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#26: The Inciting Incident: How to Get Your Story Into Motion

#26: The Inciting Incident: How to Get Your Story Into Motion

FromFiction Writing Made Easy


#26: The Inciting Incident: How to Get Your Story Into Motion

FromFiction Writing Made Easy

ratings:
Length:
20 minutes
Released:
Oct 6, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

In today's episode, we’re going to talk about crafting a great inciting incident for your story. I'm also going to show you how the global inciting incident looks different across the content genres. Here's a preview of what's included:[01:45] The inciting incident is an event that occurs and upsets the balance of your protagonist’s life. Life can't continue on in the same way now.[02:00] The inciting incident is also what sets your story in motion and gives rise to your protagonist’s overarching story goal. In this way, it gives rise to a specific question in your reader’s minds that they won’t find the answer to until the very end at your story’s climax. [03:05] The inciting incident is also what puts the protagonist and the antagonist at odds with each other. The protagonist wants one thing, the antagonist wants another thing.[03:45] The inciting incident of your global story should occur somewhere around the 12% mark or about halfway through your first act.[05:10] The three types of inciting incidents: the causal inciting incident, the coincidental inciting incident, and the ambiguous inciting incident (plus examples).[07:20] The inciting incident of your story is genre-specific. In other words, the inciting incident of your global story will most likely be determined by the genre you’re writing in. [13:15] An example of the global inciting incident in The Hunger Games.[14:00] An example of the global inciting incident in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.[15:35] Key points and episode recap.Subscribe & Review in Apple PodcastsAre you subscribed to my podcast? If not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode! Especially because I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those. So, click here to subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts!If you're already a subscriber, and if you enjoy the show, I would be really grateful if you left a review over on Apple Podcasts, too. Those reviews help other writers find my podcast and they’re also super fun for me to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the show is. Thanks in advance!Links mentioned in this episode:How to Choose the Right Genre for Your Story (podcast and article)Recommended Reading: STORY by Robert McKeeRecommended Reading: The Story Grid by Shawn CoyneP.S. Did you know that I have a Facebook group just for fiction writers? In this private group, we talk about all things writing, editing, and publishing fiction. It's free to join and you can request access here. Hope to see you there!Click here to register for the free masterclass > The 5 Little-Known Mistakes Most Fiction Writers Make (+ What to Do Instead). In this masterclass, we’re going to talk about the most common mistakes I see writers make so that you can avoid them and write your draft in the most efficient way possible.
Released:
Oct 6, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

How do I write a book? How do I create compelling characters that readers will love? How do I build a believable world for my story? What does it even mean to write a story that works? Do you have any writing tips? These are just some of the big questions that developmental editor and book coach, Savannah Gilbo, digs into on the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast. Each week, Savannah shares actionable tools, tips, and strategies that will help you write, edit, and publish your book. So, whether you're brand new to writing, or a seasoned author looking to improve your craft, this podcast is for you!