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!