As a developmental editor beginning a new manuscript, I am always on the lookout for the inciting incident. This is the story event that tips the protagonist out of the everyday world and into the specific arc of the story. Among other things, an inciting incident can: Establish genre (murder mysteries and romance stories, for example, kick off quite differently) Suggest what kind of story this will be (tragic, comic, inspirational, etc.) Apply dramatic imperative (the character better undertake the story, or else…) Create crucible of story (a time element that ratchets up tension) Define the protagonist’s goal (the desire that will compel the character to undertake the journey) Perhaps define the antagonist’s goal Raise a story question strong enough to keep the reader turning pages With all that potency, the inciting incident is the cornerstone of story structure. Experienced storytellers build from it; rookie authors trip over it and send their stories in any number of un...