Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Perils of Prologues

I'm going to make an effort today to write a prologue for F&C: ALS (formerly F&M). Or maybe it isn't a prologue. Maybe it's just a chapter that takes place, oh, a year or so before the rest of the story begins.

Who am I trying to kid? It's a prologue.

Lots of folks don't like prologues, and I think it's an unfair bias. True, many are unnecessary indulgences of an author who simply can't seem to cut prewriting. But let's say there's a literary reason that can be clearly articulated. That's arguably more likely in gothic fantasy. Consider, for example, that "The X-Files" and "Six Feet Under" had a real affection for the beasts.

So, having mused on the subject, I'm going to dive in with the understanding that it all may be cannon fodder in the end anyway.

By the way, I'm reading The Reluctant Miss Van Helsing by Minda Webber (Dorchester, 2006), which is light, mass market adult fare with a penchant for puns. A cute read for romance fans. It was an airport bookstore purchase.