#inciting incident

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Inciting Incident

Inciting incident of a story - the event that sets the main character/s on the journey that will occupy them throughout the narrative.

Typically, this incident will upset the balance within the main character’s world.

In classic detective films like The Big Sleep, for example, the inciting incident is the detective being asked to take on a new case.

In moments big and small, an inciting incident changes the life of a character, and the ensuing story is the fallout from that change.

Tips for Using Inciting Incidents in Your Writing

A compelling inciting action can be the difference between a gripping story and a forgettable one. Here are 3 techniques to make sure you’re writing the most effective possible beginnings to your stories:

Keep to your timeline. To make your reader or viewing audience emotionally invested in an inciting incident, make sure it takes place during the timeline of the story you’re telling. When an inciting action is a past event that others make reference to, it lacks the visceral truth of an incident that the audience has experienced.

Let your inciting action stimulate something sustainable. Your inciting plot point should drive a character to behave a certain way throughout the narrative. Make sure that the driving force will be sustainable throughout the full course of your story. A detective driven to solve a complicated case will sustain throughout the story. A man bitter about not getting the last slice of pizza could potentially be funny, but it won’t sustain a particularly long story.

Make your inciting action cause a noticeable shift in your character. A compelling inciting action will make your character take actions she would not have otherwise. In The Fugitive TV series, Dr. Richard Kimble loses his wife to murder and, worse still is accused of that murder. These traumatic events change Kimble, and they launch him onto a quest so compelling that it sustained four full seasons of television.

An inciting incident exists to launch a story.

If Shakespeare had begun Romeo and Juliet somewhere in the midst of the young lovers’ courtship, the story might have been entertaining, but it would have lacked the emotional stakes created when the two protagonists first lay eyes on each other in the play’s inciting incident.

It inspires the protagonist’s central motivations throughout the story.

In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the protagonist Charles Marlow finds his motivation when he learns about a Mr. Kurtz, in the story’s inciting incident.

The story goes on to detail Marlow’s obsessive quest to find Kurtz, and the horror he encounters when he finally finds him.

Every event that follows within the timeline of the story achieves its significance insofar as it relates to Marlow’s inciting action.

Types of Inciting Actions in Literature

As a general rule, inciting actions fall into one of 3 categories.

Causal inciting actions. Inciting actions involving a deliberate choice made either by the protagonist or about the protagonist. This deliberate choice informs all story elements to come. An example of this is Luke Skywalker’s recruitment in the original Star Wars film from 1977. The inciting action is the first step in Luke taking the archetypal “hero’s journey,” as famously described by Joseph Campbell.

Coincidental inciting actions. Inciting actions stemming from random chance, coincidence, or a protagonist “being in the right place at the right time.” In C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series, the children inadvertently stumble upon a magical land through a portal in the back of a wardrobe. This chance discovery leads to all subsequent actions in the story.

Ambiguous inciting actions. Inciting actions that occur under circumstances that are not fully explained. The audience is left to guess whether the protagonist is placed in her situation by choice or by chance. Such inciting actions are common in thrillers and mysteries like The Sixth Sense, and the true story is rarely revealed until the very end of the film.

Source ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[wallacepolsom]

Wallace Polsom, Fairy Tales XII: Inciting Incident (19 Mar 2024), paper collage, 19.6 x 24.9 cm.

[jangillman]

[filmcourage]

I've Read Over 100 Bad Screenplays... Here's What's Wrong With Them - Adam William Ward

Watch the video interview on Youtube here.

[ahb-writes]

Writing Problem: The Story Begins Too Late in the Novel

Problem: The Story Begins Too Late in the Novel

Solution: Gain traction early; use simplicity, momentum, and a bit of the unknown to carry readers toward the more complex and the improbable. The first chapter is context for what the whole novel is about. Don't wait to pull in readers, don't hesitate to tell readers which characters are the most important, and don't hesitate to expose readers (and the viewpoint character) to the narrative's central conflict. Be upfront about what kind of story you're telling.

