A prelude short story is a short narrative that often serves as an introduction or precursor to a larger body of work. It sets the mood, introduces key themes or characters, and gives a taste of what's to come in a more extensive story or series.
Not always. Some short stories might have a prelude to set the stage or provide background, but many don't as they focus on delivering the core plot quickly.
Writing a great prelude short story involves several key steps. First, you need to understand the main story that it's preluding. Then, focus on creating a distinct mood. You can do this through your choice of words, setting, and the actions of the characters. Also, don't overcomplicate it. Keep it simple and to the point, but still engaging. For example, if the main story is about a detective solving a big case, the prelude could be about a small theft that the detective easily solves, showing his skills in a concise way.
A prelude to a story can start with setting the mood. For example, you can describe the atmosphere of the story's setting like 'The cold wind whipped through the desolate town, carrying with it a sense of unease.' This immediately gives the reader an idea of what kind of world the story will be set in. You can also introduce a key theme or idea that will be explored in the story, such as 'In this place, the line between right and wrong was always blurred.' Another approach is to introduce a character in a brief but interesting way. Maybe show them in a moment of thought or action that is relevant to the story, like 'She stared at the old photograph, her eyes filled with a mix of longing and regret, not knowing that this moment was the start of a journey she could never have imagined.'
They often introduce key themes. For example, in some prelude short stories, the main theme of the upcoming novel like 'love and sacrifice' might be hinted at through a small, yet impactful love story in the short. They can also introduce characters. Maybe a minor character in the short story will become a major one in the novel. And sometimes they set the mood. A spooky short story could be a prelude to a horror novel, getting readers in the mood for the scares to come.
The 'prelude christmas story' could be about the events leading up to Christmas. It might include things like the preparations in Bethlehem before Jesus was born, like Mary and Joseph's journey, finding a place to stay. It could also be about how the world was waiting for the Messiah's arrival.
An engaging prelude often begins with a captivating scene. Imagine your story is about a detective on a case. Start with 'The detective stood in the dimly lit alley, the stench of decay filling his nostrils as he stared at the lifeless body at his feet.' This immediately grabs the reader's attention. Another tip is to use unique language. Instead of saying 'It was a dark night', you could say 'The night was a cloak of inky blackness.' Also, create a sense of urgency. For a story about a race against time, the prelude could be 'The seconds were ticking away, each one like a death knell as she scrambled to find the key to the locked door.'
< Prequel to Celebrating the Years > was a prequel to < Celebrating the Years >>. It mainly told the story of Ye Qingmei. In the story, Ye Qingmei and Wu Zhu met and came to the capital together. Ye Qingmei stayed in a brothel in the market and started her business. She had plans for Full Moon in the Human World and decided to start a business in Dongyi. Ye Qingmei pawned jewelry in Dongyi and decided to start a business there. The specific plot content can be understood by watching all 127 episodes of the TV series " Celebrating Years: Ye Qingmei."