Can You Start a Novel with a Flashback?

Short answer right away: yes, of course you can start your novel with a flashback. But that said, when you’re looking at the structure more closely, one idea you might consider is using a prologue instead of jumping right into chapter one with a flashback. A prologue signals to the reader that there's a shift — a different time, a different voice, a different context — and it can help orient them from the very beginning.

If you're starting with a flashback, positioning it as a prologue might help set expectations — especially if you’re also planning a longer flashback later in the book. Extended flashbacks can be tricky for pacing and clarity, so being intentional with structure helps.

If you're unsure whether it works, this is where a professional beta reader can be incredibly valuable. It’s much less expensive than developmental editing and gives you reader-focused feedback on your specific questions. They can tell you whether something like a mid-book flashback works or throws off the rhythm. What matters most is whether it serves the story and the reader.

That’s a big one. Sometimes, when we're deep in our own writing, we get wrapped up in what we’re doing — I know I do. I’ll read a line and think, “Wow, look at that transition, Helene. So good.” But am I thinking about whether the reader can follow it? Is it clear? Is it making their experience better? Not always. And that’s something I have to check myself on.

Here's a practical tip: before hiring anyone or diving into revisions, try creating a structural outline of your manuscript. Use post-it notes, index cards, a spreadsheet — whatever works. The idea is to lay out what happens when: this happens first, this next, then that. You can do outlines by plot, character, or scene — just get the whole thing in front of you visually. Then ask: Is this working? Am I attached to this idea because I had it early on, or is it really serving the book?

Structural outlines are excellent tools for all sorts of writing concerns, not just flashbacks.

At the end of the day, there’s no gospel about how stories “should” be written. But readers do bring expectations, so if you’re doing something outside the norm, you want to make it as easy as possible for them to follow and engage.

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