Develop a strong sense of who your protagonist is, articulate the protagonist's needs (which may change), and hint at the limits or barriers the protagonist must acknowledge, or defy, to achieve their current or a future goal.

Writing Resources:

8 Ways to Write a 5-Star Chapter One (Writer's Digest)

10 Ways to Start Your Story (The Writers Society)

How To Start a Story That Grips Your Readers (Jericho Writers)

7 Steps for Writing Your Novel's Opening Chapter (The Novel Smithy)

4 Key Elements of Scene Openings (September C. Fawkes)

How to Find Your Writing Style (sunnydwrites; ahbwrites)

Writing Riveting Inciting Action: 7 Ideas (Now Novel)

In Media Res: 6 Steps to Start Stories From the Middle (Now Novel)

Writing Great Beginnings and Endings (Writing Questions Answered)

❯ ❯ Adapted from the writing masterpost series: 19 Things That Are Wrong With Your Novel (and How to Fix Them)

[the-wip-project]

Preptober Speedrun Day 8

Hello writerly friends!

You may already know the expression 'The Inciting Incident'.

Definition of the Inciting Incident The inciting incident is an unexpected event in a story that upsets the character's status quo. This begins the story's movement, either in a positive or negative way, that culminates in the climax. https://thewritepractice.com/inciting-incident/

This is the start of "shit happening" in your usual three-act-structure story. But even if you're not using exactly that structure, you will still have some point at the beginning of your story where something changes. If you don't have that, you don't have a story. 

If you don't know how to start your story, or if you're feeling overwhelmed by all that work ahead of you, just write towards this. Write towards this inciting incident, don't worry about what comes next. Just get to the point that kickstarts the story.

This incident is often an external thing, but I want to stay with the characters for this. Keeping in mind what you already know about the emotional wounds of your character and what they think about themself and what they lie about — what could happen to them, emotionally?

What would be the worst thing, emotionally?

And what would be the best thing, emotionally?

This doesn't have to be your inciting incident but it could be. In general, I think it's important to look into the light and into the dark sometimes, to know what the best and the worst is for a character.

Write it down!

~barbex

[the960writers]

September C. Fawkes:

What is the Inciting Incident? Definition, Purpose, Examples, Tips

Unfortunately--as is somewhat common in the writing community--the term can actually be a little ambiguous, making it difficult to learn about, let alone discern. Not only are there multiple terms for the same event, but there are also disagreements in the community about which event constitutes the "inciting incident."  So, if you have been confused about this term, I'm not surprised. To minimize confusion, I'll explain the different ways people view the inciting incident, later. For now, the above definition is currently what is generally considered the inciting incident.

[sometimesieatcheeseandgetfat]

I don’t see enough of this: INCITING INCIDENT PROMPTS (mild version)

— A Promotion Offer: The protagonist is offered a promotion at work that requires moving to a new city. This challenged her fear of change and her comfort of her current routine.

— A Sudden Phone Call: The protagonist receives an unexpected call from an old friend who reveals a long-held secret that forces her to reconsider her current relationship or lifestyle.

— A Found Letter: The protagonist discovers a letter addressed to them from a deceased relative, revealing a shocking family truth or a hidden legacy that compels them to take action.

— A Confession Of Love: A close friend or coworker confesses their romantic feelings for the protagonist, pushing her to confront her own feelings and possibly jeopardize the friendship.

— An Unexpected Visitor: A character from the protagonist’s past, perhaps an estranged family member or an ex-partner, shows up unexpectedly, bringing unresolved issues back into her life.

— A Health Scare: The protagonist or someone close to her experiences a health scare, forcing her to reevaluate her priorities and confront her fear of loss or change.

— A Sudden Layoff: The protagonist loses her job without warning, challenging her sense of stability and forcing her to face her fears about the future and her self-worth.

— A Misplaced Text: The protagonist accidentally sends a text meant for a friend to her boss or significant other, leading to a misunderstanding that she must navigate.

