How to use hidden clues to make your story irresistible

If you're looking for a way to create compelling storylines, capable of stimulating the public to discover the hidden meanings of your novel, then narrative seeds might be just what you need. Finding them is one of the greatest satisfactions for the reader... and one of the most intriguing entertainment for the writer!

What it's about? They are clues or information hidden inside a book: once sprouted, they can help readers understand the plot better, the past of the characters, the messages or overall meaning of the story.

They could be compared to the crumbs left by Hansel and Gretel to find their way home: if you have the patience to follow them all, sooner or later you will reach your destination. Right, a single piece of bread does not point the way, but by connecting them all to each other the goal is reached!

They have many different names (crumbs, clues, hooks), but the definition "semi narrative" is the one I like best. I read it inside Writing manual: basics and sordid tricks of the trade by Raoul Melotto and Gianluca Morozzi, an agile treatise written in a lively and captivating way. An enjoyable read, which I recommend to everyone!

And now, Let's immediately see a concrete example to learn how to use them.

Example 1: Harry Potter's scar

The saga created by J.K. Rowling makes extensive use of these creative writing techniques. All enthusiasts know that the author has the ability, almost miraculous, to leave nothing to chance: a seemingly worthless detail in the first book may prove crucial in the last.

A classic example of a narrative seed is the lightning bolt scar on Harry's forehead, element present from the first pages of the volume that opens the saga. It is not a simple aesthetic detail to characterize the character, it also has an important significance for the plot of the entire series.

At the scar, Indeed, it is the result of Lord Voldemort's attack on an infant Harry, a dramatic event that caused the death of the protagonist's parents. The lightning bolt is physical evidence of the attack and represents the bond that exists between Harry and Voldemort.

Over the course of the series, this detail becomes increasingly important for the unfolding of the plot. Harry, for example, he begins to feel pain in his scar when Voldemort is near, and this allows him to discover the arrival of the enemy in advance.

Example 2: The god of nightmares

After analyzing a world-famous saga, Let's move on to a slightly less known book: The god of nightmares by Paula Fox, a coming-of-age novel set in the magical setting of Louisiana.

We are in the 1941. Young Helen leaves New York state to look for her aunt Lulu in New Orleans, a declining actress with flaming red hair, Irascible and fond of alcohol.

The girl decides to stay in the city for a while, fascinated by the South of the States, with all its poetics but also its discriminations (like the fountains differentiated for blacks and whites). Here you will meet many interesting people, each with their own story to tell.

The events that occurred in this period will have repercussions on the protagonist's entire life… even in unexpected ways, as we learn in the finale.

Each of the characters has their own nightmares, despite the peaceful relationship that binds them. Helen will discover hers in the last chapter, in a scene that shouldn't be that unexpected: rereading it afterwards, we realize that throughout the book Paula Fox has provided us with clues to make us understand where she was going. A sort of "mystery of the soul", so to speak. Not by chance, the narrative seeds recall the creative writing techniques used in detective stories.

I won't reveal anything else to avoid spoilers! If you want to read a book that uses Hansel and Gretel crumbs to perfection, I can't help but recommend this beautiful novel to you.

How to plant narrative seeds in your book?

At this point, you may be wondering how to use narrative seeds in your writing. Well, the time has come to become gardeners of literature! Let's arm ourselves with gloves, shovel and watering can and we plant our seeds.

Six tips for making the best use of hidden clues

1. First things first, you need to choose which information you want to hide within your story.

It's a secret from a character's past? Of an event that will happen in the future? Of a symbolism linked to the metaphysical meaning of the work? Of an episode that seems to have unfolded one way, but in reality it happened in a completely different way? Once you have located this information, think about how to insert them into the text.

2. Plant narrative seeds within dialogues, actions, seemingly insignificant objects or descriptions.

Let's take a concrete example: let's imagine that in your book there is a girl who loves to dress in gothic style. She wears long black dresses, hats with veils and lace gloves. He never separates himself from the latter, not even when he sleeps or goes to the pool. It could be a characteristic linked to the eccentricity of the character, but it could also be an excellent narrative seed. What are those gloves hiding?? The symbol of a sect? A scar linked to mistreatment? An alien seal? The possibilities are endless!

3. Narrative seeds can be planted at any point in writing of a novel, even during the first draft. In general, But, it is easier to insert them after completing the first draft, because at that point you will have a clearer vision of the plot.

Once you have a complete draft, you can go back and analyze the characters, the settings and situations that were created, to think about how narrative seeds might be introduced to improve the overall construction of the novel.

4. It is important that there is coherence between the narrative seeds and the main plot. They should not be used as a device to create a forced plot twist or to cover gaps in the narrative, but they must be integrated organically into the story and enrich it in a meaningful way.

5. Be careful not to overdo it with these elements: Using them too often or too prominently can make your story feel stilted and confusing. You have to find the right balance between their use and the main plot.

6. They must be well balanced: neither too predictable nor too cryptic. If they are discounted, they become banal and predictable, thus losing their potential impact on the plot and characters. On the contrary, if they are too enigmatic, they can be frustrating to readers who can't understand their meaning.

How to make sure you're making the best use of these creative writing techniques?

The narrative seeds are part of the deeper soil of the plot, the one that will make the messages and hidden meanings of the text blossom. Having to add them, omitting or changing during editing could mean rewriting entire parts of text, at a stage where the draft, at this point, it is in an advanced stage.

My advice is to submit the novel to an evaluation, in order to have a professional opinion on the way in which these fundamental elements of the narrative have been inserted. If you want to know more, I recommend the article Manuscript evaluation: it really helps? (spoiler: Yes!).