5 Ways to Foreshadow Plot Twists

Sometimes, my favorite part about reading and writing is what we writers call plot twists. These could be major revelations about a character, a plot device, or even a character death. But these things must be set-up; they just can’t come from out of the blue with no prior warning. The trick is as a writer, you want there to be warnings–warnings which are overlooked by the reader, but that lead up to the twist to make it understandable when it happens.

Today’s post will be on five ways to foreshadow your plot twists without giving away the twist itself.

Tip #1: Through Dialogue

My favorite way to slip in foreshadowing about different things is through dialogue, often during a tense scene. Characters may make reference to something which doesn’t seem important now, but will be major later when the plot twist is revealed. Or maybe a character is arguing and tries to spill the beans on the plot twist, but is interrupted by the other character.

A character could also cast doubt onto a situation through his words. If all the characters and reader believe one thing, an obvious way to foreshadow is by having one ask a question or shine doubt onto the conclusion, thereby making the reader doubt it as well.

A final way to foreshadow through dialogue is using inner monologue. A character may think something, but not allow themselves to delve into it, causing the readers to realize something is up, and that they will be told later on just what it is.

Tip #2: Through Character Action

This is another good way to use foreshadowing. Maybe your plot twist is a betrayal, and the betrayer always acts too nice or too interested in the main character’s plans. Or maybe a character hiding something important stiffens or seems antsy when the subject is brought up.

It could be something as simple as someone hiding the fact that they’re married from the other characters. Maybe said character acts very coldly towards another character who likes them, but nobody knows why until the twist is revealed. Plot twists don’t have to be major and dramatic; in fact, there should be little twists throughout the entire story to keep the reader interested.

Tip #3: Through the Past

Perhaps a character who is a long-lost prince/princess was always enthralled with stories where missing princes and princesses are found and brought home as a child. Maybe they have strange dreams or unusual memories that don’t line up with their current life or what they know about their childhood.

You can also use the history of the world to foreshadow things. Maybe reference is made in an ancient book or by a prophet to a certain character coming to save or destroy the world/country, but nobody realizes it’s referring to that character until the plot twist. Perhaps they even believe it’s a fairy tale.

These are especially helpful when they’re only mentioned and not expounded upon in depth, or mentioned as an important piece of information but then forgotten as other things happen until the plot twist brings it back into the forefront of the story.

Tip #4: Through Red Herrings

Red herrings are some of my favorites to use, however, these must be used with tact. Red herrings are basically false clues and pieces of information meant to purposely distract readers from the real clues.

Red herrings must be done subtly, or else you run the risk of being caught or sound like you’re trying to force the readers too hard towards a certain outcome. The red herring needs to be believable and understandable in the situation, but the true clues also need to be believable and understandable–even more than the fake ones when all the facts are revealed. Some red herrings are actually true facts, but they are causing the reader to focus on them and draw a false conclusion based on them, overshadowing the true clues.

Some people even have narrators who are basically red herrings in-and-of-themselves, called Unreliable Narrators. These characters often lie to the reader without the reader knowing until the plot twist comes and shows them the truth.

Oftentimes, with unreliable narrators, you can catch little discrepancies in their actions and words. Maybe an unreliable narrator who is truly the villain acts a little sympathetic towards an injustice and justifies it, making it sound okay. Or maybe the Unreliable Narrator’s lies don’t add up, such as saying their parents are dead, then mentioning their mother is ill much later on.

Tip #5: Through Setting

Setting can include weather, objects, and even background people around the point of view character.

Foreshadowing via weather is a very common tactic–a thunderstorm foreshadowing some sort of storm about to break between the villain and protagonist, or an impending argument between two characters. Red skies could foreshadow trouble or bloodshed coming, and a peaceful sunrise/set could both foreshadow a good, productive day or a day of finality, such as the end of a war or the day someone asks another character to marry them.

Objects can also be used to foreshadow. Maybe an old book sticks out to your character in a library, or even better yet, they just see it in concert with a bunch of other books, then later come to realize the book has the information they’re looking for. Maybe they spot a weapon on the wall when they enter a large manor/castle, and months later, when they make their escape, they recall that weapon and use it to defend themselves.

Finally, even people can be foreshadowed in this way. This especially works when the character is just about ready to be introduced, such as your main character perusing a bunch of people in a tavern, looking for their contact or a criminal. They may notice four or five people, with only one of them being the character they’re looking for. It could also be a character they don’t actually meet at that time (such as the criminal) but who they finally see for the first time (such as the main character seeing the criminal as he makes his escape, but is unable to capture him).

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So these are five of my favorite ways to use foreshadowing in my writing. If you’re a writer, do you use foreshadowing? What is your favorite way to do it? For everyone, what is your favorite plot twist in a book you have read, and why? What foreshadowing did they use? Let me know in the comments below! God bless! ~Kay Adelin