How do you feel about prologues in fics?
I've noticed that most fics on here have a prologue of sorts, and I've never really liked that. While some of some of my favorite parts of novels are the prologue and appendixes, it's usually a sign of a bad writer when they write a prologue that sets up the background of the story and/or universe.
The best kind of writer doesn't tell you what state the world is in via a prologue. Rather, they show it by developing the story and characters. Tolkien did this in the Lord of the Rings. He didn't start out with a prologue explaining the history of the One Ring, or even a summary of the Silmarillion... He started with Frodo and made hints here and there, and only told exactly what was going on at the Council of Elrond, a few hundred pages in. At this point you actually cared about the world, when in the case of most prologues you're just getting a history lesson, and who cares, right?
This is especially obvious in many movies... If there's a prologue of sorts, especially a long one, then you can probably bet that the movie itself will be near-incomprehensible unless you're familiar with the source-material. If you really need a prologue to set up a movie, then you're probably not developing the characters or plot in the right way. Most books these days, particularly bad fantasy, have a habit of doing this. Usually they're trying to pull a Tolkien by establishing a mythos, but do it all wrong.
Ha. Looks like I rambled on there... Well, getting to the point, how do all of you feel about use of prologues in fics? How do you feel about your own use of them? Do you do anything to avoid the usual pitfalls associated with them, or do you just not care and set up the world so you can jump right into the action? (Ironically, I can't seem to work around writing a prologue for my epic fic. It's not really a "This is the state of the world" kind of prologue, but it sets some things up regardless)
Hmm, I may have a qualm there - although the wording of 'usually a sign of a bad writer' doesn't make it absolute, it doesn't mean that someone who uses prologues is a bad writer, nor will most probably be a bad writer. Prologues can make for bad info-dumps if all they are there for is to do just so, but not always are the such, and stories with them can still establish the same things a story can without a prologue - I suppose prologues are merely a way to inform and set up the scene, atmosphere, etc, and some stories work well with one in doing that.
Not all prologues give a history lesson - some just offer a different perspective, or show an event that'll happen later, or so forth as well. As for the example of Tolkein, I raise you a Ursula K. Le Guin who has used prologues in some of her stories, and well IMO. Or John Hoffernan. Or Michael Crichton. I don't think the best kind of writer always chooses to go without a prologue. (And I also suppose a 'bet' writer is a subjective matter, but meh).
Movies probably are harder to pull off an effective prologue, I suppose, but again it depends on the story it's trying to tell and all. Also there are times prologues can be well done, such as... Pulp Fiction, for instance. I'll agree that prologues have the opportunity to be bad if they are just info-dumps and so forth there, but they aren't usually a sign of a bad writer, IMO. Info-dumps bad, well-written good. (Or maybe I just don't read nearly as many bad prologues as you have, or ones that aim to solely set up the world/history? =P) So I wouldn't worry about trying to work around using one in your fic, is all.
Today I saw a boy(about sixteen years old) giving a talk about how Fiction Novels(Harry Potter, Twilight, ect.) actually made you more stupid than you actually are. He said this because whenever he asked someone why they read these books, they would reply with, "to improve my English." It annoys me to no end that he accused the books that have helped inspire writers and get some kids interested in reading, to actually make you even more stupid. The alternative, that he stated, would be to read something beneficial such as Law or complicated Physics. In my opinion, these kind of books would most likely turn off some people from reading at all.
Which brings us to our next topic:
Do you think reading fiction is beneficial if well written. Why?
It depends on the story but I feel it can be beneficial to read well-written fiction. Maybe not necessarily in the same way reading applied physics would, but then again there are stories which may include information about history or objects or so forth which are woven into the tale itself.
Then there's the entertainment and relaxation aspect stories can/may give, the author may allow you to consider concepts, or consider them in a different manner, and for writers like us it's always good to read well-written stuff to see ways good stories can be pulled off to improve our english/writing skills, etc. (Reading fanfics actually has helped me a lot with this in a-ways). I'd also argue
poorly-written fiction (or just ok/decent/whatever fiction) can also be beneficial as then you can see how to
not write, and learn from that as well. I'd say reading fiction books basically can offer different, less obvious and factual/understanding-of-things-based benefits to non-fiction books.
Also,
What do you base your non-canon fic characters off? Yourselves, Sentrets with flamethrowers? People in the FFL?
Who did not tl;dr this raise their hand... XDDDD
It varies - some may (loosely) have aspects of myself or other people, although none are ever close to me, I have to say... usually I just brainstorm a bit and the character comes about by themselves one way or another with little basing of anything off anyone.
Oh, and... *raises hand* But what's this about long posts being bad? They can be more fun to read and offer to discussion and all... begone, you silly rule! =P
