tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post9219269236271450157..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: Plot Essentials: Inciting Incident Gabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-35616640842097570532014-03-27T08:44:29.864-07:002014-03-27T08:44:29.864-07:00Rewriting is tough, but it sounds like your MS wil...Rewriting is tough, but it sounds like your MS will definitely be better for it! Upping the stakes, I suspect, will help a lot as far as the rest of the plot goes. :)<br /><br /><br />I'm happy you stumbled across this post at such a perfect time! And I think I'm mostly okay with this being a procrastination spot for writers, as long as it gets them back to writing. ;)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-59607560956965166772014-03-26T21:07:18.445-07:002014-03-26T21:07:18.445-07:00ah, inciting incident! I was cruising right along ...ah, inciting incident! I was cruising right along rocketing along to my midpoint, when suddenly I stalled out. Took a look over my shoulder to see what bump I'd hit along the road, and realized I'd gone over a pothole -- a HUGE one! As it turns out, the reason I couldn't make things MOVE anymore was because I was missing a strong inciting incident. Oh, I had a weak one, and it felt right at the time, but it wasn't strong enough. I had to raise the stakes. I figured out how to fix it, but now I'm rewriting the entire first act. So... yay? Funny to stumble along this old post {I'm procrastinating, too, Robin Red!} right as I'm fumbling with its very subject matter.Andi-Roohttp://www.theworld4realz.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-31919367735754354092014-03-10T14:25:35.033-07:002014-03-10T14:25:35.033-07:00That's true, but on the other hand, each book ...That's true, but on the other hand, each book needs a complete arc within the series (which is why even series books still have their own plot essentials to meet).Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-34522528836017273922014-03-10T11:00:35.067-07:002014-03-10T11:00:35.067-07:00I think I've figured out the inciting incident...I think I've figured out the inciting incident in my sequel, but it's not as exciting as the one in the first book. I think maybe for sequels that continue an overarching plot, an inciting incident may be more subtle, as the looming danger has already been hinted at or partially revealed.Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-3753768514449196612014-03-10T08:29:36.211-07:002014-03-10T08:29:36.211-07:00Err, honestly, I haven't read that book in a W...Err, honestly, I haven't read that book in a WHILE, so I don't really remember...Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-14628724348593982132014-03-10T08:29:09.429-07:002014-03-10T08:29:09.429-07:00Hmm. Sounds like maybe you could use a break? I fi...Hmm. Sounds like maybe you could use a break? I find that sometimes, taking a short break from writing and reading a lot in between helps get the urge to write back.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-78231178285399429322014-03-09T11:27:10.833-07:002014-03-09T11:27:10.833-07:00What would you say is the inciting incident in A M...What would you say is the inciting incident in A Million Suns, sequel to Across the Universe? I'm writing now, so don't worry too much about me :DRobin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-66563431588018713762014-03-08T14:43:25.411-08:002014-03-08T14:43:25.411-08:00Inciting incidents are in every novel, sequel or n...Inciting incidents are in every novel, sequel or not. They're basically the event that kick-starts the hero into their journey, so without it, the MC's life doesn't change and there isn't a story. It doesn't always have to be a dramatic incident—for example, in <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> it's when Hazel meets Augustus and in <i>Every Day</i> it's when A meets Rhiannon and starts to fall for her. <br /><br /><br />So...yes. It works basically the same way with sequels. <br /><br /><br />And yes! You are my top commenter! Which I super appreciate because I love comments and you've contributed so so much to the Writability community. Thanks! <br /><br /><br />Also, I am happy to help you procrastinate any time. Though you should probably get back to writing now. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-9002825146440100572014-03-08T14:21:05.965-08:002014-03-08T14:21:05.965-08:00I'm putting together a new story, and the inci...I'm putting together a new story, and the inciting incident is where I'm stuck. Not sure how to approach the big "Surprise, cloudy with a chance of plot". Another book I'm writing (Yep, I'm one of those multi-book writers because I have Attention Deficient—Ooh shiny!) has no inciting incident that I can see… Does the inciting incident work the same with sequels? I guess I'm still figuring out the plot.<br /><br /><br />S/N: Just realized I'm your top commenter, which I find both embarrassing and hilarious. I usually end up checking your blog because I'm procrastinating my writing :)Robin Rednoreply@blogger.com