I love reading Kristin's blog, Pub Rants, and this brief entry was so good that I wanted to share! Check it out.
I know for sure I've done at least 2 of these things in the past. * cringe * And both of them in a manuscript submitted to her agency! *head desk * I'm pretty good about not opening with #1 back story (I always hated that in books, even as a kid) and with #2 (well hopefully so!!), but embarrassingly, I've definitely been guilty of #3 and #4.
I'm especially bad about prologues that have no immediate connection to the following chapter (probably because I've read real books that do this and I thought it would be okay/preferable). I think my rationale was that I could write something really cool and interesting to grab the agent's interest before I got into the main story. Oops! Looks like my strategy had the opposite effect ... glad I eventually ditched it.
It's good to know that prologues (at least certain kinds of prologues) are no-nos. For future reference.
Which mistakes on the list have you made in the past?
You know, you can have a prologue that has no real connection... but don't send it out. Just send out your first chapter. I don't think your villain prologue was bad--I wouldn't do it, but that doesn't make it wrong. It worked in your story. Just send out your first chapter instead of it. I read an agent saying that SOMEwhere.
ReplyDeleteHaha, yeah ... I figured that out eventually, but I blew a partial because of it in the meantime.
ReplyDeleteWeren't you the one who recommended I just not send it w/ the prologue?
I might have. I can't remember.
ReplyDelete