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In popular fiction, every story should start with some sort of Change to indicate to the reader that the story problem is beginning.
Dwight Swain (Techniques of the Selling Writer) says, “The function of your story’s beginning is to let your reader know there’s going to be a fight ... and that it’s the kind of fight that will interest him.”
Swain doesn’t mean a literal fight, but something the character is fighting for. The Inciting Incident is the Change that propels the hero to fight for his External Goal.
Most people, whether we like change or not, understand that when something changes, we can expect a new era or time of life to begin. The same principle applies to a reader—when he sees change in the story, he knows the character is going to embark on a new journey.
How to Start the Story
A story opening is usually comprised of:
(a) the main character
(b) the character’s ordinary world
(c) a sudden event that Changes the character’s world
(d) some sort of consequence of that Change.
Some openings will remove one or two of those and add them in later. For example, if you open in the villain’s point of view as he’s killing a victim, you only see the event that Changes the character’s world. The next chapter will introduce the main character, his ordinary world, and how the Change affects his world.
When to Start the Story
“Start on a day that’s different.”
“Start with an arrival.”
“Enter as late as possible.”
“Start with trouble.”
All these things add up to some event that signals Change for the hero. Change from his normal world, change that indicates trouble.
A writer will want to start the story as close to that Change as possible. Don’t spend too much time meandering over the hero’s normal world. Start with the event of Change, and make it apparent to the reader that it’s a deviation from the hero’s ordinary circumstances.
A book can start before the Change event, but the author must make sure he doesn’t start too far before the Change, or the opening will bore the reader.
A book can start right in the middle of the Change, but the author must make sure the reader is able to understand what’s going on and not be confused by being dumped into the middle of a situation.
A book can start after the Change, but the author must make sure the explanations that follow aren’t too long and extensive.
Explain later
Contrary to what many writers think, a reader doesn’t need an explanation for why things are happening right at the opening.
If a writer opens with a striking, mostly self-explanatory scene, the reader will just go along for the ride and wait for explanations later.
Also, an aura of mystery is another way to hook the reader—they’ll keep reading to figure out why what happened just happened.
Make Sure the Character Faces Consequences
When the Change happens in the story, if the character has no consequences to the Change, there really isn’t a story.
The Change has to cause a chain reaction of other decisions the character makes, other consequences for those decisions. This is what propels the story.
The Change itself can be an external event, but everything that happens after that should be the character making decisions, finding unexpected consequences, making more decisions, finding more consequences.
The copyright of the article The Inciting Incident: How to Start a Story in Writing Fiction is owned by Camy Tang. Permission to republish The Inciting Incident: How to Start a Story in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Oct 27, 2008 2:17 PM
Guest :
what about from when you want to write a story from two people's point of
view, but they both live in different worlds?
Oct 27, 2008 2:31 PM
Camy Tang :
In that case, start the novel with one person's Inciting Incident, then
switch scenes to the other person's Inciting Incident.
Or you
can start with one person's Inciting Incident, then show a Sequel to that
Scene, and then in the next chapter, open with the other person's Inciting
Incident and then show a Sequel to that Scene, too.
Either way,
you show both persons' Inciting Incidents.
Follow the same
guidelines as above. Even though you're showing two different Inciting
Incidents, you still want the story to start quickly and draw the reader
in.
If one person's Inciting Incident isn't appropriate to start
the story with, you can also start after the Inciting Incident if it fits
with the way the story flows. But it's usually good to start with at least
one person's Inciting Incident at the opening of the novel, even if you
don't show the other person's Inciting Incident.
Camy
Mar 2, 2009 8:26 AM
Guest :
yes but i am stuck for words like i want to write a story about my life but
i cant so can you give me any suggestions ummmm how to contact me........
ummmmm i dunoo buh i need help badly just remember i need to no NOW and im
12 years old...
story writins hard
laura x
Mar 2, 2009 2:19 PM
Camy Tang :
Hi Laura,
I'm glad you want to write a story! That's the first
step.
