offer-button\" href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/Atticus\" alt=\"Check It Out\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\">Check It Out<\/a>        <\/div>\r\n\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-not-to-write-a-prologue\">How Not to Write a Prologue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, let\u2019s take a look at some common prologue mistakes to avoid as a writer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-info-dumping\">Info-Dumping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This tends to be more of a problem in sci-fi and fantasy novels where the reader needs a bit of background information concerning the world, technology, politics, magic, etc. The tendency is to <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcooperative.com\/the-beginner-writers-guide-to-info-dumping-don-t-commit-this-literary-crime-b02291311f1f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dump a ton of info<\/a> on the reader at the prologue, bogging them down with pages and pages of background details and exposition.<br><br>Readers are smart and they\u2019re willing to put the pieces together. If you can find a way to <strong>drip-feed them important details through the narrative<\/strong>, then do so. Give the reader some credit and let them uncover the world you\u2019ve built as they read the novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-social-warfare-click-to-tweet social-warfare-admin-block\"><div class=\"sw-tweet-clear\"><\/div><a class=\"swp_CTT style1\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=Some+literary+critics+and+editors+think+that+writing+a+prologue+can+be+a+crutch%2C+holding+up+a+story+with+a+weak+beginning.&url=https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/what-is-a-prologue-how-to-write-one\/\" data-link=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=Some+literary+critics+and+editors+think+that+writing+a+prologue+can+be+a+crutch%2C+holding+up+a+story+with+a+weak+beginning.&url=https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/what-is-a-prologue-how-to-write-one\/\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"sw-click-to-tweet\"><span class=\"sw-ctt-text\">Some literary critics and editors think that writing a prologue can be a crutch, holding up a story with a weak beginning.<\/span><span class=\"sw-ctt-btn\">Click To Tweet<i class=\"sw swp_twitter_icon\"><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-first-chapter-crutch\">First-Chapter Crutch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another big mistake is to use the prologue as a crutch for a slow first chapter. Remember that both the prologue and the first chapter need to be compelling, enticing the reader to keep turning the pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-flexing-the-prose-muscles\">Flexing the Prose Muscles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the \u201crules\u201d for prologues are a little lax, some writers tend to get carried away. Instead of seeing the prologue as a tool to be used only when absolutely necessary, they see it as a place to wow the reader with their skill as a writer, thinking that it will hook the reader into the rest of the novel.<br><br>While good prose is a plus when writing any kind of fiction, it shouldn\u2019t be the only focus. Some readers may enjoy the nice prose, but most are looking for a compelling narrative and they\u2019ll move on to the next novel if they think there isn\u2019t one coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Ensure an eReader Doesn't Skip Your Prologue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You may have noticed that when you open an eBook on a Kindle or other device, that it usually doesn't start at the very beginning (i.e. the cover of your book).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, Amazon and other retailers estimate where the book starts, and in some cases this can lead to a reader starting with chapter 1 and completely missing your prologue!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, assuming your prologue has vital information you want to convey, you need a way for readers to start there, instead of on chapter 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, Atticus is the only formatting program that lets you do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All you have to do is go to the Book Details and scroll down until you find the section labelled <strong>Start Page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image shadow\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Start-Page-in-Atticus.png\" alt=\"Start Page in Atticus\" class=\"wp-image-34010\" style=\"width:770px\" width=\"770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Start-Page-in-Atticus.png 1019w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Start-Page-in-Atticus-300x95.png 300w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Start-Page-in-Atticus-768x244.png 768w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Start-Page-in-Atticus-24x8.png 24w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Start-Page-in-Atticus-36x11.png 36w, https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Start-Page-in-Atticus-48x15.png 48w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1019px) 100vw, 1019px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>From there, you simply select where you would like readers to start when they open your book for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This inserts a special code into the eBook file that lets Amazon know exactly where to open the book for new readers. Simple as that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Atticus is the currently the <strong>only formatting software that lets you customize the Start Page of your book<\/strong>, and not only that, but it also works on virtually every platform, and it's over $100 cheaper than the competition (which does not have this Start Page feature).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a class=\"buy-button\" href=\"https:\/\/kindlepreneur.com\/click\/atticus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Check Out Atticus Today!<\/a><\/center>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do you need a prologue for your book? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re still unsure whether you should write a prologue, pick up a couple of your favorite <a href=\"https:\/\/bookriot.com\/seduce-love-great-prologue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">novels that begin with prologues<\/a> and read them. Try to remember how you felt when you realized how the prologue was related to the storyline. That\u2019s the feeling you\u2019re trying to evoke in readers.<br><br>Stick with the tips above and avoid the common prologue pitfalls. Chances are you\u2019ve got a good instinct for whether you need a prologue or not. Trust that instinct, and get writing!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a prologue and is it necessary for your book? If so, how do you write a prologue? These are questions we answer in this deep dive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":19582,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[3900],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.9 (Yoast SEO v22.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is a Prologue &amp; How to Write One<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is a prologue and is it necessary for your book? If so, how do you write a prologue? 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