How to Use Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is used to build suspense. When done properly it engages the reader to continue reading and find out more. Foreshadowing is where a writer writes little hints through out the story about a future event or outcome. This can be done with complex, symbols, or more obvious general hints.

There are many ways this technique can be weaved into a story. It can be done by dialogue, using symbols, and even description. Below I have provided examples of all three.

“I’ve been puking every day for the past week; I just can’t keep any food down.” Patricia said. She was in her office at her desk cradling her head in her hands.

“What have you eaten?” Betsy her best friend, and co-worker asked. She handed Patricia the files. “You’d better get it together we’ve got a huge meeting in one hour. This is a life and death kind of meeting.” She gave her friend a small smile. “You’ll be okay.”

Patricia groaned and reluctantly nodded. “You’re right. I don’t have time for this.” She stood and immediately felt the nausea rise in her throat. “I’ve got to go.” She murmured and rushed out of her office.

In the above sample, the opening sentence suggests that Patricia is sick. Now the hint is the reason she’s sick. It could suggest that she has the flu, or is possibly pregnant.

The next example is using symbolism to foreshadow a future event:

Mike picked up the hand held mirror. He liked into, his large grey eyes stared back at it. Gently he placed the mirror on the sink. It slipped.

He blinked rapidly as he stared at all the broken glass on the floor. He sighed, now he would have to find time to clean up the mess before he left.

This is an obvious symbol to use when it comes to foreshadowing. Most people know of the bad luck myth when a mirror breaks. So starting off your story with a broken mirror, suggests that Mike is in for a very bad day.

The last example is revealing the hint through description:

The cop surveyed the room. He was standing in the kitchen of a large house. He and five of his coworkers had a search warrant to search the place.

The kitchen was spotless and all the appliances were stainless steel. The floor appeared to be marble and had a black and white checkered pattern. There was an island in the middle with four chairs surrounding the wooden counter. To the far left was an ashtray with a cigar still burning; beside the ashtray were a coffee mug, and half a plate of scrambled eggs.

The kitchen had a two doors leading away from where the cop handed searched. He guessed one probably went to the backyard and the other to the pantry. Most large houses of this size had a pantry.

In this description the most important piece a reader should pick out is the smoking cigar. This suggests that whoever was smoking it hasn’t gone far and may still be in the house.

The last technique in foreshadowing is known as a Red Herring; false hints to confuse or mislead the reader.

Foreshadowing is used in a lot of mystery and crime stories. It is important to keep in mind who the audience is, and target your writing to that. If you’re writing for kids or teen than obviously you’ll use more common symbols and be more obvious in your hints. But if you were writing for adults, you would probably be more subtle in your writing.

If you want to learn more about the technique, check out foreshadowing. Or if you’re looking for more ways to build suspense in your story, take a look at using flashback.