A friend and writing coach client, Art Samson, the author of The Captains’ Airline: Pushing Back From The Brink, is drafting a new preface for his novel. So many high-visibility, non-U.S. airplane accidents have occurred since his book came out in 2012, that Art wants to republish it and reinforce the message that U.S. carriers have learned lessons that the rest of the world needs to know.
He sent me the following prologue vs. preface definition from his writer’s group.
The prologue is a part of the story which describes the events that occurred before the real start of story. Before writing a prologue ask yourself whether you are starting the story in the right place and whether or not you could use flashback.
The preface is the bit where the author talks directly to the reader about things the reader needs to know before starting to read the book. This is more usual in a non-fiction book, although you occasionally see them in prestigious works of fiction when they are reprinted after several years, and the author wants to discuss what’s happened since the first edition came out.
Love the short and sweet clarification.
And love the fact that a new edition of Art’s novel will be hitting the shelves. Here’s to more airlines (both foreign and U.S. regional carriers) taking heed.
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