Jacquelin Cangro

You can polish the paint, tune the engine, and line up on the starting grid—but your novel doesn’t actually move until something forces it forward. That moment is your inciting incident—the spark that ignites the engine of your entire plot.

That spark causes the emotional ground beneath your protagonist’s feet to shift, after which nothing will be the same. A well-placed inciting incident doesn’t just hook readers: it powers everything that follows. Without it, even beautiful prose can feel like the story is idling in neutral.

Let’s look at how to make that moment accelerate your plot. 

Monica Cox

This article was originally published in WriteOn! Spring 2023 edition

Beta readers are an important part of a writer’s revision process. After we draft and revise a manuscript, our characters and story worlds become a part of us. As a result, it can be difficult to recognize when important elements haven’t made it onto the page for the reader. Here is where a beta reader—an early reader acting as a stand-in for your eventual target reader—can help.

Despite the number of people in your book club or social circle offering to read your manuscript, be selective when choosing beta readers. You want actionable feedback. For instance, your mom might be an avid reader, but she’s going to tell you everything you do is wonderful. If you want an ego boost, send your manuscript to her. But if you want constructive criticism to improve your craft, you must be more discerning.