The Inciting Incident: How to Create an Unforgettable Call to Adventure
A character’s life is rolling along—maybe not perfectly, maybe not happily, but predictably—until suddenly, everything changes. The ground shifts beneath their feet. A door swings open, or slams shut. Someone arrives, or disappears, or delivers an ultimatum. And in that moment, the protagonist is faced with a choice: step forward into something unknown, or stay where they are and let the world move on without them.
That’s the inciting incident.
If you’ve ever felt like your book starts too slow, or if readers say “it took a while to get into it,” chances are, your inciting incident isn’t doing its job.
A slow opening is deadly in fiction. Readers aren’t patient. They might skim a few pages, but if they don’t feel a narrative pulling them forward, they’ll move on. The incident incident is irreversible moment—like a spark hitting gasoline—when the protagonist’s ordinary world goes up in metaphorical flames.
Every great story has a moment where the protagonist’s world is shattered beyond repair—when they’re forced to make a decision they’re not ready for, when the road ahead becomes unavoidable. A great inciting incident doesn’t just introduce change—it demands action.
It forces the protagonist to react, to choose, to step (or be shoved) onto a path that will define the rest of the story; catapulting them headfirst into the main conflict. Without it, your protagonist has no reason to venture beyond their comfort zone; with it, they can’t possibly remain who they were.
So how do you craft a moment that grabs the reader, shakes your protagonist’s world, and demands they take action?
Ready to create inciting incidents that truly hook your readers? Try Sudowrite now!
What Is an Inciting Incident? (And What It Isn’t)
The inciting incident is the first major turning point in the story—the moment when the protagonist’s ordinary world goes up in metaphorical flames, and the protagonist is forced (or tempted) into a new path.
It usually happens around 10–15% into the story. Too early, and readers won’t care enough about the protagonist to feel the impact. Too late, and they might lose patience waiting for something to happen.
Get Your Story Started With a Bang
Here's a quick way to think about it... The first part of the story is showing your protagonist in the ordinary world, dealing with the status quo. You don't want them sitting around; I like to have them start on a very bad day, where everything is about to change. Then something weird happens, but they ignore it for now.
They aren't ready for a new, dangerous world. They don't want an adventure, full of risky unknowns. The call to adventure is an invitation, or a slightly-widened hint that there might be more out there. It rustles against their reality uncomfortably.
It's the anxiety of the abyss.
They pursue their main task or goal, they thing they've always wanted, what they've been waiting for... but things fall apart. The thing they wanted, doesn't work out. Something goes wrong; one door is shut.
Suddenly they are questioning and doubting.
This leaves them open to imagining something new.
In the examples below, I should point out that not all story structures are the same, and there's a lot of confusion between an inciting incident (call to adventure) and a first plot point (point of no return).
And while most popular stories have these, deciding exactly what does or doesn't quality from this or that story, is a challenge. So we may not agree on specific examples, and that's OK.
Examples of Powerful Inciting Incidents
- The Hunger Games – Katniss volunteers as tribute.
- Jurassic Park – Paleontologists Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler are invited by John Hammond to tour his revolutionary theme park featuring real dinosaurs.
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – Hagrid tells Harry he’s a wizard.
- Great Expectations – Young Pip encounters an escaped convict who forces him to steal food and a file, setting off events that shape his destiny.
- The Hobbit – Bilbo gets an unexpected party and an invitation to adventure.
- Pride and Prejudice – Darcy insults Elizabeth at the ball, igniting the conflict that will define their relationship.
- Breaking Bad – Walter White is diagnosed with cancer, setting him on the path to becoming Heisenberg.
- The Count of Monte Cristo – Edmond Dantès is falsely accused of treason and arrested on his wedding day, igniting his quest for vengeance.
- Spider-Man – Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider during a field trip, dramatically altering his life and launching his superhero journey.
If your story lacks a clear inciting incident, your protagonist doesn’t have that essential push to transform. The moment must create new stakes, new direction, and a sense that there’s no going back.
For me personally, this means burning bridges. The inciting incident/call to adventure is a mix of their real life falling apart, their hopes and dreams dashed, and an unexpected and mysterious appearance of an otherness they can't explain.
It's the stirrings of discontent.
The 1st plot point/point of no return is when they are more physically and permanently committed to the new path which the inciting incident alluded to.
Harry's letter, refusing to believe it (and being prohibited against it); then Hogwarts. Katniss raises her hand (forced into action); but then has time to say goodbye before boarding the train to Panem.
The first draws back the bow with tension.
The second releases the arrow.
