Posted: February 18th, 2022

How to Write a Prophecy: Easy Writing Tips

Have you ever seen in movies or read in books that something predicted comes true, and things change? It’s a prophecy! Prophecy is the best way you can use to bring forewarning and mystery into your writing piece. And at the end, you finally realise, “Oh, it was so noticeable”.

A prophecy predicts the future. In Fiction, prophecies possess a beautiful way of influencing the actions and reactions of the character. Regardless of whether they pretend to care about or not. Thus, a prophecy can be formed by a real-time character, glass bottle, found in a book, or anything else.

How will you get there? Both figuring out and writing a prophecy are complex tasks. So on both sides, it’s not easy but don’t worry. In this blog, we will discuss how to write a prophecy. It is a helpful guide covering all aspects of writing a prophecy. We hope you will find it helpful. 

What is a Prophecy?

Prophecy is the ability to be provided to someone by the Holy Spirit to hear what God speak and later communicate the message. It is believed that if you don’t have the Holy spirit’s function, you can not do prophecy. If you are not communicating a message or prophesying from God, you are not predicting the future from the correct source. 

The mere difference between prophets and psychics is the source of their revelation in God’s kingdom. Besides, the Holly spirit is our fundamental source of energy. Motivated by the Holy Spirit, the prophecy refers to the pronunciation of God’s words in the Bible.

Moreover, Prophecies like predictions, riddles, clues and myths are part of the fantasy genre, and they often appear in books, movies and other things.

The Pygmalion effect

The Pygmalion effect is that higher expectations help in achieving better outcomes. Pygmalion is a popular Greek character who falls in love with the sculpture that was sculpted by himself. 

Meanwhile, scientists are still trying to figure out how this effect would function in the body. They found out that because teachers believe that their students are brilliant in learning and would perform better, they become more attentive, concerned about their knowledge and be in a good mood in the class.

Prophecy in pop culture

Prophecies are very pervasive as they are present in cinema, literature and many other forms of pop culture. Oedipus, a Greek character, is one of the famous examples of prophecy. 

Not his birth father and mother brought him up. Laius, his father, left him alone as a child to die. Oedipus was warned that he would kill his birth father and marry his mother when he grew up.

He left his foster parents and entered the city of his parents. The prophecy of murdering his father and marrying his mother comes true, which he was also afraid of.

What Makes a Good Prophecy?

Generally, a prophecy predicts the catastrophic events going to occur in the future or the coming of a “Chosen One”. Writers use prophecy in their writing for several purposes, for instance, to hint at coming events, create a mystery environment, and upgrade their plot or story.

Even if you are familiar with how to write a prophecy? Take into account these four things.  

●    Who is the prophecy about, and where does it fall in the  timeline of your story?

So two important things to consider are who the prophecy is about and, in the story timeline, where the prophecy falls.

In The Order of the Phoenix, a prophecy about Voldemort and Harry Potter is told. Frankly, it is said a few months before Harry Potter’s birth, and Harry is added when Voldemort attempts to kill him.

Another example is a prophecy told 1000 years before a Chosen One came. This prophecy could have been twisted by repeated telling. These two examples are completely different.

●    Who is the originator of the prophecy?

In a prophecy, a hidden cause of an event is revealed. Generally, prophecies revolve around divine or godly characters such as wizards, witches, seers etc. When originating your prophecy, the type of character you choose will affect your characters’ reactions. 

There are originators of prophecies in the story. For instance, in Harry Potter, Sybil Trelawney, a divination teacher at Hogwarts, tells the prophecy about Harry.

She is shown as “out of it”, and her students don’t take her very seriously. We know that prophecy originated from her, so this fact triggers us to ask specific questions. For example, Are we underestimating her or do we need to take her seriously? She has a prophetic heritage, whether it matters or not?

●    What purpose does the prophecy serve in your story?

Prophecies serve one of two purposes generally either signal hope or predict uncertainties or gloom. For example, when everything is going unwell, Tolkien’s “Riddle for Aragorn” imparts hope. On the other hand, In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the battle of Buffy’s with the master only leads to misery.

●    Is prophecy simple enough for readers to understand?

Many writers believe that prophecies have to be complex, so readers cannot guess them. Indeed, good and bad ambiguities are different. 

