: Re: Flash-forward as Prologue and then Flashbacks too complicated? Chronologically, the story begins with the protagonist as a child and description of her world, which is important to the plot. Since

If you are hoping to get published, then a good rule of thumb is to hold off on the prologues. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but they are not "in fashion" as they once were. Instead, writers weave the past into the story more like how we experience memories in everyday life. We see a coffee mug or smell perfume, and it takes us back, for better or worse to another time in our life.

For example: Ramona and Jonathan are the protagonists in a romance thriller, but Ramona does not want to have anything to do with Jonathan at the beginning of the story. We show the reader this through her irrational irritation with his good looks and charm, later learning it is because he works in the oil and gas industry just like her abusive father did. We do this in lieu of a prologue.

Hope this helps.

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: Just wanted to mention The Novel Factory here, as keeping track of characters was one of the main reasons it was developed. Disclosure - I am the creator of this software. This is a screenshot

@Samaraweera193

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: For what it is worth, this seems quite effective to me. It is always difficult to write in first person, and when the narrator is challenged in some way, it also challenges the writer.

@Samaraweera193

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: I find myself giving versions of the same advice over and over, but it's applicable to so many situations. I call it the Sturgeon/Delany rule. Work out every last detail and implication

@Samaraweera193

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: What to do with first writing Assume I have just written my first short story. I showed it to a few friends and they seem to like it. For the next step I want to find out if my work

: Re: Flash-forward as Prologue and then Flashbacks too complicated? Chronologically, the story begins with the protagonist as a child and description of her world, which is important to the plot. Since

More posts by @Samaraweera193

: Just wanted to mention The Novel Factory here, as keeping track of characters was one of the main reasons it was developed. Disclosure - I am the creator of this software. This is a screenshot

: For what it is worth, this seems quite effective to me. It is always difficult to write in first person, and when the narrator is challenged in some way, it also challenges the writer.

: I find myself giving versions of the same advice over and over, but it's applicable to so many situations. I call it the Sturgeon/Delany rule. Work out every last detail and implication

: What to do with first writing Assume I have just written my first short story. I showed it to a few friends and they seem to like it. For the next step I want to find out if my work

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