For example if you want to write a story featuring the Devil - introduce him to one character, or mostly two - and that is it. The inciting incident can be that the sitter Mephistopheles is going to meet is sitting in front of a large Cathedral. Your next choice is to finish your story. And then, proceed to edit it - you are going to have to anyway. Find few enough people to read it - this provides you with key advise on what to do next.
My story has multiple POV characters and multiple factions with different interests. So they get pulled into the events at different times for different reasons. At the end we will see that one inciting incident (someone being early in a country where people are usually late) caused a chain reaction that gave opportunities and let people make fateful decisions.
@@DaveandAngieSmuinI finished the 1st draft (about 60000 words). Currently I'm revising. I'll have to change the POV of many chapters, giving some characters more time while demoting others. Some chapters, including that with the inciting incident, will have to get bigger.
The sitcom genre is a master at throwing your character's life into chaos. That is the premise of the sitcom-the characters are doing their usual thing and then, bam, something happens to disrupt that routine.
I feel like in a short story the incident incident might even happen before the narrative opens. Couple of examples from my recent reading: she wakes up a ghost having been killed by a robber before the narrative opened; she doesn't have a towel in her New bedsit because she left home in a hurry and by surprise
I like Joseph Campbell's take. Intro the MC inside an "every day trouble". Show them dealing with a smaller issue that shows their surface presentation/personality inside a setting that grounds the reader and hints at the MC's deeper personality and/or big problems to come. Building reader's sympathy for the MC by way of this minor trouble helps the reader relate to the MC and hooks them with a story question. Will she defeat this issue, which, of course, leads to bigger problems. It's good to show a flaw that will dog the MC going forward.
I like his take as well. I love the Hero's Journey story structure. I'm actually working on a video about it. It is such a tried-and-true story formula. Showcasing the main character's normal life, presenting those hints of their personality, and also doing some foreshadowing allows the reader to connect with the main character.
@@DaveandAngieSmuin It seems to me that every story structure is related to the heroes journey in many ways. Larry Brooks' book, Story Engineering, lays out the similarities between variations very well.
in my middle grade novel the hook is the question of why he was trying to hide at the Festival and why it was so important to fine the booth he wanted it gets answered quickly then another question comes up a it to is answered then the inciting incident happens more questions fallow this is all in the first chapter it is important to remember the age group needs if i spent a long time getting to know Johnny i would have lost the readers
That is a very good point. It is important to know who your audience is. If your target audience is younger, that will impact your pacing. And I've seen a lot of books have the hook and the inciting incident all in the first chapter.
ANd also, a character who present an offer to have the character change his or hes life can be used to set the main character on his or he life changing journey. it doesn't always have to be an external force, but it can be an opposing point of view.
@@DaveandAngieSmuin In one of my novels I have the nurse try to take her obese patient to the park and as she's driving, he grabs the steering wheel and the crash and it damages the car and she is beginning to see that not every patient wants to do better. But, she's still determined to do "make him see the light". But this journey makes her more aware that she can't save anyone if they don't want to be.
What is your favorite Inciting Incident Tip?
For example if you want to write a story featuring the Devil - introduce him to one character, or mostly two - and that is it. The inciting incident can be that the sitter Mephistopheles is going to meet is sitting in front of a large Cathedral. Your next choice is to finish your story. And then, proceed to edit it - you are going to have to anyway. Find few enough people to read it - this provides you with key advise on what to do next.
That sometimes there isn't one :D
My story has multiple POV characters and multiple factions with different interests. So they get pulled into the events at different times for different reasons. At the end we will see that one inciting incident (someone being early in a country where people are usually late) caused a chain reaction that gave opportunities and let people make fateful decisions.
That is an interesting premise for a story. How far into writing it are you?
@@DaveandAngieSmuinI finished the 1st draft (about 60000 words). Currently I'm revising. I'll have to change the POV of many chapters, giving some characters more time while demoting others. Some chapters, including that with the inciting incident, will have to get bigger.
The revising process is where the real gold is at! I can't wait to read it!
The sitcom genre is a master at throwing your character's life into chaos. That is the premise of the sitcom-the characters are doing their usual thing and then, bam, something happens to disrupt that routine.
Very true.
I feel like in a short story the incident incident might even happen before the narrative opens. Couple of examples from my recent reading: she wakes up a ghost having been killed by a robber before the narrative opened; she doesn't have a towel in her New bedsit because she left home in a hurry and by surprise
I like Joseph Campbell's take. Intro the MC inside an "every day trouble". Show them dealing with a smaller issue that shows their surface presentation/personality inside a setting that grounds the reader and hints at the MC's deeper personality and/or big problems to come. Building reader's sympathy for the MC by way of this minor trouble helps the reader relate to the MC and hooks them with a story question. Will she defeat this issue, which, of course, leads to bigger problems. It's good to show a flaw that will dog the MC going forward.
I like his take as well. I love the Hero's Journey story structure. I'm actually working on a video about it. It is such a tried-and-true story formula. Showcasing the main character's normal life, presenting those hints of their personality, and also doing some foreshadowing allows the reader to connect with the main character.
@@DaveandAngieSmuin It seems to me that every story structure is related to the heroes journey in many ways. Larry Brooks' book, Story Engineering, lays out the similarities between variations very well.
I agree. The Hero's Journey is so foundational.
Great thanks
You are welcome
in my middle grade novel the hook is the question of why he was trying to hide at the Festival and why it was so important to fine the booth he wanted it gets answered quickly then another question comes up a it to is answered then the inciting incident happens more questions fallow this is all in the first chapter
it is important to remember the age group needs if i spent a long time getting to know Johnny i would have lost the readers
That is a very good point. It is important to know who your audience is. If your target audience is younger, that will impact your pacing. And I've seen a lot of books have the hook and the inciting incident all in the first chapter.
Great video!
Thank you!
ANd also, a character who present an offer to have the character change his or hes life can be used to set the main character on his or he life changing journey. it doesn't always have to be an external force, but it can be an opposing point of view.
That is true as well. There are many ways of propelling your character into terrible trouble and starting their life-changing journey.
@@DaveandAngieSmuin In one of my novels I have the nurse try to take her obese patient to the park and as she's driving, he grabs the steering wheel and the crash and it damages the car and she is beginning to see that not every patient wants to do better. But, she's still determined to do "make him see the light". But this journey makes her more aware that she can't save anyone if they don't want to be.
That is a universal truth.
@@DaveandAngieSmuin yes it is and yet, people still don't learn it.