The writer should have a good sense of rhythm and pacing. He might find sluggish episodes that do not fall into place, dragging the story without adding anything to the development. In instances wherein an episode begins to slow, the writer may use a quick, inciting incident to pick up the slack and jolt the reader back into excitement.

From the term itself, quick or flash incidents need to be abrupt—an unexpected episode in what appears to be a lagging scene, but the writer feels its inclusion is necessary. The flash incident opens the reader into new developments or an extra situation that does not burden the scene with unnecessary information. Flash incidents are often the by-product of a character’s past that comes back to haunt him.

Story: The adventures of Wesley North, gigolo extraordinaire. He is a top dog in the field of high-class male escorting service. He preys on wealthy, aging women who need companionship. He has finally met a young woman he truly loves. They settle in Paris for good, where he uses the money he earned from gigolo work to open a restaurant. His wife is a top civil lawyer.

Flash incidents crop up from a character’s past—often as the result of his actions from a past job or decision. It works like karma wherein there is a corresponding payback, positive or negative, depending on what the character had done.

The flash incident: As Wesley was about to close the restaurant for the night, his wife drops by. He prepares a table for two and pours a glass of wine as they unwind and talk about how their particular day went. “The restaurant in the heart of Paris is the most exciting place to be,” Wesley said. “Here you can see action, romance, drama—the whole genre of movies except that it’s real. Today, a man proposed to his girlfriend with a string quartet backing him up. But you know what? The girl was so overwhelmed that she didn’t know what to say! You won’t believe what happened next.” “Okay, so tell me,” his wife said. “She walks out on him, leaving all the customers feeling sorry for the guy!” The restaurant’s door opens, and a tall man in a fedora hat and trench coat walked in. “Sorry, we’re closed,” Wesley said. The man pulled out a revolver and said, “My wife still says your name whenever I make love to her!” Wesley hides behind his wife and begs the man not to shoot.

The flash incident, though unexpected, is a possibility that the reader would buy. On account that the reader is aware of the character’s background, these unplanned, jolting episodes serve as a welcome interruption to clean up dull scenes. The writer must be mindful of using this technique only when he feels that a scene is lagging and requires a boosting incident. The flash incident must happen only in a particular episode. Once it happens, it must serve its purpose and must not affect the entire plot.