Why’d you do it?

What happened?

How could you?

What the heck am I talking about?

These are a few possible replies to an Inciting Incident.

What’s an Inciting Incident, you ask?

Well, here are a few film examples …

The final verdict will lead a young teen to freedom or execution, so when one out of 11 jurors votes not guilty, the life and death debate begins.

A young child plays merrily on his familiar neighborhood street, until the roar of an angry mob and an exploding Molotov cocktail changes everything.

On a hot, lonely, night a black stranger is arrested on suspicion of killing the most important white man in a town in the deep south.

Two loving and lonely people, each married to an unfaithful spouse, are pushed towards a growing temptation that goes against everything they believe in.

Simply put, It’s the action that sets the story in full motion.

And it’s the writer’s job to have it build up speed, ever climbing towards the inevitable climax of the tale.

To do this successfully one must be clear on the characters, the conflict, and the protagonist’s goals.

You need to know what’s happening to whom, why it matters, and what are the consequences.

Clearly exploring, defining and developing these key points will truly serve your story well. They’re the cornerstone of creating engagement, anticipation, and suspense, to name a few elements.

I’ll talk about another key component next week. For now, examine your work, or some of your favorite stories, and check out how the inciting incident is used. For extra credit, see if they use more than one.

Then shoot me an email and share your findings with us.

See ya’ next week.
​
Best,

Alex Simmons

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