In a guest post on the Writers Helping Writers blog, Jami Gold talks about foreshadowing: when and how to use it and how to know when enough is enough. “Foreshadowing can help create the sense that every element of the story has a purpose, that it’s all leading to a purposeful destination,” she says. “While unexpected twists can make a story fun and avoid the feeling of being too predictable, foreshadowing can help a story hit the sweet spot of feeling inevitable-yet-surprising.”
First, Gold defines the types of foreshadowing:
- Direct foreshadowing: Mentioning future events; characters worrying about something or choosing not to worry about something; an allusion to tension that will eventually snap. A flash-forward, showing the reader what’s to come without providing context, is another example of direct foreshadowing.
- Indirect foreshadowing: Showing a low-stakes version of the final conflict; using similes or metaphors to hint at hidden character traits or situations; or portraying suspicious events that your character ignores or rationalizes. “Indirect foreshadowing uses subtlety, subtext, and/or misdirection to hide the story’s future, with the truth becoming clear only in hindsight,” Gold says.
Next, Gold shares three tips for how and when to use foreshadowing:
- Avoid foreshadowing when you’ve already foreshadowed an upcoming event.
- Use direct foreshadowing when it establishes reader expectations, makes events seem credible, shows character motivation, increases tension or suspense, or raises questions for the reader.
- Use indirect foreshadowing to give readers a sense of closure; to create layers and parallels; to increase emotions; or to set up a surprising ending.
