The Moment It All Goes Wrong: Crafting a Compelling Inciting Incident

In speculative fiction, the rules of the world might be unfamiliar—but the moment that shatters your protagonist’s status quo should hit like a thunderclap. Whether it’s a prophecy gone wrong, a portal opening, or a quiet discovery that changes everything, your inciting incident is where the story truly begins. This session dives into the art of disruption: the spark that knocks your protagonist off balance and demands they respond. Through hands-on exercises and candid guidance, we’ll explore:

• What makes a compelling inciting incident
• Creating stakes and tension
• Connecting your inciting incident to genre expectations

You’ll leave with a sharper sense of your story’s emotional engine—and a beginning that grabs your reader and doesn’t let go. Ideal for writers at any stage of drafting or revising. Come turn your "what if?" into "what now?"