Can my prologue and the rest of my book be in different tenses?

Question

Okay. So, I totally just realized that I did this in the first place, but my prologue and the rest of my book are in different tenses. The prologue is past and the rest of what I have so far is present. The stuff that happens in my prologue happens a few days before the rest of my book starts, and I kind of like how it shows, you know, that it did happen earlier than the rest. But is it okay for me to leave it? Or do I have to stick with one tense for both?

Thank youuuuuuuuu :))

John Walker · Accepted Answer

Sure!
What I've learn in my life is that the difference between your book and an essay is that its yours. The author holds the pen. You call the shots, no formats.
I would recommend it to stay that way unless you've some tense error. It would be much creative than just now. Prologue is the most flexible area, you can put the past, future or the present.
For the past, you can make the chapters ahead like a fast forward to future. Or that prologue is just a flashback. Let your creativity call the shots.
However, this is just my experience. Get some answers from the rest. Good luck!

Toshi · Answer

Yes, it could be in different tenses.
Prologue, being at the start, is something leading up to the events that unfold in the story. It is actually quite good that you did this in past, and the rest in present.
You would have been in trouble if it was the other way around though.

Aiko · Answer

Absolutely. It's fine.  It's a question of style, and if you (and more importantly your readers) think it works, then it works. It's the beauty of fiction.

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Can my prologue and the rest of my book be in different tenses?

3 Answers