Prologues and Epilogues: The Start and End Worth Reading

Stories are always cherry-picked, but in order to create a whole new world, you can keep the story alive. That’s where prologues and epilogues slide in, giving your readers extra context, emotional payoffs, or just that “wow” moment at the start or end. When done right, they make your story irresistible and totally binge-worthy.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

Use prologues and epilogues to mesmerize your readers from the very first page and to extend the life of their story beyond the main plot. Together, they help the story feel bigger, more complex, and more memorable, just like the Game of Thrones universe.

The “Logues” Matter

There’s no hard-and-fast rule about how long these bookends need to be, but in general, a prologue or epilogue should be short enough to keep the reader engaged but long enough to do its job, which is to give context, hook, or closure because prologues and epilogues aren’t just optional filler. They need to set tone, tease plot, or tie loose threads together.

A prologue is found at the beginning of the story, just before the main story starts. It can give readers a taste of mystery, action, or backstory before the whole adventure begins. On the flip side, epilogues let you show consequences, character growth, or just a soft landing after the drama ends.

There are some writers who lean heavily on these bookends, while others skip them entirely. What matters is the purpose. Every prologue or epilogue should earn its spot. A random scene that doesn’t serve story, theme, or emotion? Delete it. Your readers will thank you.

Prologues: Your Story’s Hype Intro

A prologue is basically your story’s trailer. The prologue grabs attention, drops readers into a tantalizing moment, or provides essential backstory without slowing the narrative. It can drop hints about future drama, show a pivotal backstory event, and introduce a mysterious character or setting

Examples:

The night the village burned, Mara didn’t know she would carry its secrets for the rest of her life. But someone had to survive and remember.

Hook: Shows tension and stakes immediately.

Foreshadowing: Hints at the story’s central conflict.

Do you notice how it pulls you in? That’s the point. Prologues work best when they intrigue without confusing—think appetizer, not the main course. But be careful because too much information can make readers skip straight to chapter 1.

Epilogues: The Sweet (or Bitter) Mic Drop

An epilogue gives closure or sets up a sequel. The epilogue, from another angle, offers teases what comes next or gives a satisfying glimpse into the characters’ lives after the main events. It’s your chance to wrap up character arcs, reveal the aftermath of major events, and drop a final emotional punch.

Example:

Three years later, she stood at the edge of the same forest, smiling. Life hadn’t been easy, but she was finally free.

Epilogues can be truly super satisfying, especially in romance, fantasy, or young adult (YA). But avoid clichés. Don’t just tell us “they lived happily ever after.” This is the Disney-Happily-Ever-After formula. Show growth, stakes, or consequences that matter.

Writing Your Bookends

Before you begin, you have to decide your purpose first. Prologue or epilogue? Each has a specific narrative job. Keep them concise as much as possible, don’t give out everything at once, and leave some mystery. This is very important: stay consistent. Tone, POV, and tense should match the rest of your story unless there’s a deliberate reason to switch. Lastly, edit ruthlessly. If a scene doesn’t serve plot, character, or mood, cut it.

Here’s a tip: Not every book labels the start and end as prologue or epilogue, but many use the same concept, even if under a slightly different heading, such as Prelude, Afterword, Final Note.

These bookends can make your story pop, leave readers shook, or give them that warm, fuzzy feeling after the last page. Do this right, and they elevate your story from “good” to chef’s kiss epic.

Finished your draft and want to see if your bookends hit the mark? Send your manuscript to themanuscripteditor.com for a complimentary 800-word sample edit now.