Inciting Incident 101 Definition and Expert Tips (With Real Examples!)

Inciting Incident 101 Definition and Expert Tips (With Real Examples!) What Is An Inciting Incident? Definition, Mythbusting, and Examples The inciting incident: a vitally important yet wickedly confusing element of any story. Time after time, readers and writers alike have wondered: What does it do? When does it occur? And how do you know if you’ve written a good one†¦ or if you have one at all?There’s a great deal of uncertainty surrounding inciting incidents - specifically, how they work within the context of a full narrative arc. So without further ado, here’s your all-inclusive guide to the elusive inciting incident: what it is, how it’s used, and tips on constructing your own. Inciting incidents: what they are, where to put them, and how to create your own What Is An Inciting Incident?The inciting incident is the narrative event that launches the main action. It typically occurs within the first act of the story and means something significant for the main character, most likely impacting their entire life. It should also fully engage the reader with the story, serving as an indicator of what’s to come.That being said, there are a few very common misconceptions surrounding inciting incidents - so let’s do a bit of mythbusting.Myth #1: The inciting incident is always the first thing to happen.You’ll recognize the inciting incident as the event that triggers the primary action, rather than simply the first event to occur. There may be some backstory or buildup before this, such as a conversation or scene leading up to it - but that doesn’t change its role in the story!Myth #2: The inciting incident is exactly the same as the â€Å"hook.† The hook is a dramatic description or scene that first catches t he reader’s attention. The inciting incident catalyzes the plot and solidifies that attention. Sometimes they overlap, but the incident tends to require more exposition than a hook - so don’t start thinking they’re synonymous.Myth #3: The inciting incident raises more questions than it answers.As a matter of fact, the inciting incident usually involves some kind of newfound clarity or realization for the main character. It does create some questions, but its main purpose is to give the main character a distinctive path to follow, rather than muddling it.Some of these ambiguities can definitely be confusing. Fortunately, we have plenty of examples on hand to show what we’re talking about. Here are five famous inciting incidents to illustrate how they function in a story. Reedsy mythbusting: 3 common misconceptions about inciting incidents #getthefacts Inciting Incident Examples1. Hagrid telling Harry he’s a wizard"Harry - yer a wizard." "A what?" gasped Harry. "A wizard, o' course," said Hagrid, sitting back down on the sofa, which groaned and sank even lower, "an' a thumpin' good'un, I'd say, once yeh've been trained up a bit.†- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,  p. 39One of the most famed catalysts (and indeed best moments) in all of literature is Hagrid revealing to Harry Potter that he’s a wizard. Suddenly, all the strange occurrences leading up to this scene make sense: Harry somehow getting up onto his school roof, making the glass disappear at the zoo, and of course, his uncle’s refusal to let him read any of his letters.This incident perfectly exemplifies the features outlined above: it completely absorbs the reader, sets the main plot in motion, and involves a pretty major revelation for Harry. While some might argue that elements of the buildup - such as Harry receiving his fir st letter - could be called â€Å"inciting incidents,† this is the scene where Harry truly begins his journey.What's the inciting incident in your story? Share it with us in the comments!

Top 10 Words Confused in English [N-P]

Top 10 Words Confused in English [N-P] Top 10 Words Confused in English [N-P] Top 10 Words Confused in English [N-P] By Maeve Maddox My cumulative list of words commonly confused continues with ten that begin with the letters N and P. The confusion relates to spelling or meaning. 1. nutritional / nutritious The adjective  nutritional means, â€Å"related to the process of nutrition,† that is, using food to support life. Ex. The nutritional value of one egg is the equivalent of one ounce of meat. The adjective  nutritious means â€Å"nourishing or healthy to eat.† Ex. A nutritious breakfast can help prevent overeating and snacking later in the day.   2. noisome / noisy The adjective noisome means, â€Å"offensive to the smell or other senses.† Ex. I was repelled by the noisome smell that accompanied the speaker back from the smoking area.   The adjective noisy means, â€Å"characterized by the presence of noise.† Ex. Many writers find it difficult to work in a noisy environment. 3. observance / observation The performance of a customary rite is an observance. Ex. The observance of Memorial Day includes military parades and the placing of flowers on graves. Ex. Do you support moving the observance of Memorial Day to May 30th?   An observation is an act of recognizing and noting some fact or occurrence, often involving the measurement of some magnitude with suitable instruments. Ex. Gallileo’s achievements included the observation and analysis of sunspots. 4. obsolescent / obsolete Something that is obsolescent is going out of use. Ex. Although still used in 66 percent of US homes, landline telephones are obsolescent. Something that is obsolete is no longer active or in use. Ex. Mimeograph machines are obsolete. 5. ordinance / ordnance An ordinance is an official decree. Ex. An ordinance in my town forbids residents to allow pet cats to go outside without a leash. The term ordnance refers to military supplies including weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, and the necessary maintenance tools and equipment. Ex. In 1969, he served as a platoon sergeant in the 70th  Ordnance  Battalion,  responsible for  maintaining the 5th Infantry Divisions basic load of ammunition. 6. palate / palette / pallet All three words are pronounced the same. The roof of the mouth consisting of the structures that separate the mouth from the nasal cavity is called the palate. Figuratively palate refers to the physical sense of taste or to intellectual capacity. Ex. Ludovico wrote that, given Francescos  exquisite palate, he chose only fish of the finest quality. Ex. It may take a well-developed literary palate to fully appreciate, but this miniseries remains an indelible treat. Painters arrange paint on a palette. Ex. Over the course of more than two decades, Ive used all kinds of palettes dishes with little wells, pieces of porcelain tile, old CDs, waxed paper, and water-color paper.    Figuratively, â€Å"an artist’s palette† is a distinctive combination of colors. Ex. Vermeer’s seventeenth-century palette did not include many strong colors. The word pallet may refer to a temporary bed. Ex. At night I  slept on a pallet  in a  corner  of Belles upstairs room. The word pallet also applies to â€Å"a portable platform of wood, metal, or other material designed for handling by a forklift truck.† 7. pedal / peddle The verb pedal means, â€Å"to use or work a pedal, as of an organ, piano, or bicycle.† Literally, the verb peddle means, â€Å"to travel about with wares for sale.† Figuratively, it means, â€Å"to deal out or seek to disseminate, as ideas or opinions. Ex. Writers come to tell you stories, [and] to  peddle their  ideas. 8. pour / pore pour: to cause or allow to flow; emit in a steady stream. pore: to gaze intently or fixedly; look searchingly; to devote oneself to attentive reading (used chiefly with over). 9. prescribe / proscribe To lay down a rule or give directions is to prescribe. Ex. The doctor prescribed an earlier bedtime. To condemn or forbid as harmful is to proscribe. Ex. The university has proscribed the carrying of guns on campus. 10. peek / peak / pique Most people use these words correctly in speech, but misspell them in writing. All three may be used as nouns or verbs. peek verb: look slyly or furtively or to peer through a crack or hole or from a place of concealment. noun: a surreptitious look peak verb: to reach a maximum, as of capacity, value, or activity. noun: the pointed or projecting part of something. noun: the top of a hill or mountain or something resembling it. pique verb: to arouse anger or resentment in someone. noun: offense taken. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Fly, Flew, (has) FlownFlied?People versus Persons6 Foreign Expressions You Should Know