Unlock the Power of Subtle Hints and Misdirection to keep your Readers Captivated

Foreshadowing. 

So fun to read. 

I have to be honest — I’m terrible on the first read catching anything. I thought HBO producers chose Renly’s preferences rather than G.R.R. Martin in the original text … Yep; I missed all the hints! Created by Author with Copilot.

So hard to write.

Here are 5 secret tips for foreshadowing that will make your writing shine. The first is:

… in your first draft. You will lose your mind trying to foreshadow here. Too much is changing in your story, even if you are a plotter instead of a pantser.

Foreshadowing is HARD! Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Your priority is getting that story out of your head and onto the page. Foreshadowing can wait. 

If you try, you’ll end with so many red herrings and ‘Chekhov’s Guns.’ A few red herrings are good (see below). Too many and your draft is a mess.

Symbolism is your friend. Symbols done well only become clear after the fact (which only makes them sweeter looking back).

George R.R. Martin did it right at the beginning of Game of Thrones. The Starks find a dead direwolf and stag dead in the snow, having killed each other. 

But there are five dark colored pups, one for each of the Stark children. And then the sixth white pup, for Jon Snow. You think it's because he’s a bastard Stark, but … No spoilers here. But he’s different, and the symbolism is good. 

I still can’t believe Ned didn’t “foreshadow” Catelyn about Jon Snow’s mother. Image created by Author with Copilot.

 The key is to let your readers connect the dots themselves. They’ll feel like geniuses if they get it on the first read, and you’ll be the mastermind behind it all.

With foreshadowing, subtlety is key. Pique your readers' curiosity without ruining the surprise. It’s a delicate balance and one that takes practice. 

Readers aren’t dumb. Trust them to pick up on the breadcrumbs you’ve dropped, not the whole sandwich that’s only missing its pickle. 

Foreshadow with breadcrumbs to find the sandwich; not with the sandwich to find its pickle. Predicatable writing just makes everyone sad. Image created by Author with Copilot.

They'll enjoy that more.

Let your characters do the talking. We all remember Gandalf telling Frodo to keep the Ring safe after Bilbo’s party at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring. 

In the movies, we’ve all seen the, what I can only describe as glorious, prologue narrated by Cate Blanchett. She’s great. The action is great. The movie is great.

Foreshadowing some elf whoop-ass in the pic. Photo: New Line Cinema

In the books, Tolkien had no such scene. The Ring was just something to make you an expert burglar. It turned you invisible. 

Why was Gandalf so concerned that it be kept secret and safe? Readers realized there was more to it than we previously knew, but not what. Not until later. 

Too much foreshadowing makes your writing predictable. It never hurts to have a few red herrings in your writing. They create false foreshadowing and keep your readers guessing.

A red herring is a cured herring that becomes pungent and red in the curing process. It was used to train horses to be comfortable with the chaos and smells accompanying a hunting party. 

It writing it means to lead your readers on a wrong path. Examples of a red herring in Game of Thrones include the potential identities of John’s mother, from Wylla to Ashara Dane. 

Or what of Tolkien’s superman extraordinaire, Tom Bombadil. Didn’t we all expect him to do something in the ultimate battle?

Tom Bombadil didn’t foreshadow much of anything. Still love him, though. Image created by Author with Copilot.

Some have argued that red herrings violate the maxim of ‘Chekhov’s Gun.’ The term ‘Chekhov’s Gun’ is a dramatic principle or plot device that comes from something Russian playwright Anton Chekhov allegedly said in the 1880s: “If in Act I you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act.” 

Bombadil, as a red herring, may indeed violate this advice. But since you’re not Tolkien, better to make sure you tie up why the red herring is the red herring. Explain them well … eventually.

Foreshadowing is a powerful tool to take your writing to the next level, but it takes practice to wield it effectively. Lean on your beta readers and critique partners for help. If you need help with those, check out this article:

Find Your Dream Revision Team to Polish Your Plot, Perfect Your Characters, and Hook Your Readers.

 Happy writing!

If you want to see how I use foreshadowing, sign up to receive my FREE short story, The Young Paladin. A story from the Remn, where Firefly meets fantasy.

Have you watched this? How did it only get one season? Photo courtesy of GiantFreakinRobot.com