Hi,
I have a question regarding prologues and chapter one. I have written a YA fantasy novel that has a prologue, but also a section before chapter one. My question is whether this section has a name? Is it 'allowed' to have a section after the prologue, before chapter one?
I'll give a brief explanation as to why I have done this and if anyone can give some suggestions that would be great. The prologue is set on another world and gives a brief, interesting scene of something that has happened months before the book starts, and is the reason the book takes place. The section before chapter one (which is fairly short, a few pages), then focuses on my main protagonist, again months before where the book starts in chapter one. It is an important event that makes the character who he is. Chapter one then starts in the present day, with the main protagonist, and on Earth.
I wondered whether I needed to just start chapter one with the scene after the prologue and put something like 'eleven months ago'. Would that be more acceptable?
Would appreciate any feedback!
Many thanks,
Rebecca
Yes, I agree with Kate regarding the Prologue and second Prologue being removed. There seems to be a trend in favour of revealing back story some other way, as part of the story proper. What would be missed if the impatient reader skipped straight to chapter one? Would the story still make sense? If you can divulge the information through an immediate scene or through dialogue, for instance, how much more interesting would the story become?
Both these previous events could be talked about in the present time. Is there some common thread between the events, or some circumstance in the present that came about as a result of both events? The cause and effect of something explored in retrospect by your character(s) can bring the past into immediate focus and even have a direct influence on the current action of the scene.
A global event will be remembered by everyone it impacted on in your book. They don't need the back story to know what has happened, so it is their memory and opinions of the knowledge they are living with that will inform the reader. Great opportunity to introduce some mystery and intrigue.
One suggestion (that you may have already done) is to look at published YA fantasy novels to see what the editors and publishers have allowed the authors to do.
But that's only relevant if you intend to seek publication. If you don't then you can call it whatever you like... prologue part two, chapter 0.5, perilogue...
Another suggestion is to start with chapter one but weave in to the rest of the book all the essential information from the prologue and the as yet unnamed section as the back story. (The latter is my personal preference both for writing and reading.)
Although I haven't really answered your question, I still hope you find something helpful.