The Prologue Paradox...
Writers are often told that agents and editors hate prologues—but thumb through the opening pages of published books and you’re reasonably likely to see one. How do so many make it past that alleged taboo?
Prologues aren’t anathema to a story—in fact a well-used, well-executed prologue can set up an entire story; whet readers’ appetites; and add impact and resonance to everything that follows.
But an ineffective prologue can stop readers at the starting line, keeping them (and agents and editors) from ever reading past page one.
In this 75-minute workshop you’ll learn how to decide whether a prologue serves your story, and how to write one that feels essential, effective, and enhances the reader’s experience of the story.
We’ll also examine the most common prologue pitfalls and how to avoid them, and use examples from published works to analyze prologues that work well—and those that may not.
Authors will learn:
- The functions of a prologue
- What makes prologues work within a story—and what makes them fail
- How to decide whether your story might benefit from a prologue
- How to evaluate a prologue in your draft and determine its effectiveness
- How to avoid—and address—the most common prologue pitfalls
- Handling POV in prologue
Who should take this course?
Fiction authors who:
- have written or want to write prologues in their stories
- avoid prologues
- struggle with how to open their story on a strong hook
- want a deeper understanding of story craft and structure—and more tools in their toolbox for how to effectively tell a story
Hi, I'm Tiffany Yates Martin, founder of FoxPrint Editorial
In my publishing career working as a book editor on hundreds of manuscripts—for major publishers and New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning authors as well as newer writers—I have more than 25 years of experience in pinpointing what can keep an author's story from being as effective as it can be, and how to help authors make it marketable and competitive.
As an editor as well as a teacher leading workshops and seminars in writing and editing, I've developed clear, useful, hands-on tools for helping authors learn to spot these areas, along with practical techniques for addressing them, and I'm the author of a book based on those techniques, Intuitive Editing: A Creative & Practical Guide to Revising Your Writing.
"Chock-full of applicable information"
“Tiffany is always a great presenter and I never lose interest. Chock-full of applicable information and wonderful examples. Thank you.”
"Excellent class!"
“This has given me great food for thought. I tend to like prologues but I have a better appreciation and understanding of what purpose they should serve. Excellent class!”
"Wonderful presentation."
“Wonderful presentation, informative without being overwhelming.”
Example Curriculum
FAQs:
When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course--you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like--across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.
