I keep wanting to put my inciting incident at the beginning of the story? Is this a good idea?

Question

Or, should I go back further in time and lead up to the inciting incident?

Answer 1

It is fine to put it near the beginning.

One of the best ways to structure a story is to try a story curve. Draw a rainbow arc. Start on the left side at the bottom. I call that "Ground Zero". That is your protagonist's life when things are normal. His regular routine life. He gets up, he goes to work, he mows his lawn on Saturdays, coaches his kids in Little League. Whatever is "normal" for your protagonist.

Then higher up on the rainbow, you add your conflict - starting with the inciting incident. He decides to drive to the store for groceries. (Inciting Incident) Along the way, he witnesses a murder. (Conflict)

From there, you build heading up the arc with your protagonist trying to find solutions for his conflict. He tells his wife. She tells him to go to the police. He is afraid. His wife gets a threatening phone call. Someone kidnaps his daughter at school. He buys a gun to protect himself. Whatever happens up to the climax.

Then at the very top of the rainbow goes your climax. That is the moment when antagonist and protagonist converge and something gives. In my example, the protagonist might find the hiding place and go to rescue his daughter. There is a gun battle. He is wounded but he manages to kill the antagonist.

Then down the right side, you have your descending actions. His daughter runs into his arms as he collapses. They take him to the hospital. The cops tell him he solved the murders. He helps his daughter cope.

At the bottom of the arc on the right side is "Ground Zero Plus". The protagonist returns to his life, only now it is different. He will never be the same.

Using that kind of an arc as a pattern, your inciting incident is perfectly placed.

Hope that helps. Pax - C

Answer 2

Either way could be a great way to tell a story, and many writers have used both ways to tell amazing stories. Whether you put your stories climax at the end or the beginning, it's the writing and the plot that will ultimately make the story.

Here's an idea. Give a clue at the beginning of the incident, then go back in time, lead up to the incident, and then fully explain it.

Happy writing!