A good ambiguity leaves some mysteries for readers, but the whole meaning is not understood. Bad ambiguity creates numerous questions in the mind of readers.

Now, what a practical prophecy ought to be? It can be simple and clear enough to the extent that readers know about it, but simultaneously it contains some hidden hints that are to be found later.

Prophecy in The Lord of Rings

How To Write a Prophecy?

Writing 

You can convey a sense of destiny to the events and characters in the story by including a prophecy. No doubt, numerous setbacks may occur like the invincible, beaten one. How to write a prophecy avoiding all these obstacles is the real question. 

There are various examples of prophecies being used in fiction. They can already determine rules and laws for the future, puzzles and hints for readers, rumours about specific components.

Simultaneously, you can write your story the way you want but consider certain factors or standards if including prophecy in your writing. 

Reason for the Prophecy

Before we dive into how to write a prophecy, let’s know why you need to add a prophecy? A prophecy writing may bring some complications to your writing and might also introduce various plot holes.

It works well when you know the reason for including a prophecy and do it the best way into your work. Avoid doing it over time in fantasy. 

In-world consistency

Moreover, you need to evaluate if the prophecy makes sense in your world or not. For example, I created my world in eledris, with only a few accurate prophecies. 

The reason is that my magical system restricts prediction of the future and manipulation of time. Even Though people are persistent with making predictions, frankly, nothing comes true.

The same is the case with your universe. Make all those rules you have imposed upon yourself and even allow for accurate prophecy prediction. If so, consider how it can be possible and work with available data. 

If it is not so, don’t worry, you can still include a prophecy, but of course, with some caution this time. People will continually attempt to forecast the future. For instance, take our world as an example, there is no magic happening here, but future predictions are still made. You can take inspiration by connecting with some historical prophecies. 

Phrasing of the Prophecy

So how do you phrase the prophecy? Essentially, you will have to write the story entirely first and create a substitute for prophecy. Afterwards, you can place the prophecy throughout and after the story. You may also add some hints throughout the plot when you are done with that.

Generally, a prophecy should be puzzling but not very difficult. The readers should be able to solve and figure it out. Sometimes prophecy is phrased poetically, but; if that’s the case, you should identify why it is phrased that way. 

If the prophecy is found in an ancient, long-forgotten book, its proper form is saved because there was no corruption. However, if a famous prophecy is handed one to another, its lyrical style is mainly lost with time, that is, twisting the prophecy into a form more straightforward. 

Impact on the story

The impact of prophecy on the story is a crucial question. After writing your prophecy, it’s time to evaluate its effect on the globe. Some questions that you may ask are.

• Who knows about it?
• What significance does it possess?
• Does the prophecy impact the characters of your written story?
• Do your characters try to prevent the succession of the prophecy, or are they attempting to support the prophecy? And why?
• Contemplate how the transmission of the prophecy is taking place? Is transmission taking place through word of mouth? Maybe it is displayed in a painting collection? 
• Besides, It could have a story inscribed on a wall. Who is the prophecy author? How did they do it, and why? 

• Is it mandatory the story be realised as predicted, or it’s just a forewarning?

Attempt to ask as many questions as possible to perceive and find out everything about your prophecy.

What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?

A self-fulfilling prophecy is an expectation or a belief that a person has which becomes true because the person holds that belief. Let’s suppose someone wakes up and, without any reason, thinks that his day will be a terrible one. This self-fulfilling prophecy may change your attitude and bring the results as predicted- a terrible day.

How to write Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?

Two steps will help you write a self-fulfilling prophecy. First, think of a prophecy that offers a pleasant ending to your story. Whether it’s a happy or tragic ending, it should make readers curious and should be surprising.

Second, identify a way to make the Story come true. It is the trickiest part. This can be immediate and longer. You do the second thing by letting your character’s ambitions and fear drive them. For example, when you are afraid of something, your behaviour brings this true, which is the case with ambition. When you are ambitious, your actions may lead to fulfilling that. The bank run story is a fear-driven self-fulfilling prophecy. 

When to use Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?

Self-fulfilling prophecy comes in creative writing, either fiction or narrative non-fiction. A prophecy is a dominant part of the plot in a fiction work. For example, the main reason for the narrative tension may be the feat of character about the prophecy. 

