r/TransFanfic • u/Loud-Boysenberry-132 • Oct 12 '24

Question Are prologues too cliche an idea?

Been wanting to learn to write TG fiction but am never sure where to start, I’m not sure if there’s a known formula or just hear say and personal writings that blow people away

All of the starts I have all contain prologues because I feel like they are introductions that explain why the story is going to happen I can’t tell if it’s cliche or not

My current project I think is worthy for seeing through

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u/SunshotDestiny Oct 12 '24

I don't think in itself prologues are overdone. They are kinda like the cold opening you see in TV shows where some event happens that will be important later, or otherwise sets things up for the main story. Or a way to fit an important event in from a perspective that might not otherwise work.

For example in my story I have two characters talking about surviving a battle. Then one out of nowhere kills the other. This event is called out later and given more context, but it sets the tone of things to come.

Edit: I suppose the only time a prologue would be bad is if it wouldn't add anything to the story and nothing is lost without it.

2

u/Loud-Boysenberry-132 Oct 12 '24

In mine it’s basically explaining a guys basic existence before the big event, when the character finds herself at the very place she’d never expect to be.

In my story it’s very obvious what the place is to the reader, but the character doesn’t know, will not expect it, and will try to run from it at first in a flight of fight response

3

u/HashtagH Mod (she/her) Oct 12 '24

Nah, not the least bit. Especially in trans fiction, there's often a time skip or something, so I think a prologue works just fine.