The next step is to JUST DO IT. Like the Nike commercial.
Just sit at your computer and just start typing, or get out some paper and
just start writing.
It doesn't have to be perfect. All you have
to do is just to start writing. It's hard work, but it's also really fun at
the same time. And if you keep at it day after day, eventually a book forms
under your hands, and that's the coolest feeling in the world.
Camy
Apr 21, 2009 9:51 AM
Guest :
thats great thanks 4 helping me!!!!!!!!!!!
Jul 12, 2009 6:53 PM
Guest :
Hi, I'm Cat, and I've got a huge problem.
I love to write, I write all
the time, but now I finally want to write a novel and finish it. My problem
is, I have so many stories with so many ideas, I just don't know HOW to
push myself to start. Do you have any tips for that?
Jul 17, 2009 3:02 PM
Guest :
Hi, I'm Cat, and I've got a huge problem.
I love to write, I write all
the time, but now I finally want to write a novel and finish it. My problem
is, I have so many stories with so many ideas, I just don't know HOW to
push myself to start. Do you have any tips for that?
Hi Cat,
Unfortunately, the only cure for pushing yourself to start is just to do
it. Sit your butt in that chair and just start writing. Don't be hindered
by that voice in your head that whispers that you can't do it, or that
you're doing it all wrong--put a muzzle on that voice and JUST DO IT. Don't
wait for the timing to be right or the planets to align or for your desk to
be clear. Just write the way you want to write and write the story you want
to write. Anything can be fixed once it's written, but as Nora Roberts
says, you can't edit a blank page.
Camy
Aug 17, 2009 4:48 PM
Guest :
Hey,
I'm starting a book. I've got a plot and characters, but I just
have no idea how to start it. How do you begin a story? I'm at a loss.
-Eleanor.
Aug 17, 2009 4:56 PM
Camy Tang :
Hi Eleanor,
As my article above, says:
“Start on a day
that’s different.”
“Start with an arrival.”
“Enter as
late as possible.”
“Start with trouble.”
All these
things add up to some event that signals Change for the hero. Change from
his normal world, change that indicates trouble.
Pick one of the
above and just start the story.
Also, just because you start a
story somewhere, doesn't mean you can't change it later. So don't feel like
the start of your story is set in stone. You can always revise it later if
you feel it's not a good place for the story to start.
Camy
Sep 19, 2009 8:21 AM
Guest :
Hello Camy, when you say "Enter as late as possible" what exactly
does that mean? I read a William Goldman book where he says something
similar to that, and have read it in other places too, but I cannot fully
grasp exactly what it means. Does it mean save your inciting incident until
as late as possible? Or does it mean enter your main character as late as
possible? If so, do you have to write lead up scenes before your inciting
incident/main character enters? Maybe I am over thinking it, but if you
could elaborate then I would much appreciate it. Thanks.
Sep 20, 2009 2:44 AM
Guest :
Hi
I want to write a story as I love writing. I think I have good
ideas, but I can't seem to be able to write them in a way that I think
sounds good. Do you have any tips?
Thanks
Nov 10, 2009 12:36 PM
Camy Tang :
"Enter as late as possible": What you want to try to do is limit
the scene setup as much as possible--setting description, character
descriptions, action or dialogue lacking in conflict. Instead, try to start
as close to the "clash" as possible in the scene--as close to the
first note of conflict or tension. James Scott Bell has a good example on
page 121 of his book, PLOT AND STRUCTURE by Writer's Digest Books.
Want to write a story: My suggestion is always the same--just do it!
Don't care about if it's "right" or "wrong" or sounds
good or not. Just do it. There's nothing like experience to help a writer
learn to write better.
Alternately, I also have an article on my
website:
http://storysensei.blogspot.com/2007/08/i-want-to-write-novel-and-i-have-no
.html
Hope that helps!
Camy
12 Comments
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