Uploaded October 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Prologues are controversial, to say the least. But when you're starting to write your new novel, there's so much to set-up, so much to explain, and so much to foreshadow that a prologue feels inevitable.

Before making your final decision on how to open the book, consider these five (5!) alternatives to a prologue that can bring your reader in and get them oriented in the story lickety split!

I'm Nicole Wilbur and I'm a writer and "story nerd", which basically means I love analyzing books, movies, and shows to understand how and why they work. I make videos about becoming a better writer, editing books, and writing resources. If this sounds good to you, hit the subscribe button! :)


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