Foreshadowing and Forecasting
Foreshadowing and forecasting are literary tools and have their place in storytelling. The POV style of writing determines the use of these literary tools.
Think of foreshadowing as “breadcrumbs” in a story that can inject suspense and tension. Foreshadowing is a literary tool that hints to the reader what is coming later in the narrative. Not the outcome. These literary “breadcrumbs” help create tension, suspense, and curiosity. Using “breadcrumbs” also works great for setting up plot twists. Foreshadowing can be subtle or obvious. How subtle or obvious will depend on your writing style and plot.
Remember to give the reader a few breadcrumbs, not the entire loaf. Foreshadowing can be subtle or Obvious.
Think of hidden breadcrumbs, but in plain sight. The reader might see them and think they are insignificant. But later, the breadcrumbs reveal their true importance.
These are not hints. The message stares into the reader’s face. There is no doubt about what is about to happen.
Chapter title: | A chapter title can provide the reader with a hint. |
Dialogue: | Using the characters’ dialogue is a great way to toss out some breadcrumbs. You can give subtle or obvious hints. |
Metaphor or simile: | This is another excellent literary tool to foreshadow. |
Changing scene or setting: | A change in scene or setting can hint at something to come. |
Character’s behavior: | A change in the character’s behavior can hint to the reader that something will happen sooner or later. |
Forecasting is a popular tool used in Omniscient POV writing, but it is the evil twin of foreshadowing and violates limited and Deep POV. Do not do it.
Forecasting is also known as foretelling, projecting, or telegraphing. Forecasting is when you, the writer, tell the reader something important is coming. In other words, author intrusion, hooking the reader.
Joe is the POVC. Bad guys stole his 1966 classic Ford Mustang. He discovers where the bad guys hid his car and sneaks into a warehouse to recover it.
There are other forms of forecasting. Forecasting can sneak into writing in other ways, like telling the reader something the character already knows or describing the result before it happens.
You want foreshadowing in your story. It can be subtle or obvious.
Forecasting is the author intruding in the story. Avoid forecasting even if you write in omniscient POV.