— A Broken Object: The protagonist breaks a sentimental item that belongs to someone else, which forces her to interact with that person and navigate the emotional fallout.

— A Neighbour’s Cry For Help: The protagonist overhears a neighbor in distress and must decide whether to intervene, challenging her fear of getting involved in others’ problems or stepping out of her comfort zone.

[bloseroseone]

The Inciting Incident: Definition, Examples & Writing Tips

There is always that one turning point in a fantastic story when everything changes. It’s the scene that draws you in and launches the story’s protagonist. The triggering incident occurs at this precise instant. However, what is an inciting incident precisely, and why is it so important in narratives?

Let’s get started by discussing its importance, giving examples, and offering advice on how to create an engaging inciting occurrence for your own stories.

What is an Inciting Incident?

An “Inciting Incident” is a pivotal event that initiates the primary plot of a story. It throws the protagonist’s routine for a loop and sets up the main conflict. This is an important occurrence because it draws the audience in and advances the story.

In “The Hunger Games,” for instance, Katniss Everdeen’s decision to enter the lethal games in lieu of her sister is the inciting occurrence. Writing a compelling inciting incident is crucial to drawing readers in and raising the stakes. To keep the audience interested, it should occur early in the story and be obvious and powerful.

Purpose of the Inciting Incident

In storytelling, the inciting incident is essential since it initiates the main plot. It’s the incident that upends the protagonist’s typical existence and puts them on a difficult new course. This scene piques the interest of the audience and draws them into the narrative.

In “Harry Potter,” for instance, Harry’s introduction to the wizarding world through his letter from Hogwarts serves as the inciting occurrence. An effective inciting incident is crucial because it draws readers in and provides the plot with a clear direction. Make sure your inciting incident in writing is interesting and directly relates to the main conflict.

Characteristics of a Good Inciting Incident

A compelling incident needs to come as a surprise. This unexpected turn of events draws in viewers and advances the plot. When an unforeseen incident upends the protagonist’s routine, it gives them a strong incentive to act.

This abrupt shift could be caused by an unexpected tragedy or an unexpected chance. The plot picks up steam and becomes more intriguing when an unexpected inciting occurrence is introduced, surprising both the characters and the readers.

In order to create a captivating and dynamic story that keeps the viewer interested in the plot as it develops, this element of surprise is essential.

Should Change the Protagonist’s Life

An excellent inciting occurrence should fundamentally alter the protagonist’s life. This is one of its most important qualities. The novel begins with this incident, which forces the main character to step outside of their comfort zone and into an unfamiliar and difficult circumstance.

There wouldn’t be a strong enough motive for the protagonist to set out on their adventure without this interruption. The audience becomes engaged in what happens next because of the inciting incident’s sense of urgency and stakes.

It acts as the impetus for the protagonist’s everyday life to change, resulting in development, conflict, and eventually the primary storyline of the tale.

Should Present a Clear Problem or Goal

An effective inciting occurrence should provide the main character a clear problem or objective. The novel begins with this incident, which upends the characters’ everyday lives and presents them either a task to do or a goal to pursue.

The inciting incident draws the reader in and starts the story by presenting a particular problem or an appealing objective. This clarity aids readers in comprehending the stakes and supporting the protagonist over the next trip.

Impact and engagement from the inciting incident depend on a well stated problem or objective...Continue reading

[inspectorspacetimerevisited]

A spaceship lifting off very close to where Belinay Aylin lives?

Could that be the inciting incident that brings her in contact with the Inspector? Of course it will be!

[audreycecilemoore]

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/top-4-tips-for-writing-great-beginnings

[bangjiazheng]

Call to Adventure vs. Inciting Incident - Screenwriting Basics

[ojamajodoremisharp]

As June 17th inches closer and closer I REALLY hope this is the general tone of how things are gonna go from here (if the Steam page for it is any indication, at least)

[thereadingcafe]