creenwriting Fundamentals

Inciting Incident

This is the event that kicks off the story, that yanks the protagonist kicking and screaming from their ordinary world and into the unknown conflict ahead. This inciting incident comes from the direct or indirect actions of the antagonist, thus keying up the struggle ahead and it’s ultimate confrontation at the climax.

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Stuck on your inciting incident?

Ask yourself these questions:

  • What is my protagonist’s “ordinary world” and what could challenge that comfortable world order?
  • How can this event force the protagonist to action?
  • What conditions would make it impossible for the protagonist to turn back?
image image

Stuck on your inciting incident?

Ask yourself these questions:

  • What is my protagonist’s “ordinary world” and what could challenge that comfortable world order?
  • How can this event force the protagonist to action?
  • What conditions would make it impossible for the protagonist to turn back?