tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post1368028780773225896..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: What exactly is an inciting incident?Stephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-64206152775501932282014-01-05T21:53:38.304-06:002014-01-05T21:53:38.304-06:00Thanks so much.
I'm still in the "sparks...Thanks so much. <br />I'm still in the "sparks" phase, but I was wondering is it always better to have them choose? <br />I might be having three completely different girls assigned to do a school project together. That isn't them choosing, of course. But then maybe the choosing point is when they stop fighting it and asking the teacher to rearrange them?<br />So... that sounded awfully boring compared to some fantasy or sci-fi books. But I'm really more into realistic fiction. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-83996893305339396062013-01-04T10:26:53.885-06:002013-01-04T10:26:53.885-06:00Wow, this was soooo helpful! This concept is new t...Wow, this was soooo helpful! This concept is new to me, I had the door there but didn't know what it was called - thank you!! In one of my WIPS my MC chooses to go through the door, but it slams shut behind her... If that makes any sense. So she's chosen to do this, but gets more than she bargained for. In another, which is multi-POV, one MC is forced and the other makes a choice, but because he feels he kind of has to. Idk, I like it when it's the character's choice, but I'm finding it tricky to work that in. Especially for WIP #3... I don't think that idea will be possible as MC's choice... Hrm...ChocoChihuahuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450620970929013538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-14137981405774661592012-06-21T21:16:43.414-05:002012-06-21T21:16:43.414-05:00Thanks for this post, I just realized that my mc i...Thanks for this post, I just realized that my mc is on the threshold not actually through the door.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02120054308150497895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-28604725975721423762012-06-01T10:21:02.047-05:002012-06-01T10:21:02.047-05:00My MC's best friend basically shoves her throu...My MC's best friend basically shoves her through the door because he can't forgive her after she caused a terrible event to occur!! She actually wants with all her might to resist the change but inevitably accepts that she isn't wanted and has to step out into the unknown world... I'm terrible to my beloved MC... lol :)RadicalSarah56https://www.blogger.com/profile/12305645066871084546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-76939836528576875962012-05-20T23:03:38.657-05:002012-05-20T23:03:38.657-05:00It depends on which one of my books... a co-write ...It depends on which one of my books... a co-write I'm working on still, the MC is shoved into his situation. <br />And then in my WIP she chooses to go step into something unknown.Jazmine~https://www.blogger.com/profile/06246960020080246030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-43294207903128689032012-05-09T15:05:37.285-05:002012-05-09T15:05:37.285-05:00I like that description a lot. Mr. S is a wise, wi...I like that description a lot. Mr. S is a wise, wise man.<br /><br />He's also very kind. Oddly enough, we're in the same writer's group here in Kansas City :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-37060313690133628142012-05-08T18:23:10.398-05:002012-05-08T18:23:10.398-05:00I'm doing One Year Adventure Novel this year f...I'm doing One Year Adventure Novel this year for English, and Mr. S explains it this way: You have the Inciting Incident (something happens to the hero which s/he can't ignore) and Embracing Destiny (when the hero decides to accept their destiny and do something about the Inciting Incident). I like this explanation because it shows the two parts to the doorways you talked about (a very good way of describing it, by the way). There's the thing that happens (in my WIP, my hero's castle gets destroyed), and the moment the hero chooses to do something about it (my hero decides to quit merely running from the people trying to kill her, and get some help to fight them off - she goes on the offensive). Sometimes Embracing Destiny will immediately follow the Inciting Incident, and sometimes not. Usually it takes some impetous to get the hero to get off their couch and go have an adventure, but not always. Just another way of looking at it... Thanks for these posts, by the way, I find them really helpful!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-1896000802839898222012-05-08T12:13:42.046-05:002012-05-08T12:13:42.046-05:00Aww, thanks, Sierra!Aww, thanks, Sierra!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-88191508561331778812012-05-07T21:44:00.544-05:002012-05-07T21:44:00.544-05:00My WIP definitely has an inciting indecent. (The &...My WIP definitely has an inciting indecent. (The 'door' metaphor is awesome! Sure useful. I'll think of it like that from now on.) My WIP makes the choice to test the superstitions surrounding an old boat he's bought. Once it transports him (and friends) to an alternate world...well, he can't easily go back through that doorway. :) I've been planning on having him chose to do it. I think it would be more powerful (in this situation) if it's his decision and he must live with the consequences.Jessica Starickanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-60536452325603327632012-05-07T21:33:28.313-05:002012-05-07T21:33:28.313-05:00Without reading it, I can't say for sure Tonya...Without reading it, I can't say for sure Tonya, but you might be okay. In Me, Just Different (which I'll use, since I know you've read it) Skylar's near date-rape happens right before the book opens. It's certainly a door of no return for her. But another one comes at the end of chapter three when she finds out Abbie is pregnant and that Connor overheard.