Sorry Writers, Readers Are Skipping Your Prologue
And What You Should Do About It
For years, I skipped prologues, assuming they were just like the long, explanatory intros in nonfiction—something to get through before the real story began. I didn’t realize I was missing something crucial. It took me a long time to separate introductions from prologues and to realize that, in fiction, a prologue often plays a crucial role in the reading experience.
Many readers, like my past self, still are not reading prologues. Sometimes, they assume it is unnecessary, that it won’t add much to their understanding of the story. Others worry it will be an info-dump, slow down the pacing, or aren’t interested in learning about characters they won’t see again. And for authors, this can be painful. Writers pour time and effort into crafting every word of their projects, including the prologue, only to hear readers admit they never bothered to read them.
But most readers aren’t taught to think about prologues the way writers do. They aren’t part of conversations about story structure or foreshadowing—they just want to get to the good part. They don’t understand that prologues can serve important purposes.
Prologue Functions
One key purpose of a prologue is setting a tone that won’t necessarily be present in Chapter One. Maybe the main story starts lighthearted, but the prologue hints at the dark, looming danger that is important to the rest of the book.
Another purpose is to reveal an event that happened outside the main story’s timeline—a crime committed years before, a prophecy spoken in secret, or the tragic fall of a long-forgotten civilization.
So Why Is this Happening?
When done well, a prologue can add depth, intrigue, and emotional weight to a story. So why are so many readers skipping these? I have a few theories.
One reason might be that some authors misunderstand what a prologue is meant to do. Wanting to follow industry trends, they include one without a clear narrative function, using it to share backstory or exposition that could just as easily go in Chapter One or be spread out thoughtfully throughout the book.
They aren’t setting a tone promise or showing the reader important pre-plot devices, authors instead use the prologue as a bonus chapter, providing extra—technically unnecessary—information that will be fully explained in the book proper.
If I ever use a prologue in my writing, knowing many readers will skip it, I plan to treat it as bonus, skippable information that is fully attainable in the main text.
Another reason I think readers skip a prologue is that it takes time to get into the story, and if a book has a prologue, the reader has to expend that energy twice. And for readers who are browsing or unsure if they'll stick with the book, it can feel like a hurdle—an extra emotional investment before the main character even arrives.
Now that I'm a writer, I would never skip a prologue. In fact, now, I read them twice. After a story is complete, I like to go back and reread them with a complete understanding of the book's world, characters, and the adventure I just experienced. But as a writer, I will think long and hard before using one in my own stories.
As writers, we have to accept that many readers have been skipping prologues and will continue to do so out of habit, misunderstanding, or just a desire to get to Chapter One. And instead of fighting that reality, we should plan for it. If your story hinges on information in the prologue, maybe it doesn’t belong there. But if your prologue adds richness, context, or emotional depth without being essential to comprehension, then great.
Writing with this in mind isn’t cynical—it’s strategic. It’s respecting your readers while also respecting your craft. And it might just make your story stronger.
I have one of these in both books. In #2 I have a preface about my vampires in case a reader didn’t read book 1.