Inciting Incident

[@J.R.L.]

I have planned most of the books in a series I want to write. But now I see I am missing a strong inciting incident for the first book. I have triggers for him to reach it, but I didn't properly connect my main character to the incident in a way that forces him to act. So thank you for the video.

[@reinstriver5432]

Hey Jerry! I just wanted to tell you I had joined your writers guild for about two months some time ago, I couldn't keep the sub up longer, but I learned a lot thanks to all your lessons and it's because to them that I won a novel competition last month! Thank you for providing such exceptional writing advice! You're phenomenal :>

[@anthonyyoung8006]

The higher upload frequency is fantastic, you are doing an amazing job sharing your knowledge and have inspired me to begin writing, I can't imagine how many lives you've changed over the last 5 decades, something I'm striving for.

[@PatTimm]

This video has reassured me I am on the right track with my inciting incident. 65k words in and now down toward the ending. About 75k words for this novel. You have helped me greatly with your videos. Keep them coming. You help insdpire me. Blessings!

[@gladiator_gamerbr6061]

this video helped me a lot. I am deep into writing my first novel, and i had to come up with two inciting incidents on the story, one that happens before the main events of the plot itself, and another that affects the protagonist and other characters. Hopefully i am doing it in a right way, thanks a lot for your help to beginners. Much appreciated.

[@daltonstull1790]

Thank you Jerry

[@pankhurikhanna-tl9zl]

Thank you sir 🙏🏻

[@Princess_Ibeh]

🙏🏼🤗❤️ Thank you so much

[@PeteAbagnele]

Dear Jerry, Even though you might never read this comment, thank you so much for these useful tips for writers. I am about to finish my first novel and all the insights you gave us are very useful and meaningful. Helpful on this bumpy writing road. All the best and please continue to share these great videos !

[@HellaBella]

I binge watched all your videos when I first found your channel! You make writing make sense and I love your calm demeanor and delivery in the videos. So glad to see you’re posting again. As for this video, I can see that I had an inciting incident in my story, I just didn’t know it was called that! I always learn something from you. 🤓

[@andreasboe4509]

Great advice. I think it explains the lack of satisfaction I have with the story I just finished.

[@MrWayout55]

Mr. Jenkins, I am like a dry sponge drinking up every word you write. Thank You and I can't wait till your next video !

[@lorettawilson9160]

I'M FINALLY UNDERSTANDING THANKS JERRY

[@wewatchmovies4446]

I love your help and information. Thank you

[@MkLeflar]

I have added this video on "Inciting Incident" to a Google Form I created for students reading Peak by Roland Smith. Your insight and clarity of expression are superb. Thank you!

[@dominr2]

Thank you

[@wallywalrus2]

Just discovered this channel and it looks like a whole treasure trove of information. Thanks for making these videos!

[@barringtongilbert9230]

Just a massive THANK YOU for verbalising story writs so well

[@OneGoodIdea24]

Glad you included martian. I picked that book up and couldn't set it down

[@BROKEN-PILOT]

Jerry: Thank you so very much for sharing your expertise. If only I were not existing below the 138% threshold of poverty, I could afford your course. Your free insight helps and thanks, again. - James

[@rodraglin922]

Great information, succinctly delivered, but what I appreciate most is not once did you use your own work as an example.

[@driftwoodriverstone2751]

Thank you.

[@chrisbriswrites]

Thank you, Jerry, for that stella advice about producing a real page-turner. I will keep it in my mind.

[@vincestevenson]

Cheers Jerry, very useful. I'm a newbie, never really written fiction before. My heart's in it. Just need to find time to follow up. Thanks again.

[@eimearlawlor4338]

Wow, so helpful. I've joined your mailing list.

[@aaronchapa1117]

I love you jerry you saved my life

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Thanks

[@michaelvaughan8230]

Hi Jerry Packed full of very useful ideas,

[@loyisomomoti2213]

On time, Jerry. This video is just what I need because I am just wrapping up my exposition.

[@michalohindun81]

You are a gem and you know that. Thank you for sharing all your insights and knowledge with us, with me.

[@malikalghul273]

Big fan of your work mr Jenkins keep up the good work!

[@ianbarr4716]

Jerry, thank you for this. Cheers.

[@joefawley9264]

Would love a video on sentence structure :)

[@christinekaye6393]

I don't know what you think about this, but my inciting incident happens before the start of the story. From the first page, the main character is struggling to find a solution. Part of the tension in the story is finding out what set him on his course of action. The nature of the inciting incident is revealed, little by little, over the course of the first act. My beta readers said it kept them turning the pages.

