In a post on Writers in the Storm, Ellen Buikema suggests effective ways to use foreshadowing in your writing. “Foreshadowing is a literary device used to hint at plot developments that don’t happen until later in the story, and can be achieved directly by making clear statements, or indirectly using subtle clues,” she says. Foreshadowing can increase intrigue and suspense by suggesting some event may occur, while not explaining how. Buikema’s tips include:
- Plan your story. Before you can plant seeds for future events, you need to know what those events may be. If you don’t have your full plot laid out in advance, consider adding foreshadowing during one of your edit drafts.
- Drop those breadcrumbs as early as possible. “Make sure foreshadowing takes place long enough before the event so it’s not fresh information,” Buikema advises. Otherwise, you’re simply broadcasting what’s about to happen.
- Scatter those crumbs. Don’t dump every bit of foreshadowing in one place. Dole it out strategically.
- Foreshadow in moderation. There’s no formula for calculating how much foreshadowing you need, but as a rule of thumb, stick to important events.
- Enlist feedback. Ask your beta readers how you did.
Some other literary devices similar to foreshadowing include:
- Chekhov’s gun, which says that story elements should all contribute to the whole. If a gun isn’t fired, it doesn’t need to be described.
- Red herrings mislead and distract the reader, most often in mystery novels.
- Flashforwards show readers a glimpse of what will happen, but not how or why.
Buikema lists book titles that foreshadow plot events and provides examples of foreshadowing from some popular books, including White Oleander and The Fault in Our Stars, as well as from famous poems, tv shows, and movies.