If you’re looking for more guidance on jump‑starting your narrative, consider our article: How to Start Your Story: The Ordinary World, the Hook, and the Art of Making Readers Care.
What Makes a Strong Inciting Incident?
A great inciting incident isn’t just any big event. It needs to meet three criteria:
- It disrupts the protagonist’s world.
- Something meaningful has to happen—something that’s impossible for the protagonist to ignore.
- It Demands a Decision.
- The protagonist must react—whether they want to or not. They can’t just drift along. Even if they resist the call, they’re forced to confront it head-on.
- It Ties Into the Larger Conflict.
- A random fender-bender might complicate your hero’s day, but if it doesn’t connect to the main plot, it’s not a proper inciting incident. It must foreshadow or directly trigger the core story.
Take The Lion King. Scar orchestrates Mufasa’s death, forcing Simba into exile and beginning his journey toward reclaiming his identity and throne. That’s the inciting incident—it shatters his world, forces a reaction (he runs away), and sets up the rest of the story.
Compare that to The Matrix. Neo gets a cryptic message: Follow the white rabbit. That’s not the inciting incident—it’s just a hint of the journey ahead. The real moment is when he meets Morpheus and is offered the red pill or blue pill. That’s when his life truly changes forever.
For more on the structural elements that support your story’s momentum, see our guide on Plotting Your Novel: Three-Act, Four-Act, and Every Other Structure That Works (and Why You Need One).
An inciting incident is not:
- A random event that doesn’t connect to the main plot.
- A minor inconvenience the protagonist can easily ignore.
- A slow buildup that doesn’t change anything immediately.
It’s the moment when the story actually begins.
Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
1. Nothing Actually Happens
If your protagonist could ignore the event and carry on, it’s not an inciting incident—it’s a minor inconvenience. Real inciting incidents force action or introspection that changes the hero’s trajectory.
2. It’s Too Small
A petty annoyance won’t cut it. Make it big enough to rattle your character. If this event doesn’t dramatically alter their life or perspective, readers won’t buy into its significance. A good test: if your protagonist could shrug and walk away, raise the stakes.
3. It Feels Disconnected
The inciting incident should seamlessly lead into the story’s main conflict. If you introduce a dramatic event that never ties back to your overarching plot, it’ll feel like a detour rather than the true beginning.
Tip: If your novel is about a spy uncovering a global conspiracy, the inciting incident might be her stumbling across a cryptic file that hints at said conspiracy. That event is a direct gateway to the bigger story.
If your book is about a detective solving a murder, the inciting incident shouldn’t be them having a bad day at work—it should be discovering the body or taking the case.
Should Your Protagonist Accept the Call Immediately?
In The Hero’s Journey, the protagonist often resists the call before accepting it.
- Bilbo Baggins: “I can’t go on an adventure!” (But he does.)
- Luke Skywalker: “I can’t leave Tatooine!” (But then his aunt and uncle are murdered, and he has no choice.)
This is because, if things just go the way the protagonist wanted, there wouldn't be any surprise or drama; and if the thing happens, we won't believe or understand why the characters should feel any way about it. The hero who wants it, doesn't deserve it. You can add easy arbitrary tension to your story by forbidding a thing before it happens: it's against the rules; it's impossible, I could never - build a wall that has to be smashed through, and you'll have generated a ton of momentum and conflict.
Sometimes, a protagonist chooses to enter the story. But usually, they’re dragged in kicking and screaming (the midpoint is where they start making conscious decisions). Either way, the inciting incident should force them to react—whether that’s running toward the adventure or away from it.
And if you’re looking for some fresh ideas to spark your characters’ names and identities along the way, check out The Ultimate Character Name Generators for endless inspiration!
How to Write an Inciting Incident That Grabs Readers
If your story feels slow, if readers say “it took a while to get interesting,” it’s probably because your inciting incident isn’t strong enough. Here’s how to fix that.
1. Make It Personal
The inciting incident hits hardest when it’s deeply personal to the protagonist.
- John Wick isn’t just about a stolen car. It works because the dog was the last thing his wife left him.
- The Hunger Games wouldn’t work if Katniss was randomly chosen—it works because she volunteers to save her sister.
The stronger the emotional pull, the stronger the impact.
But also, they didn't ask for this. It happens to them. First you have to show what they love and why, or what they want and why, before we will have any kind of emotions or know how to feel about this sudden interruption.
2. Make It Unavoidable
A weak inciting incident is one the protagonist could ignore. A strong one demands a response.
- Dracula – Jonathan Harker must go to Transylvania for work.
- The Godfather – Michael Corleone wants nothing to do with the family business… but when his father is nearly killed, he has no choice.
