Creating a prophecy in writing is a compelling way to introduce mystery and foreshadowing into your story. It gives readers something to ponder on, solve and look forward to the revelation. Writing a prophecy involves several key steps.
Step 1: Establish The Meaning of Your Prophecy
Firstly, determine what your prophecy means or the outcome of it in a simple sentence. It is the actual event you want to happen in the story but stated in a mysterious way.
For example:
- A queen will lose her throne to someone least expected.
Step 2: Symbolize The Characters and Events
Then, replace the characters and events in the prophecy with symbols. The characters could be represented as animals, objects, or natural elements depending on their personalities or roles in your story.
For example:
- The lioness will surrender her crown to the unlikely turtle.
Step 3: Mask The Events
The next step is to mystify the events. Reduce clarity in describing what will happen. Instead of directly mentioning the details of your prophecy, you can relate them to the symbols you’ve chosen.
For example:
- The lioness will lose her crown on the hill, the turtle from the water will claim it.
Step 4: Add Misleading Elements
To make the prophecy more intriguing, you can introduce misleading elements. This ensures that the prophecy isn’t too clear or straightforward, maintaining its secretive essence.
For example:
- At the rise of the moon, the crown will shift from the king of the land to a creature bound by water.
Step 5: Rearrange Words
Move the wording around to sound more cryptic. The arrangement of your words should further make the prophecy feel ancient and authentic.
For example:
- The moon ascends, the crown shifts from the king of the land to he of the water-bounds.
Step 6: Personalize The Prophecy
Finally, make the prophecy more personalized. It can be done by referencing the characters’ personalities, choices, or appearances in a coded way.
For example:
- Under the moon’s gaze, the land’s one-eyed king loses the crown to the four-legged water-dweller.
Conclusions
Creating a compelling prophecy takes a mix of creativity, symbolism, and mystery. The goal is to engage the reader’s curiosity and hold their attention throughout the unfolding of the prophecy. However, remember that a prophecy should be an enhancement to your story, not a source of confusion or frustration for your readers.