However, if someone makes a self-fulfilling prophecy in narrative nonfiction, it would be non-fiction. You may identify a self-fulfilling prophecy if you throw a clear glance into your sources. When you draw out the individual elements into your writing, you make the story incredible and compelling. 

Types Of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Now you know how to write a prophecy and self-fulfilling prophecy. Let’s talk about types of self-fulfilling prophecies. Have you ever noticed that sometimes, some people predict your future, and you wonder if that prediction comes true? There are two types of Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: another self-imposed self-fulfilling prophecy and self-imposed self-fulfilling prophecy. Let’s define them, respectively.

Other-imposed

As clearly visible from the word other-imposed, this self-fulfilling prophecy is imposed by others or someone else. Let’s understand it with the help of an example.

Mike has prepared well for a dance competition and has given ample time to rehearse. It is finally time to go on the stage and perform. When he is going to go on the stage, his mother calls. 

She tells him that he should not be worried in case of poor performance as he was always nervous on stage—Mike Tremble on the stage, unable to dance well and perform moves as practised.

When the result was announced, he was in the third position, but he expected the first position. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy example imposed by someone other than him. Mike’s mother predicted that his nervousness would be a hurdle for success. The prediction was correct! 

• Self-imposed

This self-fulfilling prophecy is self-imposed that is of one’s expectations. Let’s take a clear example.

Stephen has been afraid of public speaking in the past. He is worried and thinks that he will fail. Resultantly, he forgot some lines, shivered and could not speak clearly to the audience. He failed because he believed in it. Because that’s what he expected of himself, it was a self-imposed self-fulfilling prophecy.

Common Examples of Prophecy

Stock market fluctuations

If we talk about Stock market fluctuations, we would see stock prices rise and fall. Either way, investors react to that.

If stock prices are expected to fall, investors will sell their stocks and purchase stocks if prices are expected to rise. 

So because of such behaviour, Stock prices now will change. However, if you have not reacted to what was expected, stock prices may have remained unchanged.

Placebo effect

People take medicines to get health relief. Whether medicine is beneficial, people’s health often improves by consuming those medicines.

It is a self-fulfilling prophecy that clearly shows the power of belief and obstacles to developing treatments far more effective than placebos. 

Belief in one’s intelligence

Several studies have shown that a person’s belief in his abilities impacts the outcomes greater than their talents. 

For example, if a person believes that he is not good at math, he will not study this subject with interest because he believes that it is not beneficial for him. Failure in math would not surprise him. However, If he has just changed his belief from the beginning, the outcome may have been different. 

Voting

Someone may believe in and admire a particular political organisation. But if they are likely to be defeated. Citizens will not vote for that candidate because of this belief, and that politician will fail.

Things To Avoid While Writing a Prophecy

It’s not enough, even if you know how to write a prophecy. You not only need to know the takes but also the leaves. Here are some things to avoid while writing a prophecy.

Using it as a matter of course

Remember that a prophecy should play a pivotal role in your plot. Using a prophecy that is pointless, and you only include it because you are writing fantasy, doesn’t work well. Everything you will have in your novel should serve as a stimulus and support your characters or conflict in-depth. Ensure that you use it to the full extent whenever you include a prophecy. 

Making It Too Simple 

Prophecy is a vital part of a story that is done well. You will need to arouse people’s curiosity if the prophecy is critical. If a prophecy is boring and average, you will have some eyes and rolls, and the worst readers will complain and defame your book.

Going for too much

A prophecy or a prediction should not be a ten-page backstory to explain. This isn’t good and distracts attention from your authentic story. Generally, prophecies aim at focusing on a single occurrence. The prophecy will talk about various angles of the single occurrence, but putting too many details distract readers from the present moment and go over one’s head. Therefore, it’s ideal to Don’t go for too much.

Change your beliefs

We, as individuals, build and break our egos. Put off your old mindset aside and give a chance to your self-perception. 

You need to objectively replace the highest correct expectations for negative self-talk and worrying mental pictures. It would help if you practised positive self-talk to have confidence in your abilities. 

Work on your self-esteem

If your self-esteem is lower, your standards are likely to be poor than realistic. It is ridiculous to suppose that we can succeed in a test if we believe we will not. This is precisely the point; we need to change our minds. Replace your current expectations with what you desire to do and who you desire to become. So work on your self-esteem.

