Prologue-

1. a preliminary discourse; a preface or introductory part of a discourse, poem, or novel.
2. an introductory speech, often in verse, calling attention to the theme of a play.
3. the actor or actress who delivers this.
4. an introductory scene, preceding the first act of a play, opera, etc.
5. any introductory proceeding, event, etc.: Appetizing delicacies were the prologue to a long dinner.
–verb (used with object) 6. to introduce with or as if with a prologue.

I like definition four a lot. An appetizer. A delicacy. When I sit down to a dinner at a nice restaraunt, sometimes the appetizer turns out to be the best part!  

Some people hate prologues and skip them. So I propose that if what you are going to write in your prologue isn’t skippable, make it chapter one (or flashback to it). And I propose if what you are going to write is a high fantasy novel, you’re going to want a prologue. I propose the first line of your prologue should be every bit as awe-inspiring as the first line of chapter one. And I propose it ties into the end of the story somehow. But that ‘how’ should probably only be clear once the end of the story is read.

Still, some people have snobby hostility towards prologues and will put your book back on the shelf as soon as they see it. Frankly, I’m not sure I want snobby people like that reading my novel anyway, so no loss ;P

The reader is always welcome to skip the prologue if they want to jump into the main part of the story, or, if they’re like me, they can analyze the clues in the prologue and try to figure out what’s going to happen next.
 
While I can certainly jump into writing chapter one, the prologue is vital in that it holds subtle foreshadowing to the ending of book three. Your average high fantasy geek loves that kinda thing! The final scene of the final book will also pinpoint the exact date the prologue occurs. I find that pretty darn cool!
 
OTOH, while I feel it is easily as riveting and attention-getting as chapter one, my prologue is non-vital in that it holds no information the reader can’t do without. I believe that is the key to writing a good prologue. The reader can start with chapter one and go to the end without missing a beat, but I’m hoping the ending will be enticing enough for the reader to go back to book one and read the prologue anyway, just to see how it weaves into the grand scheme of things.
 
I can always drop the prologue if I have an agent or editor that feels it should be so, but for right now, I want a prologue there because I’m going to assume this book will be for my eyes only. Also, I’d like to think the agents I choose will enjoy high fantasy, therefore hopefully enjoy a good prologue.

Anyway, you know what feels great? Finally really actually being done with organizing my files!

Now what I’m left with is lots of text files full of freewriting and brainstormed ideas—like a ”primordial soup”—all seperated neatly into scene files. From those, it’s easy to write my scenes (especially with the anti-perfectionist rule in play). It’s comparable to taking raw materials and turning them into a product.

In light of having more raw data to work with, I did rewrite my first scene. I know, I know. I wasn’t supposed to touchy but I did anyway … so nyah.

The remix of scene 01 had a new word count of 278 words. No real significant changes occurred; just better descriptions and a better flow (thanks to the additional notes I had to work with).

Then I moved onto Scene 02.

Continuing with Dahjal’s point of view, he gets to have a lovely chat with Anati. Unfortunately for him, she’s still not interested in him. Worse, she’s mastered the art of building sexual tension and does so solely to torture him.

If done correctly, the next scene will show just how easily Dahjal can control most people in the world, which will hopefully leave the reader wondering if Dahjal’s just obsessed with Anati simply because his powers don’t work on her.

“I wouldn’t have any use for you. What fun is a corrupted man who pretends to be innocent?”

The backdrop is the top floor of an ancient Zion tower with ocean water overtaking the stairwell, spreading across the floor. This adds to the uneasiness of the scene. Dahjal himself is much like the tower, which can only take so much pressure before crumbling.

We learn of Rahaab, yet another immortal, of Drionus, an infamous seven-rays user from the past, and of Asyria, a very special six-year old child.

Scene 02 weighed in at 805 words.

      278
+    805
=======
    1083 -> Great! Now I just need to do that 80 more times.