: Often, when a narrator labels a character as "crazy," it is a defense mechanism. It is easier to call a son crazy than it is to admit we do not understand the architecture of his mind.
To write under a self-deprecating or aggressive pseudonym is a deliberate choice. It tells the reader immediately: I am not here to give you a sanitized, polite version of the truth.
: End the prologue with a line or an action that ensures the characters can never go back to the way things were in Part 1.
: We need to see the exact moment the friction between the narrator and the "Crazy Son" sparks an actual fire.
: It forces the reader to question everything. Is the son actually crazy, or is the narrator simply incapable of processing reality? 🌀 What a Prologue Part 2 Needs to Accomplish
If you are currently drafting or analyzing this piece, a strong second half of a prologue generally needs to leave the reader feeling off-balance: