Episode 8: Where to Enter a Story (Inciting Incidents) Part 2

In which Robynne and Jane continue their conversation about “inciting incidents” and where to enter a story. Jane mentions Susan May Warren who says “the inciting incident is something that comes along and interrupt your life” (the phone call, the accident, the meeting). What a great way to define the Inciting Incident! Right after that quote, The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, one of Robynne’s favorite authors, is used as an example of how even literary fiction uses this technique. We bring back Susy Flory’s Thunderdog and Cynthia Ruchti’s Miles from Where We’ve Started to underpin the examples. It’s a rousing discussion on how important it is to choose how and where to enter your fiction or narrative nonfiction story for greatest impact.

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