<br /><br />So, I could have chosen to back the story up further and have the near date-rape be the first doorway, but I'm not sure anybody but me could have tolerated unchanged Skylar for that long. It worked better to start the story right after it had happened. <br /><br />I'm saying all that to say leave it as it is but keep in mind that you COULD back it up if you wanted.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-64336164710653079942012-05-07T21:27:23.988-05:002012-05-07T21:27:23.988-05:00Sure! I love any excuse to pull out a James Scott ...Sure! I love any excuse to pull out a James Scott Bell book :)<br /><br />And it's so great when you discover you did something right on instinct. Ah...Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-32041730966014628362012-05-07T21:26:15.563-05:002012-05-07T21:26:15.563-05:00I think that sounds great, Michelle.I think that sounds great, Michelle.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-10416858993463592162012-05-07T21:25:30.251-05:002012-05-07T21:25:30.251-05:00Yes! I had actually just been thinking we needed t...Yes! I had actually just been thinking we needed to spend some time talking about middles. Great suggestion!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-54448236210349952462012-05-07T17:13:26.604-05:002012-05-07T17:13:26.604-05:00Yes Tonya, when that happens I just have to smile....Yes Tonya, when that happens I just have to smile. I will be looking at something ad then a bit later I will see something related to it!Kate S (4readin)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03311476103331480075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-39590565249921617522012-05-07T17:11:19.564-05:002012-05-07T17:11:19.564-05:00Yes, I agree Sierra! I am trying to do things tha...Yes, I agree Sierra! I am trying to do things that only sort of work and then a post like this comes up and helps me figure it out! <br /><br />By the way, I love your name! A little unique, but not strange. It has a bit of a flare to it. I love it!Kate S (4readin)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03311476103331480075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-38499568347998902792012-05-07T17:07:41.022-05:002012-05-07T17:07:41.022-05:00I know, I recognized the first story too and I had...I know, I recognized the first story too and I had to smile. I am excited to read a story set in the Victorian era!Kate S (4readin)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03311476103331480075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-7801161149927962242012-05-07T15:43:31.383-05:002012-05-07T15:43:31.383-05:00I was reading that part in plot & structure th...I was reading that part in plot & structure this morning. Then, I saw this title & thought "the door of<br />no return" :)<br />Anyways, this morning reading it started me thinking & then this post doubly thinking....in my WIP I think the doorway starts on page one! <br />I thought I was being creative just jumping in & then referencing the way things were but today I'm wondering that's all wrong?Tonyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14500897912581589616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72532509454544750252012-05-07T14:15:02.390-05:002012-05-07T14:15:02.390-05:00Could you talk about the middle? I can write a dec...Could you talk about the middle? I can write a decent beginning and end, but not middle.<br /><br />Thanks!Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433338978586263492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-1645319359347972112012-05-07T13:11:27.979-05:002012-05-07T13:11:27.979-05:00Excellent post, as always. Thank you for answering...Excellent post, as always. Thank you for answering my question so splendidly, Stephanie! ;)<br /><br />I really like the "disturbance and doorways" deal. Much less confusing to me than the phrase "inciting event." I can see this structure in the novel I'm polishing off today. And my heroine is choosing to walk through. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150136011032761640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72614330613863031752012-05-07T13:08:28.216-05:002012-05-07T13:08:28.216-05:00I loved reading this comment since I just read you...I loved reading this comment since I just read your blog post on the story you're redoing! So exciting!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150136011032761640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-9732974481630571892012-05-07T11:41:15.081-05:002012-05-07T11:41:15.081-05:00That's good! I was re-reading my comment when...That's good! I was re-reading my comment when I realized that it may not be understood. So it is a relief to know that it doesn't read the wrong way!Kate S (4readin)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03311476103331480075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-82267202698812465742012-05-07T11:25:40.628-05:002012-05-07T11:25:40.628-05:00In your original post, you said she was "Cath...In your original post, you said she was "Catholic" which I took to mean just by heritage and not by beliefs or practice. I think you're fine :)Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-20304143250186474312012-05-07T11:16:52.285-05:002012-05-07T11:16:52.285-05:00Leila, the way James Scott Bell explains it, there...Leila, the way James Scott Bell explains it, there are two BIG doors - the one that moves you into the story and the one that transitions the reader into the final battle/conclusion. But the conflict and stakes should be continually ratcheting higher and your character will ideally have lots of choices to make.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-79871306281622021092012-05-07T11:11:14.458-05:002012-05-07T11:11:14.458-05:00Ooh, yes, that's an interesting point, Jill. I...Ooh, yes, that's an interesting point, Jill. It would be different for various POV characters.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-54284003502850127172012-05-07T11:09:27.228-05:002012-05-07T11:09:27.228-05:00When I first heard it, it really clarified things ...When I first heard it, it really clarified things for me. Glad you found it helpful as well, Sarah!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.com