Prologues are, however, not always important and some authors prefer to leave them out. A good reason for this is because they can be confusing to the reader. If the prologue is not tied effectively to the main plot, the reader can be left with questions. This can be curbed by ensuring at least at some point in the novel the author points back to the event foreshadowed in the prologue. This can be executed by using a conversation, a scene or even a revelation of a character’s thoughts.

Most readers also tend to skip the prologue which defeats the reason it is included in the first place. If the author predicts this, they may prefer to use another way in the main story to guide the reader with regard to the direction the story will take as opposed to using a prologue. When drawing the reader to read it, the first line must be gripping enough to catch the attention of the reader and entice them to read the rest of the piece. Length also plays a great role as discussed earlier.

Another disadvantage of using a prologue is that for readers who do not understand the purpose, it might set off misguided expectations. For instance, a reader may expect that the prologue will occur in the same timeline as the main story. Another misconception is that the story will continue with the point of view introduced in the story. However, the synopsis of a book either on the back cover or an explanation of the book’s content by the author at the point of purchase will get rid of these misconceptions.

The delay in answering the questions posed in the prologue may cause a reader to get bored especially if the book is lengthy and the conflicts are only solved towards the end of the novel. For the reader to stay engaged, there must also be interesting sub-plots and revelations in between.

When writing a prologue, distinguish it from the first chapter. Including the prologue should be justifiable which means determining whether, when it is left out, there could be something missing from the book. Even though some editors argue against including a prologue in your book, it all depends on you and what you think will work or not work for the book. This does not mean that you do not consider external advice on the issue but that there is no one-size-fits-all way of deciding whether to include a prologue.

Like all other parts of a novel, the best way to determine whether to add or get rid of it is by gauging its effectiveness in developing the story. Having someone else read the book and evaluating whether they are able to tie the prologue to the rest of the story is one way to establish its importance. Most editors sometimes offer advice on the effectiveness of prologues and may not automatically disregard a story based on just one element while everything else works.