[@aok1951]

Another great video. So helpful and so clearly explained. Your videos are so much appreciated. Thank you.

[@wewatchmovies4446]

Thank you Jerry. So helpful

[@landonpraught9170]

Thank you, Jerry, I just need this I have started too wright my next novel this was a great help.

[@timroot3710]

Jerry, I have a story that violates many of the things you have discussed in your videos not to do. Do I go back and work with what I have written or do I start all over again. Which method is better?

[@nailsaggitarius4212]

very helpful thank you, Mr. Jenkins!!!

[@mohammadmahdi4915]

Thank you for you tips 😃👌

[@kamilla1960]

Thank you Jerry!

[@annie.cristales]

Hi Jerry, I want to make a video suggestion, "How to create the perfect Book Title for a Novel?" I find it quite hard to come up with a title that truly represents my plot. Nothing works. Thanks, I hope you see this.

[@JuicyHamburger]

I understand the sentiment but I'm not sure this would apply to many stories. "A River Runs Through It" is a story about fly fishing and boys growing into men, discovering their own paths, and connecting with family. I wouldn't say Earth-shattering, life or death incidents would have any place in these kinds of stories, so what should you do then?

[@juliet298]

Very helpful Jerry, thank you.

[@cosmicprison9819]

I indeed always saw Hagrid telling Harry “you’re a wizard” as the inciting incident. But I also always knew that’s debatable, since there are other scenes in the story that qualify as potential candidates. I mainly looked into it to determine when in the story the inciting incident should appear - in Harry Potter’s case, on page 50. Which, for a novel that’s only about 300 pages long, is pretty late. What is the inciting incident of Harry Potter then, in your view? If it’s only once Hagrid tells him about Voldemort, that would be even *later* than the famous “you are a wizard, Harry”.

[@chuckwieser7622]

I was going to ask the same question. What do you think? I aways figured it was Hagrid showing up at the shack and delivering the letter to HP. Of course Harry is going to go. He can't help not after the way he is treated by the Dursleys. Also the first time he visits Deigon Alley (forgive the Spelling) reinforces forces that. It's too good to pass up!

[@kellysimmerman8904]

Thanks Jerry! Great info here!

[@hanawolde2506]

keep going Boss, i have learned a lot

[@hristol7537]

Thank you, great video!

[@miazivkovic9187]

Thank you Mr. Jerry, this was so helpful!

[@bkjackson8092]

I would appreciate thoughts/comments on inciting incident specifically as it relates to writing cozy mysteries. I believe I understand the application of the inciting incident for stand alone story ideas that I have for historical fiction, for example. But I struggle with the concept of inciting incident specifically with cozy mysteries. Of those which I have read, the protag is not a policeman or detective. They do something else for a livelihood and casually stumble into a mystery of some sort so they have no real personal stake, they just tend to be inquisitive. So I have problems understanding how inciting incident is used with regard to cozy mystery, since at least the ones I have read, the characters are relatively detached from what leads them to investigate the mystery. Thoughts anyone?

[@yvesgomes]

My doubt is more basic. I'm struggling to spot a pattern of inciting incidents in mysteries in general. What piece of information that brings progress should be "the one"?

[@gr8booksmore929]

Awesome

[@rickspicks]

Thanks. Been struggling with my inciting incident. It was not the type that was obviously high stakes. Rather just something he found out about. I was trying to make it more immediately apparent/bigger, but after seeing this, realize the protagonist doesn't have to get hit over the head immediately, He can discover how big it it is upon investigating, Only then does he realize it's very high stakes.

[@smileychess]

That’s similar to mine. He discovers something about the nature of reality. But he doesn’t technically have to dig deeper aside from a strong curiosity. Maybe I should do what the matrix did, and include a Agent Smith type character to light a fire under the main character.

[@jamesdunn1112]

Regarding nonfiction: in a coming of age story where several incidents (instead of one incident) occur that changes the perspective of a character on life, does it work?

[@Helloone996]

Great gREAT👍👍👍👍👍✌

[@cosmicprison9819]

Abbie Emmons has been very specific about the protagonist “pursuing their goal while avoiding their fear”. How is this possible after the inciting incident, *without* having the character at least try to “go back to normal”? 🤔 In fantasy novels, the hero often can’t go back home, because his home is simply destroyed by the villain. In the Lord of the Rings, however, Frodo chooses to leave the Shire, rather than it being destroyed. The Refusal of the Call that humanises the character usually comes before the Inciting Incident. After the incident, the hero can’t go back - so how can they be pushed out of their comfort zone, but still continue to avoid their fear?

