Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired discussion

What do you think about Prologues and Epilogues? Are they necessary sometimes? All the time? Never needed? Is there every such a thing as too long of a prologue and epilogue?

I’ve been thinking about this topic for some time, but even more so with (almost) every HR that I read. I have been getting darn-right annoyed by long Prologues! To me if a Prologue is more than 10 pages, it’s just really too long (for me). And I feel that Prologues that have information that happens either in the middle or end of the book completely spoil the book for me, as they naturally contain spoilers (Shannon Drake does that A LOT!)! Ugggh! And then I dislike when an Epilogue is packed full of information. To me that means that the book should have been longer to resolve those issues! LOL. I guess I’m ranting here. Does anyone feel the same? Different? What do you guys think?

Prologues I don't mind, although why they aren't called Chapter 1 I don't know. Epilogues are okay but I agree that I think a lot of those could have been written as additional chapters. You could even do a chapter that says 20 years later, or whatever. I'm noticing that the Meredith Gentry series has a lot of ending chapters/prologues that end with her bringing a summation of what went on after the book supposedly ended. I almost feel cheated with someo f the things she say happened because I would have liked to read more about it.

I enjoy them and always look forward to them.

As long as the prologue's and epilogue's are well written, I don't have a problem with them. I think Charlotte Featherstone did a great job writing the prolugue for Addicted. However, an epilogue should never leave the reader feeling like the novel is incomplete in some way. That's where I'd have to say that there should've been another chapter or two added to the novel.

Carolyn F. wrote: "Prologues I don't mind, although why they aren't called Chapter 1 I don't know. Epilogues are okay but I agree that I think a lot of those could have been written as additional chapters. You coul..."

I've noticed that about the LKH Meredith Gentry series as well. You are absolutely right, she almost summarizes past books (or adds new information) in the prologue. Information that sometimes I think should just be in Chapter 1.

Michelle wrote: "As long as the prologue's and epilogue's are well written, I don't have a problem with them. I think Charlotte Featherstone did a great job writing the prolugue for Addicted. Howev..."

I agree with you. I liked that prologue as well. But, I don't like when the prologue gives things away about what happens later in the book. The chocked full epilogue also irks me. But, I know publishers usually have a page range they want the author to stay in. So, sometimes to make that happen they have to cram a lot of info into an epilogue... but to me that type of writing... isn't good enough.

I hate it when epilogues take place like the day after the story "ended". To me that's just an additional chapter. I like an epilogue to take place some time in the future with a just a brief update. I don't like it when they basically give the whole story of their remaining life. I like to make up my version.

I can take or leave prologues. I think they're necessary sometimes if there's an even in their earlier life that's going to effect what's going on now. I don't like it when they do a prologue an it was just a short time before the main story. Make that chapter one. To me a Prologue should be a considerable amount of time before the main story. Not like just a month or two before.

Megan wrote: "What do you think about Prologues and Epilogues? Are they necessary sometimes? All the time? Never needed? Is there every such a thing as too long of a prologue and epilogue?"

what is the difference about them?

PaNdORa (gökçe) wrote: "what is the difference about them? "

A Prologue is a preface to the story. And an Epilogue is additional writing after the story that shows what eventually happens to the main characters.

Mary wrote: "I hate it when epilogues take place like the day after the story "ended". To me that's just an additional chapter. I like an epilogue to take place some time in the future with a just a brief upda..."

I agree with you Mary, a prologue should take place a while before the story starts and an epilogue should be in the distant future. The near future, days or months after the book takes place should just be the next chapter.

I always hope to see one or the other if not both an prologue and epilogue in all of my books...........Especially the epilogue.

Debbie wrote: "I always hope to see one or the other if not both an prologue and epilogue in all of my books...........Especially the epilogue."

I like to see an epilogue too. I can do without the long prologues though.

Okay, wasn't too happy that the Epilogue in was ONE HOUR later! LOL! I don't think I've read an epilogue that close in time to the main story before! *sigh*

You know, I really never gave prologue or epilogue much thought. If it should be chapter 1 or prologue, it's just part of the book I'm reading. I only knew that when I read them, the prologue was necessary and I was happy to see an epilogue when I finished a good book and there was one more thing to read in the HEA. Even if it was the epilogue of the day after ... I am optimistic!

I really like both 'logues. If something happened earlier on in the character's life that needs to be known, it's good to be able to read about it. Some authors just hint at stuff that happened in the past, and sometimes that can leave me confused or at the very least, wanting more info. Epilogues are nice too, I like seeing how the characters are doing later on down the road. Julia Quinn does a good job at this with the Bridgerton series I think. I totally agree though, that the timespan of them needs to be distant from the main story, not shortly before or after.

Prologues…okay if they are a few years before start of book; otherwise they should be Chapter 1. Okay if they are describing a scene with an unknown villain or a critical scene, or even a dream; however, it should be relatively short.
Epilogues…on the whole, I really like them, like the last squirt of fudge sauce at the bottom of the parfait dish when making an Ice Cream Sunday. It shouldn’t be too long; just used to wrap things up or even show characters years from story’s timeline. For example, I think the last Harry Potter epilogue was perfect for the whole series, and there was a reason for it (tiny spoiler: soothing HP doubts). It was so well written, I found myself picking the book up to re-read just the epilogue. I really hate it when the epilogue is just used for promoting the next book in the series and tells me NOTHING or little about the current main characters. This is especially irritating if there is a huge cliff hanger here; this also seems to be a trend on some of the newer romance books. I prefer, if the author wants me to know there is a next book, end the current one and insert a ‘preview’ of the prologue or of Chapter 1 of the following. Otherwise, as Michelle stated, for me there is an incomplete feeling. Definitely, some authors are better at epilogues than others!

Lisa wrote: "...the last squirt of fudge sauce at the bottom of the parfait dish when making an Ice Cream Sunday..."

Well said! But now I want ice cream :(

I agree with 100!. It irritates me when epilogue is just used to promote the next book- just call it what it is, a "preview". I mean, if the book has a cliffhanger ending, so be it. If not, those pages should be spent wrapping up the current book.

Totally agree. Like in A Woman Scorned At the end the secondary character comes knocking on the door [while the h&h are making love :) ] and he is demanding the services of the hero (he's a minister). This sets up the next book nicely, yet is just a little cliffhanger...why does he need a preacher RIGHT NOW!

Michelle wrote: "Lisa wrote: "...the last squirt of fudge sauce at the bottom of the parfait dish when making an Ice Cream Sunday..."

Okay...I posted one for you under photes.

Lisa wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Lisa wrote: "...the last squirt of fudge sauce at the bottom of the parfait dish when making an Ice Cream Sunday..."

Okay...I posted on for you under photes."

Thanks =)

Lisa wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Lisa wrote: "...the last squirt of fudge sauce at the bottom of the parfait dish when making an Ice Cream Sunday..."

Okay...I posted one for you under photes."

Great photos Lisa! Thank you!!!!

Michelle,
Glad you like the photos I added. My favorite is the first one entitled The Accolade, by Edmund Blair Leighton