For a story to “work,” it needs to have a beginning, middle, and end. If we don’t start somewhere, we won’t be able to build momentum. If we don’t have a middle, we’ll get off to a start and then arrive at the end without preparation. If we don’t have an ending, we’ll be left wondering what happened. Each of those parts – beginning, middle, ending – are part of the story structure. Another way to describe it is with the plot diagram: Exposition, Inciting Incident, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Denouement/Resolution.
What is the inciting incident?
The inciting incident is the event that interrupts what is normal and causes everything else to occur. Without the inciting incident, the exposition would continue into infinity – sort of like paint drying at a sloth’s pace.
Why does it matter?
If we had no inciting incident, it wouldn’t make sense that everything that happens next is happening. For the reader, the inciting incident and the rising action and all that comes next, must be a logical trajectory from the inciting incident.
Some examples
In The Giver, by Lois Lowry, it isn’t just the Ceremony of Twelve that changes everything. It is the fact that Jonas is selected to be the new Receiver of Memory. Everything that happens next is a result of that one moment. The inciting incident in Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, is the moment that Fern is saves Wilbur. This act makes Wilbur her responsibility. That responsibilty is the driver for the rest of the story. In Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the inciting incident occurs when Goldilocks enters the house and stays. Remaining in the house causes everything else to take place. In Frindle by Andrew Clements, it is the moment Nick decides to call his pen by a new name that sets the rest of the story in action.
Help your child practice
Ask your child to describe a typical morning at school or at home. Then ask them to tell you about the moment things changed and normal was left behind. Or, tell your child a few stories that your make up, and ask them to tell you the inciting incident. Two other things you can do, are to make up a story with your kids or help them spot the exposition and inciting inciden in a typical day in your lives.
Bottom Line
The time spent with the inciting incident will be time well spent in helping your child to consider cause and effect. They will also be flex their critical thinking muscles. The truth is that the skills required in language arts are skills that are used in a range of disciplines. From writing to math to science — the overlap in skills and the benefits to your child are many.