
Hi SErs! It’s a day of Harmony here at Story Empire 🙂 Today, I’d like to talk about using an Outsider’s Report in a prologue. Here’s a link to the previous post on Unexpected Clues in Prologues.
How do you write an Outsider’s Report into your prologue, and do it well?
- The aim is to intrigue the reader, via whatever method you want, by setting the tone and mood, introducing important information that either looks ahead or covers backstory, and/or sets up the stage for the rest of the story.
- The outsider’s report offers the reader an alternative view on the situation and/or the characters.
- The outsider’s report works in many genres of fiction, so it’s versatile.
- You can use a point of view from a character not included in the rest of the story or use some form of narrative media (see point 5).
- You can use various narrative media to tell a story. Such media can be diary entries, news reports, poems, quotes, fragments from historical reports, lines from a play, a medical report, or any written media that tells a story. How you organise such media will affect the story you tell and how it comes across to your reader. (See my examples below.)
Example 1: From my book: FALLOUT … (where I used 2 quotes to set the tone) …
‘Fear is the engine that drives the human animal. Humanity sees the world as a place of uncountable threats, and so the world becomes what humanity imagines it to be. They not only live in fear but use fear to control one another.’
Dean Koontz
‘Totalitarianism […] extends the civil power beyond due limits; it determines and fixes […] every field of activity, and thus compresses all legitimate manifestation of life—personal, local, and professional—into a mechanical unity of collectivity.’
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Example 2: From an unpublished book of mine: Exodus–Book One of The Colony Trilogy … (where I used a series of holo-news articles to set the backstory and tone of propaganda) …
49 Killed in Tower-block Blaze Amidst Exxon Overcrowding Crisis
Renewed calls for action come as more deaths occur due to the overcrowding crisis in the Exxon system. Leaders from all six planets will meet on Wednesday to discuss emergency measures.
An Exxon Co executive has today told NBT news that plans to settle the newly discovered B system have begun apace. However, inside information tells us that this relief will be too little too late.
The latest deaths come as building and fire regs are once more dismissed to facilitate extra housing for young families in need. One survivor of the blaze at Tower 2500 spoke to our reporter on the ground. ‘They mashed us in together like tunafish in a can. What did they think would happen? The government are murderers. They killed my kid.’
(And …)
Exxon Co to Lose Government Grants Unless they Bring New Planets Online Fast
A leaked memo outlines threats to discontinue government funding made by the leaders of the six-planet Exxon system to the Exxon Company responsible for discovering and settling new planets.
Due to the overcrowding crisis, the disaster alert level has now been raised to Red 8, the highest alert possible. A government insider has said that other options do exist, but that the Exxon Co is being too slow in utilising them.
‘It’s mass murder,’ one protester outside Government House yelled at gathered reporters this morning. ‘They’re doing it on purpose. They want us all to die.’
When NBT approached the minister for housing and welfare, he declined to give comment. Meanwhile, a curfew has been implemented. The new rules under marshal law state that no group larger than 20 persons may form within a 5-mile radius of any government or official installation, which includes the HQ of Exxon Co.
The total of five news articles at the beginning of book one sets both the backstory and the tone for the ensuing series trilogy of books. Book Two uses a captain’s report to offer the reader a recap of the story thus far … a neat way to provide a recap while showing without telling, and the reader can skip it if they wish.
NOTE: The narrative media tool can be incredibly inventive and take pretty much any written form you would like. Any narrative media that tells a story will work here. This approach needs to come from a point of view not included in the rest of the book, but–besides this necessity–the creativity is all up to you!
Recap: An outsider’s report can come from an alternative POV character not included in the main narrative–especially when that POV is needed only once and sets the foundation for what follows–or from any written narrative media that hooks the reader and sets up the mood/stage of the story.
TOP TIP: When you write a good prologue, 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.
That’s it from me today. I hope you’ll find this series of posts useful. I’ll see you again on Wednesday 2nd November, when we’ll take a look at In Media Res and Prologues 🙂

The prologue series so far:
Part Two, What a Prologue Is and Isn’t
Part Three, Prologue Dos and Don’ts
Part Four, Does Your Story Need a Prologue?
