Writing.Com General Discussion

Oh, that’s a great question!

The traditional guideline is still the same:
Forewords, Prefaces, and Introductions are meant for nonfiction, and
Prologues are the correct choice for fiction.

So no — that part hasn’t changed.

What has happened is that some writers (especially newer or indie authors) sometimes mix the terms without realizing it. It’s pretty common to see an “Introduction” in a fiction book even when the section is actually part of the story world.

In traditional publishing, though, anything that exists inside the fictional universe — lore, mythology, backstory, prophecy, historical notes, etc. — is still expected to be labeled as a Prologue or a Lore/World Note, not an Introduction.

Using the correct label simply helps your manuscript look polished and professional when you’re submitting it.

So the short answer is:
The rule hasn’t changed — no matter what you see floating around out there. There are plenty of reference books you can check (I still have one from my university days), but if you ask an editor working inside a publishing house, the answer is always the same: professional formatting is better.