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Litopians, Writers and Novelists alike,
I need not tell you what 'Foreshadowing' is a device we use in fiction to create atmosphere, build suspense, keep readers reading and most of all keep them guessing, like a forethought, a literate premonition not seen but readers have a feeling in their bones so to speak. And, it is our job as the writer to create that feeling of anticipation, effectively.
But after we do that, must we leave it open to the readers interpretation, that is the question. Yes or No?
For example:
Deep down she knew, one of them was going to die. But, she hadn’t seen it yet and with a spin of a wheel, anything was possible. She lifted her head, blotchy and tearstained from what she had just seen. She looked out, between the iron bars in her window and there it was. A white raven carrying a small bouquet of flowers in its beak. Two snapdragons flowers one was red and one was white mixed with a bunch of sword lily flowers of all colours. It flew gracefully inside and landed beside her. Gently, she stroked it and from her touch it turned into a white handkerchief. Iris took it in her hands, cleaned her face and blew her nose. Underneath the flowers was a note;
I’m sure you will find a use for these.
Yours Lovingly.
It was not signed, but she knew who had written it and why he had not signed it. She picked it up and the paper dissolved to ash.
She looked out at the window again, her last thought was a storm is coming and the smile on her face was resolute.
(An example taken from my own work, above)
Personally, for me 'Foreshadowing' is best served subtly and in more elusive ways. For example a character may say something in dialogue, that is a deliberate slip up, obviously for the readers benefit not for ours, the writer. But not enough to let it slide completely and give it away. Foreshadowing with a little ambiguity works for me, even a title of a Chapter can act as a clue, a bread-crumb of a trail. And, isn't it always more fun to work it out for ourselves. Keep us interested, wanting, begging to know more, searching high and low for the next bread-crumb. Agree? Or Disagree?
Here is an example that worked for me as a reader.
(The novel, not the films)
And, tell me where is the foreshadowing in this piece? And, no, it is not the Chapter Title or The Name of The Book Itself.
FUN FACTS -
Did you know 'Foreshadowing' is also a literacy device used in music, operas, musicals and even films. Being a trained singer since childhood, my teacher used to say the instrumental segments of a song was a 'Foreshadowing' of sorts and as the singer we had to sing, perform, evoke a certain emotion, change our tone, darken our vowels to match the Foreshadowing of the song and the written rhythm and beats of the song, reflected that.
Does Red Herring and Chekhov's Gun mean anything to you? Apparently according to Wiki when it comes to 'Foreshadowing' they are wrong and misconceptions. And, they really mean 'Sideshadowing' not 'Forshadowing'.
Let The Brainpick Begin
I need not tell you what 'Foreshadowing' is a device we use in fiction to create atmosphere, build suspense, keep readers reading and most of all keep them guessing, like a forethought, a literate premonition not seen but readers have a feeling in their bones so to speak. And, it is our job as the writer to create that feeling of anticipation, effectively.
But after we do that, must we leave it open to the readers interpretation, that is the question. Yes or No?
For example:
Deep down she knew, one of them was going to die. But, she hadn’t seen it yet and with a spin of a wheel, anything was possible. She lifted her head, blotchy and tearstained from what she had just seen. She looked out, between the iron bars in her window and there it was. A white raven carrying a small bouquet of flowers in its beak. Two snapdragons flowers one was red and one was white mixed with a bunch of sword lily flowers of all colours. It flew gracefully inside and landed beside her. Gently, she stroked it and from her touch it turned into a white handkerchief. Iris took it in her hands, cleaned her face and blew her nose. Underneath the flowers was a note;
I’m sure you will find a use for these.
Yours Lovingly.
It was not signed, but she knew who had written it and why he had not signed it. She picked it up and the paper dissolved to ash.
She looked out at the window again, her last thought was a storm is coming and the smile on her face was resolute.
(An example taken from my own work, above)
Personally, for me 'Foreshadowing' is best served subtly and in more elusive ways. For example a character may say something in dialogue, that is a deliberate slip up, obviously for the readers benefit not for ours, the writer. But not enough to let it slide completely and give it away. Foreshadowing with a little ambiguity works for me, even a title of a Chapter can act as a clue, a bread-crumb of a trail. And, isn't it always more fun to work it out for ourselves. Keep us interested, wanting, begging to know more, searching high and low for the next bread-crumb. Agree? Or Disagree?
Here is an example that worked for me as a reader.
I
THE EVE OF THE WAR
No one would have believed, in the last years of the nineteenth century, that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men bruised themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.
Does anyone know how this ends? The War of the Worlds By H .G. WellsTHE EVE OF THE WAR
No one would have believed, in the last years of the nineteenth century, that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men bruised themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.
(The novel, not the films)
And, tell me where is the foreshadowing in this piece? And, no, it is not the Chapter Title or The Name of The Book Itself.
FUN FACTS -
Did you know 'Foreshadowing' is also a literacy device used in music, operas, musicals and even films. Being a trained singer since childhood, my teacher used to say the instrumental segments of a song was a 'Foreshadowing' of sorts and as the singer we had to sing, perform, evoke a certain emotion, change our tone, darken our vowels to match the Foreshadowing of the song and the written rhythm and beats of the song, reflected that.
Does Red Herring and Chekhov's Gun mean anything to you? Apparently according to Wiki when it comes to 'Foreshadowing' they are wrong and misconceptions. And, they really mean 'Sideshadowing' not 'Forshadowing'.
Let The Brainpick Begin

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