#237. 3 Signs Your Novel Doesn't Need a Prologue (& What To Do Instead)

#237. 3 Signs Your Novel Doesn't Need a Prologue (& What To Do Instead)

From Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice by Savannah Gilbo

March 3, 2026 · 17 min · Episode 237

About this episode

The episode discusses three signs that indicate a novel may not need a prologue and offers alternatives to consider.

You wrote a prologue for your novel. But now you're wondering if you really need it. Here are three honest signs your story might actually be stronger without one. Writing a prologue feels like the right move until you're three drafts in and still not sure if it's actually helping your story or just sitting there, taking up space at the front of your book. And the tricky part is that it's not always easy to tell. Because sometimes the prologue isn't the problem. And sometimes it really is. Th...

People in this episode

Host: Savannah Gilbo

Topics covered

  • prologue
  • novel writing
  • story structure
  • creative writing
  • fiction

Keywords

  • prologue
  • novel
  • writing tips
  • storytelling
  • drafts

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