How to Write a Compelling Prologue Readers Won't Skip
Most readers skip prologues—but yours doesn’t have to be one of them. Learn how to hook your audience from page one with a prologue that feels like the real beginning.
Last week, we explored why so many readers skip prologues. But as writers, the real question is: How do we craft a prologue that hooks our audience instead of losing them? Should we write one at all, knowing some readers might never read it? And if we do, how can we make it essential—so compelling it feels like Chapter One, not an optional prelude?
Making a Prologue Worth Reading
Don’t Call it a Prologue - Trick your reader into reading your prologue by starting the main story with “20 years later….” or “In another life…” or even just a compelling scene that feels like Chapter One. Readers often skip prologues, assuming they’re dry backstory or world building dumps. But if you weave that same information into what appears to be the main narrative, they’re far more likely to engage with it. Start with action, tension, or an emotional hook—anything that makes them lean in instead of flipping ahead. Let them realize later that what they read was essential setup—by then, they’re already invested.
Check Your Bias - If you’re bristling at hearing that readers skip prologues… If your thought is “that’s stupid”… know that you aren’t alone in this feeling. But also make space to check your biases. Your book is your baby, your creation, and to you every single word is important. But if you’re interested in hearing the reader space out, planning for them, pause for just a moment and make space for the idea that not every single word is important.
Do You Even Need It? – A prologue should be just as compelling as Chapter One without being Chapter One. If you've written a prologue, think about it objectively. What is this prologue accomplishing that the book demands it? If nothing, delete it.
Of the last four books I’ve read, all of them could have had the prologue removed and I, the reader, would not have missed important details.
Make It Relevant – A prologue shouldn’t feel like a disconnected info-dump. It should offer something that enhances the story, whether it’s crucial backstory, foreshadowing, or a thematic setup.
Ask A Reader - Ask someone who isn’t a writer, what your prologue does for the story. Do it without priming them. See what feedback they give.
Keep It Concise – We’ve all been told that our first chapter, our first lines are the most important for hooking readers. With a prologue you’re potentially doubling the reader’s threshold of entry. If your prologue stretches on too long, readers might lose interest before the main story even begins. Shorter, punchier prologues tend to be more effective.
Use a Different Perspective or Timeline – One of the most effective uses of a prologue is to show something the main characters wouldn’t know—an event from the distant past, a glimpse into the antagonist’s plans, or a prophecy or important item that sets everything in motion.
Plan for Skippers - Many authors get frustrated that readers skip the prologue, but this isn’t a fluke—it’s a pattern. You can ignore it for the craft, or as a strategy you can accept it and plan for it. If your story can’t function without the prologue, that could be a problem especially if it isn’t delivering a tone promise, or out-of story context. Instead, treat it like an optional layer: a bonus that deepens the story for those who read it, but isn’t required to understand what’s going on.
At the end of the day, writing a prologue is like designing a front porch. Some guests will pause and admire the details; others will walk straight through the door. Make it inviting, make it meaningful—but don’t make it the only way in.
A well-crafted prologue should feel like an invitation into the world of your story—one that even the most skeptical readers can’t resist.
Absolutely great points!