Hello everyone
This month I want to talk about story structure. In particular, when a story starts.
Story is not simply a matter of what happens. There is another aspect: how that story is told. And in telling a tale:
Every story starts twice
I’ve talked about Devil in a Blue Dress in previous communiqués—the novel by Walter Mosley and the movie of the same name—and will be using this to illustrate some of the aspects I’m thinking about. Hopefully you’ve already read/watched, but if not, please be warned that there will be spoilers here.
The First Start
The first start for any story, begins at the start—on page one or in the opening frames. Not really surprising 😁
The purpose of the first start is to introduce (at least some of) the (main) characters and to set up the world of the story.
This first start begins to tell a story. This needs to be a sufficiently interesting story to keep the reader turning pages, but it is not the story. When you browse a book in a bookstore or read an extract, this is the story you will usually be reading, so it needs to be a strong enough/interesting enough story to get you to spend money.
It also needs to be a sufficiently gripping story to get you to the second start.
Devil in a Blue Dress: the First Start
The first start in Devil in a Blue Dress is when Dewitt Albright hires Easy Rawlins to find Daphne Monet.
By one-quarter of the way through the story, Easy has made enquiries and found Daphne. He has then reported her location to Albright. Ostensibly at this point the first story has ended.
There has been drama. There has been action. We have met some interesting characters. We have been introduced to the world in which Easy operates. But the story so far has been thin.
If you’ve read the book or seen the movie, you will know that much more happens in the first quarter, but in essence, this is the story thus far. The other details—most importantly, how Easy found the information he relayed to Albright—only becomes significant later in the novel.
The Inciting Incident: the Actual Start
The second time a story starts is with the inciting incident. The inciting incident is the actual start for the story (or, if you prefer, the start for the actual story).
The inciting incident is the problem the protagonist encounters which will change their life
This problem is the basis of the central conflict around which the story revolves.
The inciting incident is the event that drags the protagonist into the story (the real story). And once dragged into the story, the protagonist can’t turn back.
Once the inciting incident has been resolved, then the story has ended
Devil in a Blue Dress: Inciting Incident
Having relayed Daphne Monet’s location to Dewitt Albright, Easy Rawlins returns home where he is arrested by the police. Easy is then taken to the police station and is accused of the murder of Coretta James (from whom he elicited the information about Daphne Monet’s location).
Coretta James is a fried of Easy and, obviously, her murder is upsetting for him. But the police accusation—not the murder—is the inciting incident. The accusation starts the story. Easy doesn’t need to find the identity of the murderer. Instead, he needs to find a way to get out from under the accusation.
Only once Easy has found a way to ensure the police do not charge him with the murder will he be free. Once he has found his freedom, then the story will have ended.
Why Start Twice?
So, why start a story twice?
It’s not necessary, and indeed, some stories do have their inciting incident on the first page.
However, from a practical perspective, the first start brings context so that when the inciting incident comes, it makes sense. By first bringing in the context, the reader (or viewer) understands the stakes and cares about the character whose life is affected by the inciting incident. Without this context, it’s much harder to grip the reader.
Devil in a Blue Dress: Resolution
Around the midpoint of the story, Easy finds that he has been duped by Albright.
Albright had claimed to be working for a man called Todd Carter. However, when Easy confronts Carter, Carter denies any knowledge of Albright. Easy turns the situation to his own advantage and begins working for Carter to find Daphne Monet.
When Easy completes his work for Carter, as well as paying Easy, Carter uses his influence to smooth matters with the Police Department so that Easy is cleared of any suspicion in connection with Coretta James’s murder.
And with Easy cleared, the inciting incident has been resolved and the story is complete.
Until April
That’s me until April.
Until then, take some time to notice when you trip over the inciting incident in any book you read or movie you watch.
All the best
Simon