In a post on DIY MFA, Disha Walia identifies four myths about your novel’s inciting incident. “This is the event that makes your character decide between the two choices they have,” she says. “Sadly, there are myths surrounding this seemingly complex, but crucial, story beat.”
Myth 1: The Inciting Incident Should Be An Exciting Event. Your inciting incident should ignite your story and intrigue your reader, but the most important element is your character. “What you want to do first is to establish a connection between your reader and protagonist,” Walia says. “The inciting incident is all about the readers understanding what is at stake for the protagonist.”
Myth 2: It Is The Introduction To Your Story. Your inciting incident may or may not be the first event in your novel, but it is the one that starts your protagonist on their journey. Usually, your initial event will establish the stakes for your character, so that your reader understands why the inciting incident disrupts the status quo.
Myth 3: It Can Replace The Hook. “Never consider ‘the hook’ and ‘inciting incident’ as synonymous,” Walia says. “The hook is something that grabs your reader’s attention. An inciting incident is what makes the protagonist take a solid action in the direction of their journey.”
Myth 4: The Inciting Incident Is All About Curiosity. You want your reader to wonder what happens next, but you shouldn’t leave them confused. “This does not mean an inciting incident cannot evoke any sort of curiosity in the readers. It should,” Walia says. “At the least, it should tell the readers where the journey is going to be headed.”