[@ng1n369]

Long Live Jerry B. Jenkins

[@juju10683]

It seems like some novels have multiple inciting incidents. Is that bad? It seems to work when the protagonist(s) have an internal goal (become a great warrior) and then there are several external goals associated with inciting incidents. Am I thinking about this the wrong way?

[@wizard4203]

what do i do if i start uncontrollably scrawling 4th century elfin runes in spiraling patterns on my walls

[@larryoxentine8310]

Call an exorcist 👹

[@ApolloBSG]

I also have this problem. All suggestions on a blood stained envelope

[@MyAmericanMorning]

I am working on a story with a good inciting incident, but the story begins 50 years or more after the incident occurs and, because of important interactions between main characters, the inciting incident will be described as a memory to one character by the main character those many years later, but that happens fairly deep into the story. Is there a way I can foreshadow the inciting incident effectively to grab the readers early?

[@larryoxentine8310]

Prologue?

[@MyAmericanMorning]

@@larryoxentine8310 Thank you, Larry. I had not thought of that. Of course, until I watched this video, the power of an early reveal of the inciting incident had not yet crossed my mind. I'll just have to determine how to do it without revealing details that need to stay mysterious for a while.

[@dimitrytsalinka7203]

What do your opinion on writing in Wattpad platform?

[@cosmicprison9819]

I have one story in which the stakes can’t be life or death, because the villain’s motivation is the survival of the human species. And not in a “we must get rid of a few so that the majority can survive” kind of way - but in an “every single person counts for the higher purpose (and therefore has to do as I say)” kind of way. So the stakes are actually freedom vs. slavery - and it’s the *good guys* who have to be willing to accept death as a potential risk in their fight to reclaim that freedom.

[@garymcdermott8748]

Mr. Jenkins what is a 'through line' ?

[@carlswanson8041]

A throughline in a novel is a question or plot set up that hooks the reader and is a driving force through the plot to be eventually revealed near or at the end. It is a plot point that keeps the book driving THROUGH to the end.

[@Zei33]

Is it okay to only have an inciting incident for one character at the start of the first book, and then have individual incidents at the end of book 1 and book 2 for the other main characters? I want to setup all four characters throughout book 1. I feel like front loading a bunch of the story developments at the start won’t be as effective as introducing each character’s major motivation at the appropriate time throughout the story.

[@caesarjulius6058]

Why is Jerry's left hand a different color from his right hand??????

[@Blessom]

Likely his blood flow and the lighting

[@ChristophelusPulps]

Great video as always, but might I respectfully suggest that you adjust your microphone settings? It's picking up every little wet noise your mouth makes.

[@crosscutofficial]

What do you think of characters that change, as in he/she is portrayed as a “good guy”, yet they turn, then later are brought back to being good?

[@Zei33]

I personally hate that sort of arc and I know I’m not the only one. It’s done too often for my tastes and it just lowers the reader’s opinion if the main character for the rest of the story.

[@ApolloBSG]

If handled well they are some of the best arcs.

[@Nbrolfiwriting]

I recently read an article on Master class to see where my inciting incident falls under. I would say mine is more ambiguous and I know it's strong enough to hold through. 💪🏾 Thnx Jerry.

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Oh boy

[@stevenmaynard4825]

Jerry's writing advice is always no-bullshit: If your audience doesn't know why they should give af then it's bad story.

[@Pharaoh_Tutankhamen]

I think my inciting incident is when the protagonist's future wife (who he doesn't know about yet) time travels to him, from the future, because she's upset about his death

[@smileychess]

Sounds wonderfully bizarre

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Those first lines count

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Character arc

[@DJ-Krimson-Steele]

I appreciate Jerry B. Jenkins insight, but as someone who suffers from misophonia, his lip smacking is driving me nuts. 😬

[@taradeleeuw2344]

No shortage of mayhem

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Lots of turning back

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Nothing normal

[@taradeleeuw2344]

No shortage of incitement

[@taradeleeuw2344]

I have magic doors

[@taradeleeuw2344]

From UFOs to murder

[@mavediqbal2w222]

Sir I have recently followed you so please it is requested to make content frequently every week.

[@Harry-mf6rq]

How rude

[@Zei33]

@@Harry-mf6rq go easy. ESL makes text comments difficult to convey appropriate meaning. He just meant, “I’ve just subscribed recently and I like it so much that I hope you’ll consider putting out more content.”

[@DavidPatMathis81]

This is a really good video for the content, but I’m begging you please drink a glass of water before recording next time.

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Progressive

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Natural disasters alright

[@ConfusedSpaceCapsule-nu8bc]

Thank you