Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

#237. 3 Signs Your Novel Doesn't Need a Prologue (& What To Do Instead)

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Mar 3, 2026

A clear guide to deciding if a prologue helps or hurts your novel. Learn three red flags: info-dump backstory, flash-forward spoilers that drain tension, and prologues that hide a weak opening. Practical tests and simple fixes show when to delete or rework the start so your story grabs readers from page one.

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INSIGHT

Prologue Must Offer Something Chapter One Can't

A prologue must do something a chapter one structurally cannot do to earn its place.
That usually means different time, POV, or showing events the protagonist cannot witness, not just information the first chapter hasn't given yet.

ADVICE

Replace Info Prologues With A Character Moment

Avoid prologues that exist solely to deliver backstory or worldbuilding; readers prefer to be grounded in character and conflict first.
Start chapter one on the day things change and let context and history emerge naturally as it affects scenes.

INSIGHT

Flash Forward Prologues Can Leak Tension

Flash-forward prologues often leak tension by revealing twists or betrayals before they can land as payoffs.
If a prologue shows a future betrayal, earlier warm scenes become dread-tinged instead of building shock.

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You wrote a prologue for your novel. But now you're wondering if you really need it. Here are three honest signs your story might actually be stronger without one.

Writing a prologue feels like the right move until you're three drafts in and still not sure if it's actually helping your story or just sitting there, taking up space at the front of your book. And the tricky part is that it's not always easy to tell. Because sometimes the prologue isn't the problem. And sometimes it really is.

That's exactly what we're digging into in today's episode: I'm walking you through three signs that your prologue might not be doing what you think it is (and what to do instead) so your opening still grabs readers and pulls them straight into your story.

You'll hear me talk about things like:

[02:59] How prologues that deliver backstory or world-building can weaken your opening scene—and what readers actually need instead.

[06:10] Why a flash-forward prologue can release tension before it has time to build (and how to tell if your plot twist is losing impact).

[09:31] The subtle way a prologue can mask a weak first chapter—especially if your story starts too early.

[11:17] A simple reading test to determine whether your prologue is structurally necessary—or just informational.

[14:33] What it really means for a prologue to “earn its place” in your novel—and the mindset shift that makes the decision easier.

If you've been going back and forth on your prologue, this episode will give you the clarity to finally make the call. Because when your opening is working (like really working), you'll feel it. And so will your readers.

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