How to Structure the First Act of a Novel: The Setup

Act I encompasses the first twenty-five percent of the novel. It’s everything between the hook and the kick-off of the second act, including the inciting incident, but unfortunately, it’s misunderstood.

The purpose of the Setup is to establish the story’s premise. It answers the “what is this going to be about?” question. It’s a working part of the story, and it whets our appetite for more.