The best inciting incidents corner the protagonist.
3. Make It Raise a Story Question
A great inciting incident creates intrigue—it makes the reader wonder, What happens next?
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – A journalist is offered a strange job investigating a decades-old disappearance.
- The Da Vinci Code – A cryptic message is found next to a dead body in the Louvre.
Readers should feel compelled to keep going because they need answers.
Hot tip: Some authors screw this up by overexplaining and telling readers why everything is happening. Information should never be given out freely; the more important it is, the more you must resist sharing it.
4. Make It a Ticking Clock
A sense of urgency makes an inciting incident even stronger.
- Speed – A bus will explode if it slows down.
- Titanic – The ship will sink, and time is running out.
A ticking clock forces the protagonist to act now.
How to Tell If Your Inciting Incident Works
Ask yourself:
- Does it disrupt the protagonist’s world?
- Does it force a reaction or decision?
- Does it connect to the larger conflict?
- Does it hook the reader—making them need to know what happens next?
If you answered yes to all four, your inciting incident is solid. If not, it might need tweaking.
Final Thoughts: Make It Unforgettable
Think of the inciting incident as the initial meeting between the main character's current status quo existence, and the new world or experience or adventure that's calling her name. Once it hits, your protagonist can’t just go back to business as usual; they have already been disturbed.
This moment is why your story exists. If you deliver it with emotional punch and high stakes, readers will be hooked for the long haul.
- Disrupt their world.
- Dangle an impossible choice.
- Hint at larger stakes.
Do that, and you’ll have readers flipping pages, eager to see how your hero navigates the chaos you’ve unleashed. Because, at that fateful moment, the protagonist’s old life ends—and a new, far more perilous one begins.
If the inciting incident is weak, the entire first act will feel slow. If it’s strong, readers won’t be able to put the book down.
So make it big. Make it personal. Make it impossible to ignore.
Ready to create inciting incidents that truly hook your readers? Try Sudowrite now!
Congratulations, you've written a novel! It's a huge accomplishment and you should be very proud of yourself.
If this is your first book, you're probably wondering, “What comes next?”
Here's where you have two choices. You can put the book aside, and pat yourself on the back for your achievements. Or, you can publish it and put it out there for the world to see. If you go for the latter, there's the question of traditional vs hybrid vs self-publishing methods.
If you don't want to spend weeks, months, or even years querying, self-publishing is your best bet.
Most indie authors, including myself, self-publish today, and for good reason. It allows you to get your book to market (and in the hands of readers, yay!) quickly and efficiently. You just need to learn the steps.
Give Sudowrite a try to streamline your process!
It might seem overwhelming at first, but I promise you: you got this!
Get Feedback
Once your book is written, it's time for the nerve-wracking, nail-biting feedback stage.
It can seem daunting to turn your story over to someone else, especially if it's your first. But, feedback is critical to improving your story. After all, you know you like it, but there are important questions to be answered.
Does it fit the genre?
Will it make sense to your readers?
Does it have all the elements you need for a successful romance novel?
So where do you get feedback? Believe it or not, it's not necessarily from your friends or family members. Sure, they'll often support your endeavors, but if they don't read romance novels on a regular basis, they aren't your target audience and they can't give you the insight you need. That's why you need alpha and beta readers.
But wait …what are those, you ask? Let's dive right into it.
Alpha Readers
Alpha readers are those who read your book before it goes to editing. You might be asking, but why have someone look at it in its rough stages? This is exactly when you want eyes on it, before you spend money on editing.
Alpha readers are an incredible asset and their role is to provide feedback on the story as a whole—the bigger picture, so to speak. They should point out any major issues in character development, plot holes, or the story structure.
Beta Readers
Beta readers come after you've made revisions based on your alpha readers' suggestions. They will look at the bigger picture of the story, which will be less involved than what an alpha would do.
Beta readers tend to be actual readers, where alpha readers are often (but not always) writers themselves.
Need help polishing your draft? Check out Sudowrite’s feedback features!
Put it Through its Editing Paces
You're going to hear this a lot, but it's so true: do not skip the editing stage. It's tedious, it's heartbreaking at times, especially when you have editors trying to kill off your darlings, but it's 100% necessary.
The last thing you want is reviews rolling in talking about typos, grammatical errors such as tense changes, and poor writing structure when it could all be avoided by a good editor.
Finding a Good Editor
Good editors are worth the money you pay them. They can be pricy, and many follow the Editorial Freelancers Association's set rates, though you can often find ones just starting out who offer a discount.
