Can an epilogue be the size of a chapter?

[Nezhul]

So, here's a simple question.

Can an epilogue be long, or is it necessarily short? Thing is, I have a novel told from a first person perspective, and a short (half page) prologue about a different character - told in third person.

I want to make an epilogue third person as well, and from the perspective of a different character as well. But there is a sizable amount of information that I want to relay there, and it all can be told only from this character's perspective.

I don't want to make it into a "chapter" because all chapters follow a single main character. But I'm hesitant about the long epilogue.

Any thoughts?

 

[SimonDoom]

So, here's a simple question.

Can an epilogue be long, or is it necessarily short? Thing is, I have a novel told from a first person perspective, and a short (half page) prologue about a different character - told in third person.

I want to make an epilogue third person as well, and from the perspective of a different character as well. But there is a sizable amount of information that I want to relay there, and it all can be told only from this character's perspective.

I don't want to make it into a "chapter" because all chapters follow a single main character. But I'm hesitant about the long epilogue.

Any thoughts?

I think it can work as long as the epilogue introduces something new and interesting/significant to the reader. For example, if the epilogue reveals a new wrinkle to the story that the first person narrator doesn't know, or only hints at, in the main body of the story because of the limited first person perspective, it can be dramatically interesting.

Shifting perspective is tricky, because it can come across as though you are playing around with the reader, who has gotten accustomed to seeing the story told from one person's point of view. But if the epilogue adds something dramatically, it may be worth doing.

 

[Nezhul]

I can make it work content-wise no problem.

My concern is if the epilogue MUST be short or the sole fact that it's long will rub the reader the wrong way.

 

[lovecraft68]

This is most likely another no right answer type of thing so I'll answer based on how I feel as a reader.

I don't think an epilogue should be all that long unless there is going to be a sequel and this is a teaser/set up for it. If its not, if its more a little tidying up a loose end or even giving a twist, it should be short and to the point. My opinion only

 

[CyranoJ]

I can make it work content-wise no problem.

My concern is if the epilogue MUST be short or the sole fact that it's long will rub the reader the wrong way.

I don't see why it should. If it makes sense in the context of the story, so be it. Nobody's the boss of how long your epilogues are except you.

...

In fact...

... it would be kind of fun to write a whole story that was just an epilogue...

... hmmm...

 

[Darkniciad]

I have an Epilogue that's 5 Lit pages. The chapters averaged about 6 Lit pages.

https://www.literotica.com/s/danica-epilogue

If you put a colon after your main title, you can even get it to show up at the end of the series as it does on my submission list. Danica: Epilogue

Readers didn't balk whatsoever. Of course, that's Sci-Fi&Fantasy, where the readers are far more acclimated to long stories. Results may vary in the real world categories.