©2022 Harmony Kent
Pingback: How to Use Prologues, Part 11, Prologues and Epilogues | Story Empire
Pingback: How to Use Prologues, Part 10, Recap of Tools | Story Empire
Pingback: How to Use Prologues, Part 9, In Media Res | Story Empire
HI Harmony, I discovered last night that I can no longer comment on the SE posts from my ipad. So weird. Anyhow, I had to come back this morning to comment from my laptop. I have used outsiders reports in my writing, but only within the main body. I’ve never used a prologue but I would used this technique if it suited a prologue to be sure. Thanks for the great post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry for the WordPress woes. They seem to be hitting so many people lately 😑. Yes, that’s a great point about using outsider reports in the main body. This is a tool I love to use. Thanks, Robbie 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also like it, Harmony, and I got the idea from Stephen King who uses it a lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the many different opportunities using an outsider’s report presents, Harmony. Great examples! This is another fabulous addition to the prologue series!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you liked the post and examples. Thanks, Jan 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another great episode of this very informative series Harmony. Thank you. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Debby! So glad you’re enjoying it 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve learned something new from your post, Harmony. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great! Thanks, Beem 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a great article. Love this technique.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Stygian Rose 💕🙂
LikeLike
I’ve never used an outsider’s report in a prologue but I’ve read a number of books that have. I never stopped to think about how it set the tone, but it’s definitely an intriguing story starter.
Great examples, Harmony!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed the examples! Thanks, Mae 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love all the examples, they really got my attention. Great post full of good ideas for that prologue, Harmony 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic. Thanks, Denise 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was an interesting technique. I’ve never used it, but it’s a fun idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many opportunities! Thanks, Judi 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the idea of an outsider’s report for a prologue. You’ve given some great advice and tips, Harmony. Thank you so much!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Thanks, Mar 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another good point. When it works, it works. Thanks, Harmony.
LikeLiked by 1 person
For sure. Thanks, Michele 💕🙂
LikeLike
Great post, Harmony. I’ve read “outsider reports” as prologues before, and they work well. I especially liked your comment about using them in series or serials as opportunities to catch readers up on what happened in a previous book. That’s clever! Great post, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Diana! Hugs 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I learned a lot about prologues, Harmony! Thanks for writing such a good article.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! Thanks, Kymber 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The idea of an Outsider’s report is one I didn’t think of until now. Thanks, Harmony. This could be really fun to do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots of fun! Thanks, John 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
This can even work in movies. Star Wars used the “text crawl” in this manner, and it became iconic. Thanks, Harmony.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes! I remember that. I used something similar on the book trailer-movie I made for The Battle for Brisingamen 😁. Thanks, Staci 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a fan of prologues (when the story calls for one), and I like the idea of using this method. Thanks, Harmony.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great. Thanks, Joan 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Jeanne Owens, author.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the reblog, Jeanne 💕🙂
LikeLike
You’re welcome 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the idea of this style. While I haven’t done it as a prolog, I do have Night Bump Radio inside the body of my Hat stories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Night Bump Radio inside the body of the book is a great idea! Thanks, Craig 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent post, Harmony. Your examples are very helpful, and your accompanying advice is clarifying. Thank you for delving into the topic. I’m holding on to the guidance for future use. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic! Thanks, Gwen 💕🙂
LikeLike
Excellent, Harmony! Your post is another “keeper” for my writer’s database. I’ve seen a few authors add starting-chapter snippets of news or quotes related to the Outsider’s Report started in the prologue. Useful for maintaining the tone and interesting when kept short.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent! Thanks so much, Grant 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: How to Use Prologues, Part 8, Outsider’s Report | Legends of Windemere
Thanks for sharing, Charles 💕🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for the reblog, Charles 💕🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: How to Use Prologues, Part 8, Outsider’s Report — Story Empire – Typography
Great stuff, Harmony! The use of different kinds of media really appeals as a strategy and I can see multiple benefits in snippets of news reports, a diary or other factual accounts. As you say, the voice of someone not directly connected with the story can introduce a layer that adds something in a neat, detached way that would be difficult to do so succinctly in the body of the novel. In fact, you give so many useful ideas in this I’m going to bookmark it for future reference! I used a quotation from The Ancient Mariner in my first book to set an unsettling tone and a few people did get back to tell me they liked it. Many thanks for a genuinely useful strategy and how to apply it. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Trish, that makes me so happy to read. Thank you! 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Harmony.
I’ve introduced a prologue into my WIP after reading your articles, but that is from the POV of a character who appears, but never again has a POV. It sets the scene four years before the story opens.
I love this idea. I often use newspaper reports within a book. I shall keep it in mind.
Hugs, Sarah xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s awesome! Thanks, Sarah 💕🙂
LikeLike