Prologue of my Drama/Thriller

[gregSMT]

@Tinman

Thanks I've never thought of that! And I know that some scenes will be axed as I go along, it happens to me all the time. Now I don't know if I should call the above a prologue or chapter one because the couple gets referred to a lot by police and the MC's: authorities will be searching for a link between Rodney and Sydney and the MC when in fact there is none, Rod and Syd were only the killer's way of saying "I'm back." There's a lot more that goes with the above so should I keep it as a lengthy prologue or chapter one?

[John Oberon]

Chapter one.

[The Tinman]

@Tinman

Thanks I've never thought of that! And I know that some scenes will be axed as I go along, it happens to me all the time. Now I don't know if I should call the above a prologue or chapter one because the couple gets referred to a lot by police and the MC's: authorities will be searching for a link between Rodney and Sydney and the MC when in fact there is none, Rod and Syd were only the killer's way of saying "I'm back." There's a lot more that goes with the above so should I keep it as a lengthy prologue or chapter one?

It sounds like you should start with Chapter One, if "there's a lot more that goes with the above." If you go with a prologue, try to keep it short.

I used a prologue in a novel I just completed. The reason I didn't call it Chapter One was because it was short (it only concerned the triggering event) and the main POV character wasn't in it. Good Luck!!!

[gregSMT]

It sounds like you should start with Chapter One, if "there's a lot more that goes with the above." If you go with a prologue, try to keep it short.

I used a prologue in a novel I just completed. The reason I didn't call it Chapter One was because it was short (it only concerned the triggering event) and the main POV character wasn't in it. Good Luck!!!

Thanks and the above doesn't really deal with any MC's (besides the killer) but I think you're right. It's pretty long to be a prologue. Another concern that I have now is originally chapter one was a short(ish) piece about guilt and what it does to people (one of my themes is guilt, it's sort of how the killer works). Should I put that as the prologue?

[The Tinman]

It sounds like you should start with Chapter One, if "there's a lot more that goes with the above." If you go with a prologue, try to keep it short.

To clarify: when I say "try to keep it short", I mean try to restrict the scene to one or two incidents and places. Having said that, one of my favorite books, Salems Lot, has seven sections in the prologue.

Thanks and the above doesn't really deal with any MC's (besides the killer) but I think you're right. It's pretty long to be a prologue. Another concern that I have now is originally chapter one was a short(ish) piece about guilt and what it does to people (one of my themes is guilt, it's sort of how the killer works). Should I put that as the prologue?

Greg, I write horror, and while there is some overlap, my method might be totally wrong for what you want. This is only my opinion -- nine out of ten writers may disagree with me.

Starting with the lake/murder scene accomplishes a couple of things: you've started with an action scene to hook readers and give you time to develop the characters and tension (in horror, tension is developed by slowly approaching the closed door and foreshadowing the consequences of opening it, not by showing what's behind it); you also show the reader what's at stake (life and death) further in your story. If you write about guilt at the beginning, you probably take all that away. Writing about your theme sounds like a lot of narrative and introspection... blah.
Worry about your story; get that right. Later, after you revise and edit, if you see a theme developing, you can use it. Until then, if ever, I wouldn't worry about it.

Again, just my opinion. Good Luck!!!

[gregSMT]

Okay, I was starting to decide not to add the guilt narrative because it kept feeling like it belonged in a drama and that it not what I'm going for. I plan on rewriting the first chapter (what's above) with the killer letting one of the two know that he is going to get them and the other one will end up walking in on it too late. Meaning instead of Rodney and Sydney being with each other in a car, Syd is alone in,say, a house and Rodney is on his way home. While Syd is becoming aware of the knife-happy psyco Rodney is unaware and taking his time. I'll post some of it up when I get it done to see what you guys think.