What Impact May Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Have On Your Life

Maybe you have searched this to understand how to write a prophecy, but you are simultaneously curious to know its impact on you.

Before, we discussed the types of self-fulfilling prophecies that are other-imposed and self-imposed self-fulfilling prophecies. Now let’s talk about what impact a self-fulfilling prophecy has on your life.

A self-Fulfilling prophecy is primarily subconscious. But sometimes, when you are conscious about instances where prophecy manifests itself, it will help identify such patterns in your life.

The thought process can be changed into mindful awareness of how your ideas affect your circumstances when you know where self-fulfilling prophecy takes place and how. This way, you can also influence other people.

Dating and relationships

If you have already created assumptions about someone you are about to meet. You will likely act in ways that confirm your beliefs.

For instance, your friend prepares you for a blind date and tells you the person you will meet is impressive. You will act in your best behaviour to amaze them because you’re interested in them.

Here you have a positive attitude toward them which attracts an additional positive attitude that returns to you.

Career

There are numerous things in your professional life; most people work for meeting ends. Moreover, a self-fulfilling prophecy is about the difference between two things: slapping your career or being slapped and being slapped by it. I hope you are getting me.

Let’s take a glimpse at an example. You have an interview next week, and you are sure that you will perform outstandingly. You have prepared questions, done Homework on the company, searched about interviewers, selected an exciting outfit. Additionally, when interview time comes, you give a warm handshake, a pleasant smile and the best Introduction. Thus, you create the impression that you are more than outstanding. 

On the other hand, if you have been convincing yourself that you can’t perform well. Not only will this affect the results but also restrict you from preparing appropriately. Your thoughts will not let you focus because you already believe that you will not get the job.

Friendships

As we become natural, our friendships evolve. What we tell ourselves about our friends has a significant impact on them.

For example, your best friend has gotten admission to New York. You are worried that you will no longer be a priority in his life because he is going far away and starting a new journey.

However, if you think even your friend is embarking on a new journey, your friendship can endure. You can chat with him and show him that you are genuinely interested in his new life.

Conclusion

Writing a Prophecy is not easy, though. You need to see what will happen in the plot, figure out the true meaning of the prophecy and be persistent with your world. Also, it is mandatory to phrase the prophecy correctly so readers don’t lose interest. You must know what impact your prophecy will have on stories coming ahead in your universe. 

Remember, what matters, in the end, is a character’s difficulties, personality and decisions that make them intriguing and relatable, not necessarily their abilities.

Thus, we hope that you have found helpful information on how to write a prophecy in this article. 

FAQ:

Do prophecies have to rhyme?

It’s an important question to ask as it will help you write a prophecy, in fact, the best one. 

The answer is No. It is not mandatory that prophecies have to be in a rhyme scheme. Below is a poem from the Final Fantasy video game without formal rhyming and is free verse.

One born of a dragon,

bearing darkness and light,

shall rise up to the heavens

over the still land.

Bathing the moon in eternal

light, he brings a promise

to Mother Earth with bounty

and grace.

—The Mysidian Legend, Final Fantasy IV

What is a prophecy in fantasy?

Prophecy is an integral part of the fantasy genre. Prophecy in fantasy is the prediction in a story that makes readers curious. It can be a good or bad ending. A prophecy is included to build the reader’s curiosity. Mostly, the main character is connected with the prophecy. 

What was the prophecy in Harry Potter?

Sybill Sybill Trelawney made the prophecy in Harry Potter. It foretold that a boy would come who would defeat Lord Voldemort. This prophecy was made when Trelawney was in an interview with Dumbledore for a divination professor post at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

What is the synonym of prophecy?

Some synonyms of prophecy include foretell, predict, forecast and prognosticate. 

Is the dragonet prophecy real?

The dragonet prophecy was unreal or a false one. Battlewinnner and Morrowseer created the prophecy eight years into the war of SandWing Succession as a ploy to claim the Rainforest Kingdom for the Nightwings. Thus, Morrowseer admits the prophecy to be false when The Dark Secret comes to an end.

What is a novel in literature?

The word novel is derived from the Latin term “Novella”, meaning new. A novel is a fictional work or long narrative in literary prose. It contains chains of events such as plot, characters, setting and an ending. It is a dominant part of writing literature.