During your search, though, you want to find someone who specializes in romance. This is important, because they need to understand your genre and the tropes involved. That's the only way they can edit your story while still keeping important structure and elements involved.
Most editors will offer to do a small sample. You want this. Not only does it give the editor an idea of what they're working with, it also gives you an idea of their editing style. That way, both of you can decide if you're a good fit.
You might not be. That's okay! Keep looking. You’ll eventually find someone whose style resonates with your voice.
One other thing to look for, particularly during the sample edit stage, is how the editor approaches your work. They should never attempt to change your voice. That's uniquely you and what will set you apart from other authors.
Enhance your editing process with Sudowrite’s revision suggestions!
Be warned, though, many editors keep their schedules booked up, so it could take a bit to squeeze you in, so reach out and get your name on the schedule as early as possible.
ARC Readers
Once it's gone through editing and before your book goes live on whatever platform you decide to publish on (more on that in a few), you want to develop an ARC team.
ARC stands for advanced reader copy. Authors send them out to their team, which is made up of readers who specialize in your genre. They're familiar with the tropes and the story structure, and avidly devour books.
The point of your ARC team is to leave reviews on the day your book goes live and help boost your standing on the platform you publish. When you first start out, your team will likely be very small, unless you've developed a following, which is very possible if you put your marketing magic to work.
Use Sudowrite to create captivating ARC announcements and updates!
But what if I don't have any?
I've got some news for you. There are many readers out there who would jump at the chance to be an ARC reader, to read stories before they're officially released. You just have to know where to find them!
There are many groups on social media, or if you have your own following already, you can reach out to them.
To track your ARC readers, I suggest creating a form (Airtable and Google Forms are both good for this) and have them apply to be on your team. Ask for basic information, such as where to send the ARC copy if they're approved. Make sure you provide a synopsis of the story and any trigger warnings, if necessary. Don't send your readers in blind!
Equally important is to create short, but simple rules to follow, such as:
- Defining a timeframe for posting a review
- Guidelines for if they choose to not finish or post less than a 4-star review
I suggest you be very particular about who you distribute ARCs to. You want them to be familiar with your genre and what to expect out of it. For example, if you write dark romance, you don't want an ARC reader who only reads clean romance. They will be in for a shock, and so will you when that review comes through.
Choose Your Platform
Now comes the hard part. Where do you publish?
To answer that question, you have to first determine your target audience and your structure. Will you publish it by chapter on serial sites or AO3, or will you put the entire novel out at once?
Each platform has its pros and cons, it's up to you to determine which best serves your needs. Do you just want to put your work out there for others, or do you want to monetize it? The answer to this question will determine which platform you publish on.
Serial Sites
Serialized stories do well on sites like Wattpad, Radish Fiction, AO3, and Patreon. Patreon and Wattpad have monetization options. Radish Fiction is a mobile app where approved authors earn royalties, which can be significant if you gain a large following. AO3 is purely for entertainment, largely consisting of fan fiction, and cannot be monetized.
Amazon/Kindle
Then we come to Kindle Direct Publishing, KDP, which is the most popular route indie authors take. You format and upload your book, and readers can either purchase your eBook, paperback, or hardcover, or read your eBook with their Kindle Unlimited (KU) subscription. You will earn royalties based on the book price for purchases and pages read (KENP) for the KDP Select program, which is where you enroll your book in KU.
Note of importance: If you enroll in KDP Select, you cannot sell your eBook on any other sites for at least 90 days, per the program's terms.
Let Sudowrite help you prepare your manuscript for any platform!
IngramSpark
Ingram Spark is another publishing company where indie authors can upload their work. If you want your books to end up in stores, this is one of the places to be. Bookstores and retailers can order direct.
Draft2digital
Draft2digital is a self-publishing platform that makes it easy to distribute wide and reach more readers. It also distributes eBooks to several platforms (as long as you're not in KDP Select).
Properly Format Your Manuscript
Now, it's time to learn new software!
Before you can upload your manuscript, you need to first properly format it. Each platform has its own specifications and if not done correctly, it can result in delays.
The platform could reject your book until it's fixed, or sometimes it gets published as-is and makes for a poor reader experience. Neither of these is fun and many authors have gone through one or both.
Consider it a learning curve, just like everything else in the self-publishing industry!
That begs the question, though, how do we format our books? With the proper software.
Popular options like Vellum, Scrivener, and Atticus are available for a nominal fee. You can also use the free tools available through KDP, Draft2digital, or IngramSpark to save money if you're not ready to invest in software just yet.
Discover how Sudowrite can simplify your formatting process!
Our article, The Cost of Words: Write will offer some insights on driving efficiency while formatting with Sudowrite.
