Prequels, mystery prequels in this case. This is a topic dear to my heart and very much on my mind lately. How do you feel about prequels? Personally, I like them. I’ve just written one, so I suppose I must feel a certain fondness.

What’s a prequel?

To strip it down to the very basics, you could say it’s the opposite of a sequel. Rather than coming after the first, and subsequent, instalments of a book, it slots in before it. What’s the point of them? Well, they can provide a glimpse of background information. They can explore a character’s past in more depth than the original book did. Or if there’s a massive societal shift that influenced the original story, a prequel can give more details and explanation of how things reached the point they did for that story.

Are they just fluff and filler?

Some of them are. But, for that matter, there are entire series that are essentially fluff. Sometimes it’s nice to read something that isn’t too terribly serious. But a prequel can serve a more dedicated purpose than that if the writer so chooses.

For instance, in the first book of a series, an author doesn’t always have room to explore certain topics at length. Consider that you may not have a reader base at that point, not for that story at least. If you go too heavy on the fine details of the world you’re building, or lay out a detailed history that no one’s had the chance to become interested in yet, you run the risk of putting out a boring book.

You may be better off writing a faster-moving and engaging book, including just enough information that the plot makes sense without saturating the narrative with incidentals that would bog it down. The reader would still be able to follow the story without finding out that your main character got chased out of a tree when they were seven and that’s why they’re afraid of squirrels. It may have an impact of some sort but it doesn’t need to be known to further the story.

Know who you’re writing your prequel for

The curious thing about a prequel, of any genre, is the unique approach of the reader. Let’s consider a couple of potential viewpoints that are worth keeping in mind if you’re planning to write one of your own.

The established reader

Now, a bit of backstory can really appeal to a person if they’ve already read part or all of a series. Here’s your opportunity to dig into the squirrel vendetta. Or, if you write fantasy, to explain the nuances of any special powers or fantastic creatures in a bit more detail. There will still need to be some explanation in the main books, but you could dig into the nerdier bits in a book dedicated to that purpose.

If someone is a fan of your work and loves your characters, they might be delighted to read a short story that explains some past doings. Or they may enjoy a history of your world; you could even include a map or two.

That sort of extra, inside information can allow a reader to immerse themself deeper into your stories and characters. It’s fun for the reader and a thrill for the author to realize that someone out there gives a hoot.

The new reader

What about the people that are new to your work and haven’t decided if they want to spend time or money on your stories? Well, a novella length book, perhaps offered for free in exchange for joining your mailing list, can give them a risk free chance to check you out. Prequels are perfect for that.

Although, if you’re targeting new readers, remember what I said about too many details. Don’t bore them with things that don’t make sense to them.

What you can do is write a short story that introduces your main character (or a side one, for that matter) without a complex and multi-faceted plot. This gives them a chance to experience your writing style and, if they like it, they’ll hopefully go on to read more of your work.

My experience in the mystery prequel world

I’ve written prequels before, these were for one of my fantasy series and was really for my own amusement. But as I continue to write my Maiden Harlow mystery series, I faced a conundrum.

I wanted to start my mailing list and try to connect with some readers. I wanted to give people something worthwhile in exchange for receiving correspondence from me. My books are in Kindle Unlimited, so I can’t give the first few chapters away without landing myself in trouble.

That meant I had to write something completely new and also relevant to people who haven’t read my books yet. To me that meant a novella, specifically a prequel. All well and good in theory, write a good mystery for Maiden to solve, and offer it for free. This would allow me to proceed without the fear of Amazon hunting me down.

Nothing is that easy

First of all, shifting gears to write a short story when you typically hit around the 100k range for word count is challenging. The natural urge to start adding subplots and numerous characters is powerful.

Secondly, since it’s a prequel, I had to stay within the confines of what can’t happen. What I mean by that is I could not have a murder take place inside the inn. Neither could I have any police come to the inn or question Maiden about a murder. Those are all things that are stark novelties in the first book, Murder Checks Inn, so they can’t have already happened or book one makes no sense.

I didn’t want to set the story in a different location because the inn is a character of its own. I wanted to introduce readers to it. So, I had to work around those issues and still write an interesting mystery. If you’re curious about how I did it, I invite you to join my mailing list and get a free copy.

I called it Blood and Money and deliberately used a cover that was similar to Murder Checks Inn. The events that take place in the prequel fall a couple of weeks before that book.

Options abound

The idea of a supplementary story that takes place before your book is not a new idea, but it’s a very good one. Whether you plan to do an in-depth character or world analysis, or write a vignette to give readers a taste of your writing style, is totally up to you. But these short and mighty volumes should be in every author’s arsenal.

Make good use of your prequels by giving readers high quality work. Don’t fall into the trap of throwing out something quick and basic. This a temptation that strikes some, particularly if they’re offering them for free. I don’t think any author who takes their craft seriously should ever publish something they know is subpar.

Treat everything you publish as a direct reflection of you and your skill levels, because that’s what it is. It’s vital to take the same care that you would in a full-length book that you are charging money for. If you write mystery, do the work to avoid the rookie mistakes.

Remember, if a reader’s first impression of your writing is something shallow and slapped together quick, you might not get another chance to convince them. If you were in their shoes, would you go back for more? Especially if you had to pay for it? Probably not. I certainly wouldn’t.

A prequel can be the delightful appetizer that convinces readers to stick around for the main course. Prepare it carefully, present it in an appealing way (a good cover is very important) and may it serve you well.