my inciting incident
I’m watching Never Been Kissed.
And Josie, the nerd-turned-popular-girl, was just crowned the Prom Queen.
This is her crowning moment, her own Alpine Path realized, right?
And there she is, dancing with the Prom King, the most popular guy in school. But something’s not quite right. And then you notice that the score hasn’t totally resolved and you realize it’s a fake ending.
That there’s something even better; something worth some more waiting.
She looks around at all of them, all of the attempts to be cool, to be smart, to be pretty, to be something that can be defined in one word and a pair of tight jeans, and sees the masquerade for what it is.
And then she unmasks.
It’s brave and it’s risky living and it’s what a story teller would call an inciting incident. This means that afterwards, something’s gotta change. Basically, it’s impossible to go back to life as you knew it after this takes place. One of my favorite authors, Donald Miller, says:
An inciting incident is the event in a movie that causes upheaval in the protagonist life. The protagonist, then, naturally seeks to return to stability. And in order to do that, he HAS to solve his new problem. In Taken, Liam Neeson’s daughter is kidnapped and he MUST find her. In The Grapes of Wrath, the dust bowl forces the Joad family west.
So when Josie, who’s an undercover investigator in a high school, reveals her true identity as an adult, she can no longer go back to life as she knew it. She must create a new normal. And yes, it’s a movie, and yes, it’s called Never Been Kissed, so of course her new normal involves the love of her life and the kind of kiss that makes me forget that life isn’t all sweet.
I guess my point is that I’ve just had a huge inciting incident occur. I mean, like, horrible and awful and ugly but still, that’s what it is.
Something’s gotta change. Not that it hasn’t already, but I believe there are even more changes coming. And judging from the fact that I am living with my very kind and generous parents right now, I am truly hoping there are more changes coming.
(But thanks! mom and pop…)
And whatever’s coming involves guts and moxie and (I’m hoping) the kind of stuff that makes me forget that life isn’t all sweet.
And I’m hoping that whoever’s writing my story is half as good a writer as whoever wrote Never Been Kissed. Okay, so I know He is, but I wouldn’t mind if it involved some kind of happy ending like the movie.
And a whole heck of a lot less white feather boas, pale lipstick, and curled bangs throughout.
in Thoughts and Feelings
as Donald Miller, grapes of wrath, hehas, incident, inciting incident, joad family, Josie, kind, Kissed, Liam Neeson, life, Queen, something
Of course, you KNOW that the One writing your story is way better than “half as good a writer as whoever wrote Never Been Kissed”! And He has a vested interest in your story ending well…something about redemption and bringing good out of the worst things and all that. And even if it involves some risk (which some say is how you spell “faith”) and some waiting, like it did with Josie in the movie, you can be sure it will involve a happy ending, because the Writer of your story is good and He watches over His words to make sure they come to pass.
And I know that if your story did involve white feather boas, pale lipstick, and curled bangs, you would find a way to rock it!
lol, Kathie–I’m not sure I am up to rocking those!!
Kathie said it perfectly…I can’t wait to watch ot unfold!
Um HAPPY WEDDING DAY, MY BEAUTIFUL FRIEND!!!!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
I LOVE that movie!!! And I think you have an even better ending in store for you. YES. Even better than Michael Vartan on a baseball field. I KNOW. I didn’t think it was possible either.
Even BETTER than Michael Vartan on a baseball field?!?!
bite your tongue.
Ok first, you have already had the curled bangs in your story. In fact, if I remember correctly – you (well we) have already had curled bangs with lots and lots and lots of hairspray so I think you are safe there. And secondly, Jess if anyone I know deserves a well written story with a happy ending it is you. Your happy ending is coming, I just know it! Kisses on a baseball field with a hot guy while a whole bunch of people clap for you is nothing compared to what is in store for you!!
haha–good point about the curled bangs already having played their part in my story…hopefully there’s no need for them to make a reappearance!!
whatever’s coming involves guts and moxie
Sounds like you, all right. You’re amazing. I’m glad you have friends and family all around to support you as you pursue what God has for you.
I am glad too…SOOOOOO glad…:)
So I love Never Been Kissed — what an ending! But I love the word “moxie” even better, and I think you’ve got plenty of moxie to make the most of the part you’re being given. I have no doubts about good and exciting things to come for you.
I gotta say, Michele Poplo recently reminded me of word ‘moxie’ and I fell in love with it all over again:)
And to think…the word ‘moxie’ came from a soda by the same name! Who knew?!?
no way! really?
Moxie is actually this totally disgusting soda that you can only get in New England (I think). Well, I think you can only get it in New England, but I KNOW it’s disgusting. My family would always try to get me to drink it each summer when we went to Vermont. The word is great, the soda…not so much.
ha, okay, then. I’ll stick to just using the word and refrain from drinking the soda:)
Moxie, the soda, is HORRIBLE! We had it in Vermont and it tastes like black pepper soda. And I LOVE the kiss scene on the baseball field. Michael Vartan was H-O-T!!