Is a Prologue the 1st Chapter?

[ladavis]

If your manuscript starts with a prologue, should it be considered a chapter when requested to submit the first 3 Chapters by an agent?

[lexcade]

my vote is: send it.

via nathan bransford:

As for the more nuts and bolts concern of whether it should be included in partials sent to agents: yes. It should.

I want to see the first 30 pages as you want me to send them to the editor. If that involves a prologue... let's see it.

http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/03/prologues.html

or maybe you can put as a caveat that you'll be happy to include the actual Chapter 3 if agent so wants it.

or maybe you should just ask before you send it. every agent seems to be different...

this didn't help you at all, did it?

[Tabris]

QueryShark says not to send the prologue as the first five in your query, and frankly, since most prologues consist only of backstory anyhow, I wouldn't send a prologue with a partial. I would send it with a full.

[Magic_Seeker]

Look at your query first.  If your MC is not in the prologue, don't send it.  Youll confuse the first-reader if they don't match, and annoy the agent.  I've been researching this since I've started my current WIP with my secondary MC.  I need to write a new first chapter from my primary MC's POV. 

If your MC is in the prologue, why not just call it your first chapter, and avoid the whole prologue debate?  I know there are some good reasons for it still being a prologue, but it's something to consider.

[Aiala]

"Is a Prologue the 1st Chapter?"

No. It there's even a question about that, it isn't a prologue at all.

Of course you send it to the agent! (Would you try to sell someone a three-legged chair??) Unless, of course, this soi-disant "prologue" is some sort of tacked-on superfluity, in which case you shouldn't be sending the manuscript out to anybody until you fix it. 

~A~

[ladavis]

Actually, the prologue is a scene between the two main characters which pre-dates the main story by 3 years.  (FYI.  It is a single title romance.)  I like the idea of simply making it the first chapter.   

[MarvaD]

Prologues shouldn't even have the main character in them (except maybe the birth of said MC). Maybe his or her parents or grandparents. What's the set up? What does this past happening say about what the MC will face when the main action begins. I can see reasons for a prologue that might even deal with the main character, but only events which the MC isn't aware. Here's a couple of examples:

The MC is stolen by trolls at birth. Is that the start of the MC's story? Yeah, but it's likely the REAL story begins somewhat later, perhaps when the MC finds out he isn't a troll after all.

A magical ring is fought over by warring factions and is lost in the battle. The MC finds the ring years later.

A shady deal is made between the devil and a parent desparate for a child. The child becomes the MC and the story is her process of discovery finding out she's the devil's child.

I see all of the above being a prologue. The events will definitely shape the story of the MC, but the MC may not even be present when the previous things occur.

The main story starts with the MC in chapter 1. The Prologue events maybe be that which the MC must find, but it won't make much sense to the reader unless they know about the trolls, the ring, or the devil.

So, don't send the Prologue no matter what Nathan says. If the Prolog events are so distant from the MC, then that's NOT the MC's story, but adds to the reasons why the MC does what he/she does.

Oh, and the Prologue better not be more than a couple of pages unless your name is James Michener.

[Aiala]

So, don't send the Prologue no matter what Nathan says.

Better yet, don't do anything Nathan says.

Oh, and the Prologue better not be more than a couple of pages unless your name is James Michener.

Well, mine's only five pages long, hardly Michenerian, but it certainly gets the job done.   

~A~

[eallen99]

Whoops! Mine runs eight pages but depicting a chat room chat takes a few extra pages.

[Aiala]

Whoops! Mine runs eight pages but depicting a chat room chat takes a few extra pages.

Well, at least you didn't need an appendix...   

Who loves ya??

~A~

[ladavis]

I know there are many varied opinions regarding prologues, but bottom line, does it  work for the story?  Rachel Gibson, a best selling Romance writer, often uses a prologue to introduce and provide back story for the main characters.  Elin Hilderbrand's A Summer Affair is another great example.  I really don't think there are hard and fast rules, merely preferences.  If a prologue works for your story, my vote is to go for it!

[Locke]

Don't let what a few people say determine the manner in which you choose to write.

[eallen99]

Whoops! Mine runs eight pages but depicting a chat room chat takes a few extra pages.

Well, at least you didn't need an appendix...   

Who loves ya??

~A~

LOL   I'm in stitches!  Who loves ya back?

[J T Smith]

My first chapter happened 25 years earlier and then chapter 2 was back to present day.
I was told to make the first chapter a prologue, which I did and still haven't sold it.