When you read a story or watch a movie, sometimes the scene changes abruptly to something that happens many years down the road.
These scenes can offer a glimpse of something that actually will happen, or something that might happen in the future if things remain as they are.
This is a literary device known as the flash forward, and it’s a technique movie producers and novelists love to use.
What Is a Flashforward in Literature?
The flash forward (also spelled flashforward) refers to a writing technique wherein the writer jumps out of the current narrative to show something that happens or might happen in the future.
One common example of this is when Ebenezer Scrooge, in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, meets the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The Ghost takes him in eerie silence into the future, a potential future if he keeps being the way he is: first, Tiny Tim’s grave and his grieving family, and finally, his own grave. This experience shakes him up so much that he decides right then to change his ways.
Both the flashforward and flashback are literary devices that throw the readers quickly into a different timeframe as the current storyline; the difference is that the flashback takes the readers back to the past to unveil important backstory, whereas a flashforward moves the reader forward to the future.
Another term for flashforward is prolepsis, taken from a Greek word which means “to anticipate.” In a way, it’s used to get your readers to anticipate something that’s coming.
Difference Between Flash Forward and Foreshadowing
Another strategy that writers use to talk about possible events in the future is foreshadowing.
Both flash forwards and foreshadowing hint at things in the future, but the difference is that foreshadowing does not take the reader out of the current time frame. Instead, it just drops a hint or clue in the regular narrative, giving the reader ideas about what might come in the future.
In contrast, the flash forward interrupts the narrative directly and brings the reader to a future time frame, in a scene complete with action and dialogue where something is actually happening.
Examples of Flash Forward in Literature
As mentioned earlier, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a popular example that uses the flash forward technique. Other examples include the following:
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The magical realism in this novel gives the author the liberty to soar through time and space, and in fact, she uses her characters to prophecy and make predictions about the future.
Then, using flash forwards, she depicts scenes that show what will happen in the future, taking her readers out of the current chronology of events.
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
The entire storyline of this novel involves the main character, Billy Pilgrim, being tossed back and forth in time outside of his own will.
This allows him to see his life in the past and in the future. Of course, the extensive way that the author uses flash forward results in the reader not really having a concept of what the present time of the story actually is!
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
The story itself relies on protagonist John Smith’s ability to see people’s future when he touches them.
Master storyteller Stephen King weaves interesting details through this main character’s gift: he’s able to see not just things that will surely happen but also those that might happen if things remain as they are. What happens when he shakes the hand of a presidential candidate and foresees horrible things?
What Movies Use Flash-Forward?
Flashforward is more commonly used in TV and film than in literature, partly because it’s easier to show a different time setting with the use of visual cues and special effects. For example, many cartoons end with a flash forward scene at the end, showing how the different characters fare after a few years.
Here are some other examples:
Sherlock Holmes
In the Sherlock Holmes films, Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock would observe a scenario, imagine what sequence of events needs to happen, and then do it—and the audience would be roaring with laughter to see things unfold exactly as he predicted it.
The flash forward is easily distinguishable because of the voiceover expressing his thoughts throughout the process.
Little Women
In this film adaptation, the story starts at a future time, later than the current time frame that the book opens in; then it brings the viewers back into the book’s story time frame, treating it as a flashback, and then conintinues to move forward in time.
How Do You Write a Flashforward?
A flash forward is an interesting tool to use in your writing. In fact, some writers use flash forwards as the opening scene, realizing this can be an immediate hook, because it makes readers to ask: how did this character get into this dangerous, scary, or stupid situation?
However, if you don’t know how to use it properly, you might end up giving away surprise endings! Here are some of our top tips on how to write an effective flash forward scene:
1. Keep it short.
Think of the flash forward as a teaser: Don’t kill your readers’ curiosity by giving away everything, and instead let them figure some things out.
Use the flash forward as a teaser glimpse of the future, so that you stir up their interest to keep reading and find out how the story can unfold towards that future point.
2. Consider playing on your reader’s expectations.
A flash forward can be something that actually happens, or it can also be something that might happen.
You can use it to build up your readers’ expectations in one direction, and then surprise them with a totally different ending.
3. Use flash forwards for characters your reader already cares about.
You probably won’t care much about what happens in the future to someone you don’t care about now, right?
The same is true in stories. If you want to show a glimpse of the future, make sure it’s someone your readers are invested in; that way, it can serve to trigger their interest instead of making it a ho-hum, who-cares-about-that moment.
4. Hook your reader in as soon as possible.
On the other hand, if you choose to use the flash forward as an opening scene, that means your reader has not yet had a chance to get to know your character. You can still capture their interest by showing a conflict from the get-go.
For example, if you want to show a future scene for a protagonist who’s a spy during World War II, a flash-forward scene of her having a quiet breakfast at home may not be as intriguing as, say, a scene of her being interrogated by the Nazis, or having her breakfast interrupted by a visiting former-enemy Nazi.
Using Flash Forward in Fiction
Whether you’re writing a novel or a screenplay, the flash forward is a powerful tool to wield. Just be sure to write these scenes in with care, without taking away from the suspense and surprise. Use them to your advantage and to propel your story forward, so you can be sure to keep your audience engaged.
Meanwhile, practice writing scenes in different time frames than your current storytelling, too, such as foreshadowing and flashback, and you will find more exciting ways of telling your story than simple chronology!
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- How to Write Story Hooks that Keep Your Readers Engaged
- The Frame Story: Why Writers Write Stories Within Stories
- How to Write the Setting of a Story: 4 Tips for a Memorable Backdrop
- How to Write Character Arcs: Adding Depth to Your Story’s Players
Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.
