Unlock the Secret Timing: Where Should Your Inciting Incident Truly Land to Hook Readers?
Can you start your novel with the inciting incident? If not, how do you decide where to put it?
James posted this question on my “Ask A Question For My Blog” page:
I have placed my inciting incident real close to the beginning, like 2 pages or so. In order for the reader to care about what happens to the protagonist in the inciting incident, my first scene has no conflict. It’s just some emotional stuff as he thinks about his girlfriend and proposing to her that night after work. I just didn’t know if I should have anything to overpower the inciting incident. Is this kosher. Given this, do ALL scenes have to have the three aspects: goal, conflict, and setback? If so, I’ll have to come up with something. I wanna do this right. Thanks for any help. If you happen to have time to answer this, will you answer Online or email to me?
