Prologue and Epilogue: The Bookends of Your Story

Framing Your Story with a Prologue and Epilogue

When crafting a novel or novella, you may consider two powerful narrative tools: prologue and epilogue. Both serve distinct purposes and can significantly enhance your story when used effectively. In this blog post, we’ll explore what each of these elements is, how they function within a narrative, and tips for using them to their fullest potential!

What Is a Prologue and What Purpose Does It Serve?

A prologue is an introductory section of a book that comes before the main narrative. Its purpose is to set the stage for the story that follows. It can offer background information, introduce key themes, or provide context that enhances the reader’s understanding of the subsequent plot.

How Can a Prologue Enhance Your Story?

Establish Setting and Tone

A prologue can immerse readers in the setting and tone of your story. It’s an opportunity to create an atmosphere that resonates throughout the book.

Example: In George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones, the prologue sets a foreboding tone with an eerie encounter beyond the Wall, hinting at the story’s central conflicts and themes. This not only grabs the reader’s attention but also establishes a mood that permeates the entire series.

Provide Background Information

Use the prologue to offer crucial background or historical context that may be essential for understanding the main narrative. This can be particularly useful in complex or historical fiction.

Example: In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the prologue provides insight into the mysterious events leading up to Harry Potter’s story, setting the stage for the magical world. It helps readers understand the significance of Harry’s backstory and the magical realm’s impact on the plot.

Introduce a Key Scene or Event

Sometimes, a prologue introduces a pivotal event that will influence the story. This can hook readers and provide immediate intrigue.

Example: Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code begins with a murder that becomes central to the plot. This early introduction of a dramatic event sets up the mystery and draws readers into the unfolding investigation.

What Should You Avoid in a Prologue?

Overloading with Information: Avoid making the prologue too lengthy or information-dense. It should intrigue and set the stage, not overwhelm.

Tip: Aim for brevity and focus. Ensure that the prologue is engaging but concise, providing just enough information to spark interest.

Creating Disconnection: Ensure the prologue is relevant to the main narrative. A prologue that feels disconnected can confuse readers and disrupt the story’s flow.

Tip: Integrate elements from the prologue into the main story to create a cohesive narrative experience. This helps ensure that the prologue feels like a natural extension of the story rather than a separate entity.

What Is an Epilogue and How Does It Function?

An epilogue is a concluding section that appears after the main narrative. Its purpose is to provide closure and resolve any remaining threads, offering a glimpse into the characters’ futures or the story’s aftermath.

How Can an Epilogue Add Value to Your Story?

Provide Resolution

An epilogue can wrap up loose ends and provide closure, ensuring readers leave with a sense of completeness.

Example: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice features an epilogue that offers a glimpse into the future happiness of the main characters. It ties up the story’s romantic and social threads, providing a satisfying conclusion for readers.

Show the Long-Term Impact

It can illustrate the long-term effects of the story’s events on the characters or the world. This can be particularly effective in epic or complex narratives.

Example: In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the epilogue reflects on Gatsby’s life and legacy, adding depth to the novel’s themes of ambition and disillusionment.

Hint at Future Possibilities

If your story is part of a series, the epilogue can tease future developments or set up the next installment.

Example: In Suzanne Collins’ Mockingjay, the epilogue provides a hopeful look into the characters’ futures and the world’s recovery, setting the stage for potential follow-ups and leaving readers with a sense of optimism.

What Should You Avoid in an Epilogue?

Overloading with Details: Like with the prologue, avoid excessive detail or information in the epilogue. It should provide a concise and impactful conclusion.

Tip: Focus on resolving major plot points and offering a sense of closure. Avoid introducing new conflicts or lengthy explanations.

Creating New Conflicts: An epilogue should resolve the main narrative, not introduce new conflicts. Ensure it ties up the story in a way that feels satisfying and complete.

Tip: If you have new ideas for future stories, save them for a sequel rather than including them in the epilogue.

Does Your Story Need a Prologue and Epilogue?

Key Considerations for Including a Prologue:

Purpose and Necessity: Determine if the prologue serves a clear purpose, such as setting up important background or creating initial intrigue. If it doesn’t add value or context, consider omitting it. Evaluate whether the prologue enhances the reader’s understanding or engagement with the main story. If it feels superfluous, it might be best to forgo it.

Integration with the Main Story: Ensure the prologue seamlessly integrates with the main narrative. It should feel like an essential part of the story, not a separate or extraneous element. Use the prologue to set up themes, tone, or context that will be reflected in the main narrative. This creates a cohesive reading experience.

Key Considerations for Including an Epilogue:

Resolution Needs: Assess if your story benefits from additional resolution or a look into the future. If the main narrative feels complete without an epilogue, it may not be necessary. Consider whether the epilogue enhances the reader’s experience or provides necessary closure. If it feels redundant, you might skip it.

Impact on Reader Experience: Consider how an epilogue will affect the reader’s overall experience. It should enhance the story’s impact and provide a satisfying conclusion. Ensure that the epilogue leaves readers with a sense of completeness and resolution, reinforcing the story’s themes and emotional journey.

What Are Some Best Practices for Writing a Prologue and Epilogue?

Engage the Reader: Start with a compelling hook or intriguing detail to capture the reader’s interest immediately. Begin with a strong, memorable opening that sets the tone and piques curiosity. This will draw readers into the story right from the start.

Maintain Relevance: Ensure that every element of the prologue is relevant to the main story and serves a clear purpose. Review the prologue to ensure that it adds value and context. Avoid including extraneous details that don’t contribute to the main narrative.

How Can You Craft an Effective Epilogue?

Focus on Closure: Address any remaining questions or loose ends from the main narrative, providing a sense of resolution. Use the epilogue to tie up unresolved plot points and offer closure to the story’s major conflicts. This helps ensure that readers leave feeling satisfied.

Reflect on Themes: Use the epilogue to reinforce the story’s themes and leave a lasting impression on the reader. Consider how the epilogue can echo the story’s central themes and provide a final reflection on the narrative’s message.

You’ve Got Your Bookends—Now What?

Now that you’ve crafted a compelling prologue and epilogue, it’s time to focus on how these elements fit into the broader context of your narrative. A well-written prologue and epilogue can significantly enhance your story by setting the stage and providing a satisfying conclusion, but they are just one part of the storytelling process!

As you move forward, consider how your prologue can seamlessly lead into your main narrative and how your epilogue can effectively close out the story, tying up loose ends and reinforcing key themes. Ensure that these bookends are integrated with the rest of your manuscript, maintaining a consistent tone and advancing your narrative goals.

For those seeking additional guidance on how to perfect every aspect of their manuscript, including prologues and epilogues, collaborating with experienced editors and publishers can provide valuable insights. An author-centric hybrid publisher like Atmosphere Press can offer the expertise needed to polish your work and make sure your story shines from beginning to end!

Erin K. Larson-Burnett, Production Manager at Atmosphere Press (submit your manuscript here!), is a born-and-raised Southerner currently living in Katy, Texas, with her husband and their small domestic zoo. She is an avid ink drinker who lives and breathes books—during the day, she works remotely with authors around the world, honing and perfecting books published through Atmosphere Press. By night, she crafts her own stories…or at least tries to. The Bear & the Rose is her debut novel.