Hi SErs! It’s a day of Harmony here at Story Empire 🙂 Today, I’d like to talk about epilogues in relation to prologues. Here’s a link to the previous post on Recap of Tools.
What is an Epilogue?
An epilogue is like a prologue in that it adds to the main narrative. The main difference is that an epilogue comes at the end of the book rather than the beginning. So, where a prologue comes before the main story, an epilogue comes after all the other events have happened. An epilogue can jump way ahead in time or only an hour or a day or two. However, it MUST be linked to the events and characters your reader has become familiar with throughout the main story. As with a prologue, only use an epilogue if the information doesn’t fit within the main narrative … for example: to introduce a new character or jump ahead in time.
Does a Prologue require an epilogue?
The quick and easy answer here is no. The two are separate tools and can be used independently, individually, or can bookend one another.
Why use an Epilogue?
- To hint at a sequel.
- To limit the possibility of a sequel.
- Further advance the story to a satisfying resolution.
- Introduce a new but related element of tension (to set up a sequel, as in point one but more definite).
How to use an Epilogue:
- Relate these new events to your main story: First and foremost, you have to ensure continuity. Otherwise, there is no point in adding an epilogue.
- Keep it concise and relevant: The end of your main narrative will have been filled with tension and emotion of some sort, and the last thing you want is to leave your reader feeling as though they are now wading through treacle, and–worse still–for no reason.
- Epilogues and Afterwords: Whichever you use, this final writing should show effect, affect, and change. In my book, FALLOUT, I used an epilogue to jump into the near future to show how the characters were coping with the ‘fallout’ and all the tumultuous changes they’d just lived through. In this instance, I brought back one of the minor characters from the opening chapter as a way to bring closure for the main character at the end and to round out her character arc.
Summary: As with a prologue, an epilogue is only needed if the information doesn’t fit within the main narrative. Keep your epilogue concise and relevant. Evoke emotion (which sort will depend upon your story and its genre).
TOP TIP: When you write a good epilogue, and have a valid reason for using one, it will enhance your story rather than detract from it.
Remember: There are NO hard-and-fast rules. You can do anything you want, as long as you do it well and with good reason.
In my last post, Paula Cappa had some wonderful questions about epilogues, and I hope to have answered them in this post. (Thanks for your lovely input, Paula!) If I haven’t covered all those queries, or if any of you have more questions, please let me know in the comments, and I shall do my best to offer clarity.
That’s it from me today. I hope you’ve found this series of posts useful. I’ll see you again on Wednesday 22nd February, when we’ll close up this series on prologues with an easy, at-a-glance summary of the whole topic 🙂
The prologue series so far:
Part One, Prologues Overview
Part Two, What a Prologue Is and Isn’t
Part Three, Prologue Dos and Don’ts
Part Four, Does Your Story Need a Prologue?
Part Five, Backstory Delivery
Part Six, Spoilers Ahoy
Part Seven, Unexpected Clues
Part Eight, Outsider’s Report
Part Nine: In Media Res
Part Ten: Recap of Tools
©2023 Harmony Kent
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