On Prologues, do they work?
I promised that I'd give a recap on my poll on prologues (which is still open and will remain so indefinitely), and here it is. The initial results are in. It's fairly simple really. The vast majority of readers do read prologues. Some few may skim them, but most would give it a go first and only skim it if it seems to be irrelevant or poorly written.
As far as writers went, it was more complex. Most would only write a prologue if the story needed it. Some never wrote one and others said it was just not their style. Not that it matters, given that readers will mostly read prologues, so writers' will likely be fine either way. What is interesting though, is that many writers and editors think readers don't read prologues, and this poll, small and unscientific though it may be, seems to suggest otherwise.
Overall though, people were just okay with prologues. Even though most would read them, the overall likability of prologues was only just above median (63%), which suggests that readers read them if the writer puts them there, but they don't particularly want to see them.
The comments and additional thoughts were also revealing, coming from both readers and writers and echoing these results, but expressing some specifics, even citing some examples. Mostly though, they backed up the poll. Prologues are read, mostly... but writers, only write one if the novel really needs it.
As far as writers went, it was more complex. Most would only write a prologue if the story needed it. Some never wrote one and others said it was just not their style. Not that it matters, given that readers will mostly read prologues, so writers' will likely be fine either way. What is interesting though, is that many writers and editors think readers don't read prologues, and this poll, small and unscientific though it may be, seems to suggest otherwise.
Overall though, people were just okay with prologues. Even though most would read them, the overall likability of prologues was only just above median (63%), which suggests that readers read them if the writer puts them there, but they don't particularly want to see them.
The comments and additional thoughts were also revealing, coming from both readers and writers and echoing these results, but expressing some specifics, even citing some examples. Mostly though, they backed up the poll. Prologues are read, mostly... but writers, only write one if the novel really needs it.