Many stories begin with a character finding themselves at a crossroads, and making a decision that forever alters the course of their journey. This moment is called an “inciting incident,” and it’s an important ingredient for building a story arc and setting it in motion.

The inciting incident often happens before the first plot point, and it can be caused by many different situations. In this post, we’ll look at five common types of inciting incidents that can inspire you to start your own story.

1. Personal setbacks or tragedies

One of the most common call-to-action moments for a character is when they experience a personal setback or tragedy. This could be a natural disaster that forces them out of their native country, a jail sentence for a crime they didn’t commit, a serious illness that makes them reconsider their entire life. Whatever the reason, what matters most is that it puts the character on a journey to seek forgiveness, peace, justice, or a resolution of some kind.

For example, in Wild by Cheryl Strayed the inciting incident occurs after a period of struggling with sex addiction and drug abuse, culminating in an unwanted pregnancy. That’s the catalyst that prompts her to embark on a 3-month long journey of hiking the PCT trail in search of her long-lost inner strength. If you’re writing a memoir yourself, make sure to identify your inciting incident (or find a ghostwriter to help you out.)

2. Surprising discoveries

Another popular technique for launching a story is to have your character stumble upon something unexpected that significantly alters their perception of themselves and/or of their world. It could be a mysterious ring bestowing extraordinary power, a time-traveling machine, or a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.

This type of inciting incident is often used in fantasy novels: think about when Harry Potter realizes he’s a wizard, Eragon finds a sapphire-colored dragon egg, Spider-Man gets bitten by a radioactive spider that gives him powers, or when Lucy stumbles upon a snowy forest through the wardrobe, discovering the world of Narnia. Once these discoveries are made, there’s no turning back for the characters 一 their path is changed forever.

3. Random encounters

A character’s journey can also be shaped by an unexpected encounter that holds greater significance than the protagonist initially anticipates. One classic trope is the “meet cute” in romance novels, where two soon-to-be-lovers meet for the first time. However, there are other examples: imagine a character running into a former friend while grocery shopping, leading them to confront an uncomfortable part of their past. Or perhaps receiving a mysterious manuscript from a random stranger, or finding a scared puppy on the street and feeling responsible to care for it 一 and embarking on a journey because of it.  

Toni Morrison‘s Beloved, for instance, has the protagonist Sethe meet a sick young woman at her doorstep upon returning home, and decides to care for her. But, unbeknownst to her, Beloved’s presence forces her to revisit her past as a former slave, and deal with her own trauma and memories.

4. Forbidden places or objects

For writers in the mystery, thriller, or crime genres, a frequent inciting incident revolves around the main character stumbling upon a cursed location or object that they should avoid, yet find themselves irresistibly drawn to explore. This could entail a haunted mansion, a prohibited manuscript with a dark history, or even an enigmatic individual that piques the character’s curiosity, leading them to follow them around to discover their secrets.

Taking the example of Stephen King’s novel The Shining, Jack decides to be the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, despite its ghastly history of driving its previous caretakers mad. His determination to push the boundaries and enter the cursed place anyway leads to a series of events and consequences that change his (and his family’s) life forever.

5. Betrayal

Finally, another common type of inciting incident is when there’s a betrayal of trust, which serves as a catalyst to make a character (or an entire group of people) seek revenge and reevaluate personal and social dynamics. Whether the betrayal happens between lovers, business co-founders, or Medieval counties, the protagonist’s burning desire to right the wrongs is what sets the story in motion.

For example, in George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones, Ned Stark is betrayed by his confidant Littlefinger while trying to help his daughters flee King’s Landing, which results in Ned’s incarceration and decapitation. In response, the North declares independence from the Seven Kingdoms, triggering a brutal war and power struggle.

Not all stories require an inciting incident. In certain novels, particularly in literary fiction, the emphasis lies more on prose, style, and character rather than story development. However, if you are reading this article, it is likely that your story would benefit from having one. So, I hope this article will help you find some inspiration to craft your own. Set a quick timer and brainstorm how your character could be jolted into action in one of these five ways — you can always change the details later, but I hope thinking about how each type can be applied to your story will help you stir your character from inaction to action.

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Rose Atkinson-Carter is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace and blog that helps authors with everything from finding the best writing software to how to make an audiobook and everything in between.