Comments on: Ignite Your Reader’s Imagination with the Inciting Incident

By: Mike Van Horn

Mike Van Horn — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 01:28:06 +0000

I use your posts to evaluate my published sci fi stories, to see if I "did it right." My inciting incidents come much closer to the beginning, always in the first chapter. In Book 4, it's in the first sentence. An alien contacts my heroine from across the galaxy after she's been told this is impossible. You don't say anything about writing a series, but since that's what I have, I use the beginning to link the prior book to the new one. However, I look at the my next story, which begins a different series. I have over 100,000 words of notes and drafts, but I've been sitting on it for years, because something just isn't right. Your qualities of an inciting incident helps a lot. I had an aha! I see I must begin with some action, not background story. I have plenty of action, but it's buried too late in the story. So, thanks!

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[…] Ignite Your Reader’s Imagination with the Inciting Incident […]

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[…] in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/05/ignite-your-readers-imagination-with-the-inciting-incident… How do you, as a writer, capture your readers’ hearts and minds? With a spark that grabs the […]

By: Denise

Denise — Sun, 21 May 2023 03:05:09 +0000

great example

By: Lynette M Burrows

Lynette M Burrows — Fri, 19 May 2023 14:07:35 +0000

In reply to Lori Altebaumer. Lori, great job for combining organic writing with structure. The editing phase is when I make certain my story structure is solid as well. I'm delighted you found this article helpful. Thank you.

By: Lori Altebaumer

Lori Altebaumer — Fri, 19 May 2023 12:51:22 +0000

Great article on inciting incident! I am not a plotter, so mine tends to happen organically. Then when I've gotten the entire story out, I go back and strengthen or tweak--or sometimes moves and recreate--the inciting incident. I'll be keeping this article as a resource. As for my personal favorites for movie or book examples... my brain just went completely blank. The power of the question LOL. But thank you for this incredibly well written and thoughtful explanation of the importance of the inciting incident.

By: Lynette M Burrows

Lynette M Burrows — Thu, 18 May 2023 02:30:09 +0000

In reply to Lisa Norman. Thanks, Lisa. Sometimes tropes and inciting incidents are intertwined. So I understand. Besides, trope land is an easy place to get lost. lol.

By: Lisa Norman

Lisa Norman — Thu, 18 May 2023 02:03:59 +0000

Great post, Lynette! I tried to think of specific examples from books that I've read recently, and my brain went into trope land and got distracted. I think there's definitely some commonality in the inciting incidents in certain common sub-genres.

By: Lynette M Burrows

Lynette M Burrows — Thu, 18 May 2023 01:32:44 +0000

In reply to Patricia Yager Delagrange. I'm glad this is a timely post for you, Patricia. Thanks for taking time to comment and good luck with your new WIP!

By: Patricia Yager Delagrange

Patricia Yager Delagrange — Thu, 18 May 2023 00:43:15 +0000

Your points to create an inciting incident in order to grab the reader's attention are spot on. Thank you. I'm about to start writing another novel and these are very helpful.