* Create suspense: By hinting at future events, the author can build anticipation and intrigue, making the reader eager to know how the characters will reach that point.
* Offer foreshadowing: A flash-forward can subtly foreshadow future plot points or character developments, giving the reader clues without explicitly revealing the entire story.
* Provide context: A flash-forward can offer a glimpse into the consequences of present actions, thus giving added weight to the current events in the narrative.
* Increase dramatic irony: The reader might know something the characters don't, creating tension and suspense as the story progresses towards the revealed future event.
* Add emotional impact: A flash-forward showing a happy or tragic future can heighten the emotional impact of the present scene, adding significance to character decisions and actions.
Flash-forwards can range from short, cryptic glimpses into the future to extended sequences that are almost as detailed as the present storyline. Their effectiveness depends on their integration into the overall narrative structure and their purpose within the story.