The length of a prologue depends on the nature of the story, but it’s best to keep it trim. One to five pages should suffice. 

What is a good length for a prologue?

between 1500 to 2500 words

The average length of a prologue is between 1500 to 2500 words long. As you can see, it is a little shorter than an actual chapter. And that is the golden rule of a healthy prologue length.

Can a prologue be 3 pages?

It’s the “3-page prologue.” You’ll see this in many movies. Guardians of the Galaxy, Elf, Trainwreck, The Sixth Sense… The idea is that you open with one important compelling scene (or mini-sequence) about the character’s life in the past, of up to three pages.
 

Can a prologue be 200 words?

There is no set length for a chapter. That can be one page (200–300 words) or ten pages (2000–3000 words) or even 100 pages (8000–9000 words).

Can a prologue be too long?

Prologues can also easily be too long, meaning the ‘real’ beginning of the story is delayed. Make sure you don’t make your prologue longer than your standard chapter and possibly consider making it even shorter to add real punch. You need to lay the foundations for the plot to come, but without being long-winded.

What is the longest prologue ever?

Crossroads of Twilight is the longest prologue ever written.
 

Are prologues short?

Some works of literature start with a prologue (pronounced PRO-log), a short introductory section that gives background information or sets the stage for the story to come. The prologue is usually pretty short, maybe a few pages (five minutes or so in a film).

Do readers skip prologues?

Prologues confuse the reader until they get into the rest of the book. This is not serving the reader. Editors will only read a few pages of a manuscript and the prologues are never a good use of that limited attention space. The prologue is rarely as well written as the first chapter.
 

Can a prologue have dialogue?

A prologue stands out.



You could also use a flashback later in the narrative or convey the past through dialogue or character thought. A prologue can be told in a different voice than the rest of the story or be presented by a different viewpoint character.
 

Do prologues count as chapters?

In answer to your question, yes, it counts as a chapter, if it’s anything longer than a page. BUT: A prologue can count as a disqualifier, since it so often indicates that the author is not only an inexperienced writer, but an inexperienced reader.

How many pages does a prologue have?

The length of a prologue depends on the nature of the story, but it’s best to keep it trim. One to five pages should suffice.
 

Can a short story be 3 pages?

A short story is 3-30 pages long. This number of pages works best when published in a literary magazine or similar publication. Check out Kindlepreneur’s article on how to write short stories. Examples of short stories (1,000-10,000 word count):
 

Can a prologue be as long as a chapter?

#1 – Keep it brief. Your prologue shouldn’t be longer than your average chapter length. It should be one event (maybe two), it shouldn’t bother with developing characters, and it should only include the crucial information.