I am a "reread reader" - that is, I like to read the same book more than once. The books I have the most fun reading again are the ones that effectively foreshadow what comes later in the book. This is something I'm terrible at doing, unfortunately. Here are some questions I have regarding this topic:
- Should foreshadowing be used for all or most events, or should some events in stories be (seemingly) random? How do you know when it should be used and when it shouldn't?
- What are the most effective literary techniques for foreshadowing events? Is it best done in dialogue, description, character actions, etc.?
- How does an author effectively foreshadow future events in the story without giving so much away that the reader sees the events coming? What are techniques for making effective foreshadowing subtle?
- Are there any times when foreshadowing ought to be blunt and obvious? If so, why might an author consider this route? What, if any, would be reasons for wanting readers to know what's going to happen in the future?
- Does foreshadowing lend itself better to some genres than others?
- How can an author effectively foreshadow across an entire series? Without leaving the reader frustrated that all the questions raised in one book (especially the first book of a series) haven't been answered?