Craft a Compelling Blurb
It's time to use your words again!
You've written a compelling story, now you need an amazing blurb to go along with it. Like your story, it needs a captivating hook that grabs the reader's attention right away. If they get sucked into the description, they are more likely to want to read your book, especially since they are going in blind, knowing nothing about it.
Let's take a look at an example:
Seven years ago, Jennifer left Strong Valley, hoping never to return.
From this, we get the gist that Jennifer left the town, but is it really intriguing? It might spark a bit of curiosity, but it's not grabbing most readers.
It's not AI writing. It's writing with AI.
Now, let's try this:
Driven out by angry townspeople, Jennifer fled Strong Valley seven years ago, determined to never look back.
Now, we know there's a story behind her leaving. What is it? We don't know, but it had to be bad if the townspeople drove her away. That line makes us want to read more and that's how you should strive to catch your readers. But, don't pull a bait and switch. Make sure the blurb is accurate to the story.
Give a very brief introduction to your characters, their individual and shared conflict, but don't give away the farm! I've seen authors give away the entire plot in the story in their blurb, and it kind of takes away the interest of wanting to read. After all, why dive into 300 or more pages when you already know what's going to happen?
Use Sudowrite to craft blurbs that hook your readers instantly!
How long should your blurb be? As long as you need to get the point across and draw reader interest. A few short, well-crafted sentences is all you need.
Now, if you are just getting started, don't forget to read our blog The Power of Premise: How to Start with a Strong Story Idea.
Get a Cover Made
First impressions count!
Some readers will pass your book up just because they don't like the cover. And while you can't please everyone, you should make sure your cover hits specific notes. It should have:
- An eye-catching design
- A design that represents your genre
When it comes to cover design, you have two options. You can outsource it, which is what many do. Or, if you have design skills, you can create your own. If it's a design you know you can pull off, go for it.
Make sure your title and author name are prominent, but they shouldn't overshadow the design. This is a delicate balance to keep.
If you plan to offer your book as a paperback and hardcover, you'll need to create or have them created, as well. The publishing platforms can help you figure out what dimensions they need to be, which is often contingent on page count, so you'll need to have the book completed first.
Paperback and hardcover covers will have your blurb on the back, along with a space for your ISBN and barcode.
Publish It
Once you've got it written, edited, formatted, and have a cover ready to go, it's time to publish!
You'll need to enter all of your book's information, such as its title, description (your blurb), categories, and keywords.
Then, it's time to set the date. You can publish your book immediately or set up a future date to encourage pre-orders.
If you're a first-time author, publishing immediately might be your best option. Otherwise, setting up for pre-orders can help boost your standing on release day, but you need to make sure you have the files uploaded in time. Each of the platforms lists their guidelines for setting a pre-order.
Market the Book
In the weeks and days leading up to your book's release, you want a strong focus on marketing. If this is your first, you might not go as ambitious as you would if it were your second or third, unless you've built up a following.
Social media is a must if you plan to market. It's also a great way to show off your books and engage with your readers.
It's also worth learning how to promote using Amazon ads (if applicable) and running campaigns on the various social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, to name a few.
If you have an email list built up, you can send teasers through newsletters. Make sure you include a link to your book!
Final Thoughts
Despite the intricacies, self-publishing isn't really that hard, it just takes a little bit of know-how! Once you learn the steps, your future books will be even easier to publish.
If you want help putting your novel together or coming up with compelling blurbs, keywords, or marketing strategies, check out the various tools in Sudowrite. From brainstorming to publishing, there's a feature for every author.
Get to your final draft, faster
Our Write feature can generate your next 100-500 words in your style, helping you finish drafts in record time. Choose from multiple options. Edit as you like.
Polish without losing your voice
Using Rewrite, you can refine your prose and still be your unique self, by choosing from multiple AI-suggested revisions designed to capture your voice.
Paint descriptions with more pop
Describe helps you make sure readers feel like they’re really there, proposing new ideas for enriching scenes — whenever some are needed.
Build out scenes with ease
With Expand, you can smoothly and quickly build out scenes, slow pacing, and add immersive detail, all without breaking your flow.
Effortlessly outline your story
Story Bible gets you from idea to outline in a flash, helping you structure plot, character arcs, and themes — step-by-step.
Revise faster with instant feedback
Sudowrite’s Feedback tool delivers AI-powered suggestions for improvement on demand, as often as you need, and without complaint. Make room, beta readers.
Banish writers block – forever!
Creative prompts from Brainstorm keep you flowing, and the tool learns more about how you think, the more you use it. Bye bye, blinking cursor.