B&A: writers, introducing the inciting incident?

[K?†?¡??]

how far into your story do you introduce the inciting incident? first chapter? few chapters? 1/2 way through?

**inciting incident: the action that creates the conflict. in alice in wonderland, it's her falling down the rabbit hole. creates conflict of how to get home.

<33 Katniss

 

[Naomi Irwin]

It is kinda boring to make it in the very first chapter, you want to introduce the character first.
How long that takes is up to you.
But you don't want to leave it for too long because you need time to explain all that happens afterward.
And it also depends on how long you want you book to be....
So i suggest maybe between 4th to 6th chapter.
It also depends on how long your chapters are...hope this helps
and good for you for writing a book, i am also attempting that, and it isn't easy....

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe in the third chapter, somewhere around there, normally, after I get the introduction and a tiny bit of the rising action done.

 

[Kateastrophe]

It depends on the type of story. With suspense, sometimes I'll introduce a few false incidents and not get to the big incident until just before the climax. With drama or action-driven stories where a lot will happen in a page or two, I often start right in the middle of such an incident, or introduce it no more than two pages in. With a novel, I'll usually get to the incident in the first or second chapter.

 

[Jackee]

At the very very very end of the first chapter something happens that Incites the inciting incident. Then in the 5, 6, 7, or 8th chapter the inciting incident will happen.I know that sounds far away but it makes complete sense in my book

 

[TheNâ„¢]

The very beginning. I don't why. It just makes you want to read more.

 

[Gerald Cline]

All stories start with a character, in a setting, with a problem. The problem part of this formula is what you call "the inciting incident." You have to let the reader know what the problem is that the character is trying to solve. In a short story this should occur within the first couple or three paragraphs. In a novel it should happen before the end of the first chapter. You can start with it, or one of the other two elements, but all three must be introduced within the time frame mentioned above.

 

[Pud]

Towards the middle of the second chapter, which is like 6 or 5k words in.

 

[???o?? ??m????d?]

The beginning-ish. I don't the reader to open the book and its like BAM! the inticing incident, without knowing what the hecks going on and who's who. But that's just me.