With “inciting incidents.”

As writers, we’ve all heard of the “inciting incident.” And that we need them to keep the story moving and the reader turning the pages. But, how many, where do you place them in a novel?

I’m in the beginning stage of fleshing out my patchwork outline for a new WIP, you know all that boring stuff. Like research.

In the midst of all this research, a really good post caught my eye. “Get Your Story off to the Right Start: The Inciting Incident,” by Bryan over at Become a Writer Today.

• You need an Inciting Incident in the First Quarter of Your Story to avoid boring the reader. And we know what a boring reader does… stops reading.
• Change Your character’s life. Better or Worse change the character is changed. They can never go back to the way things were because of this inciting incident.
• Awaken a Hidden Desire in Your character. When writing the inciting incident of your story, find out what your character wants (or sub-consciously) and then use the incident to awaken a desire in them.

• Work Backward from your climax, from your ending. From the moment of the inciting incident, everything should build towards the climax.

Click on the link above to read Bryan’s complete article.

My questions of the day!

Do you use more than one inciting incident?

Or is one big inciting incident enough?

Do share I’d love to hear from you!

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