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Techniques
Flashbacks
and
Foreshadowing
Flashbacks
and
foreshadowing are tools that we can use to add
dimension to our
writing. Flashbacks give us the ability to see
into a character's past
in real time. Foreshadowing drops hints of
what may happen in the
future. Are either one required in order to
tell an effective story?
No. However, there are times when they can add
depth to our characters
or suspense to our plot, and trust me, we can
use whatever help we can
get.
Flashbacks interrupt the current action of
the story
to show a scene from the past. As such, we
must always weigh the
advantages to the disadvantages. Are the
benefits we receive worth
leaving our characters dangling in time while
we go into the past? If
so, don't hesitate to use a flashback. If not,
continue with your story
line and find other ways, such as exposition,
discussion, etc. to
entwine the past with the present.
If you choose to use a flashback, you must
tip the
reader that you are leaving the present. This
can be done with a
transition statement such as, "John remembered
the day his father
died." Then, use past perfect ("had") two or
three times to complete
the clue that we are entering real time in the
past. And you are in the
past. Act out your scene with action and
dialogue, and when you are
finished, clue the reader that you are
returning to the present by
using past perfect once or twice, and, if
necessary, another transition
sentence ("But that was then and this was now,
and John had to let the
past stay in the past."). Here is an example:
Danny remembered
more about his mother's
death than he'd ever told anyone. The day
she had died,
she had called
each of her sons to her
bedside individually.
"Pour me a
cup of fresh
water, please," she said, her voice thick
with the Polish accent that
decorated her words when she was tired or
sick.
Danny filled
the cup,
careful not to splash it on the bedside
table.
"Now, hand me
my lipstick."
But he didn't
leave. He
stood in the doorway and had watched
as
she had
swallowed the
pills, three at a time, until they were
gone.
Even now,
Danny felt
responsible for her death. He looked at his
father and swallowed hard .
. .
Note that once we entered the flashback, we
stopped
using past perfect ("had") and just acted out
the story. Otherwise, the
"hads" weigh down the prose and suck the
action out of the words.
Foreshadowing is even easier to use. It
usually
consists of only one or two sentences, and is
especially effective when
ending a scene or chapter. An example of
foreshadowing:
Sam wished he
could rid himself of the
sick feeling in his gut that told him
something terrible was going to
happen, and happen soon.
Study what works in fiction you admire.
Notice the
tools the author uses to enter the past or
foretell the future. Unless
you are a writer, these techniques should
appear invisible and smooth.
But as a writer, you must learn to use these
techniques to add punch to
your own work. Good luck.
For
additional tips,
worksheets, and discussions, order your own
copy of the
Inspiration for Writers Tips and
Techniques Workbook.
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