Hi all,
Does anyone know the rule of using prologue in Children's novel (middle grade, age 8-10)? I have two pages prologue, general information is given to get the readers intrigue. Full story is reviewed towards the end of the book. Is this acceptable for children's novel?
Many thanks.
Kind regards,
Melinda
Hi Ban,
Thanks, it's great to know. I've sent you a request to connect. Please let me know where should I send my prologue over. See what do you think about it.
Many thanks and speak soon.
Kind regards,
Melinda
Hi Melinda,
I don't have a lot of experience with children's books beyond proof and beta reading.I have had small pieces of flash or poetry included in a couple at best. When we read a query for a novel submission in the publishing house I do some work for, we almost always advise dropping the prologue in novels. But there is no hard and set rule. 13 to 15 year-olds should be able to deal with a very short prologue, I would think, as long as you keep in mind that it is the first line, then the first paragraph and then the first page that are going to grab or lose them. If it is important and can't be made part of the body proper of the work, make sure that it is as engaging as you can possibly make it. Make it the hook that will have them drooling to see what comes of it.
If you have a market in mind, go ahead and query them about it. Different houses have different preferences. If you don't have a specific publisher in mind, feel to drop me a line and let me know the genre and basic theme and I might be able to suggest one (bearing in mind that I have only been staff on small presses and don't have any big-time connections.)
Best of luck and have lots of fun!
Ban