Ink & Oracle

“Write Your Destiny,

One Word at a Time.”

Start Your Novel In the Middle of the Action (In Medias Res)

“The first scream shattered the silence. By the time she reached the door, the house was on fire.”

Got your attention? Good. That’s the power of a killer opening. If you’re a writer staring at a blinking cursor and thinking, How the heck do I start my story?, allow me to introduce you to your new best friend: In Medias Res.

Sounds fancy, right? Don’t worry—we’re not summoning any ancient Roman ghosts here (though that would make for an excellent opening scene). In Medias Res simply means “in the middle of things.” It’s a tried-and-true storytelling technique that skips the boring intros and thrusts readers into the middle of the action. And let me tell you, it works.

Today, we’ll break down how you can use this technique to write irresistible beginnings for your novel—and maybe even have a little fun along the way.

What Exactly Is “In Medias Res”?

Imagine you’re at a party, and someone tells you a story about their weekend. Which of these two openings keeps your interest?

Option 1: “So, I woke up on Saturday morning. It was sunny, so I thought about maybe going for a run, but instead I made some oatmeal, and then I checked my email…”
Option 2: “You’re not going to believe this, but I wrestled an alligator in a bathrobe Saturday morning.”

Option 2 wins every time. Why? Because it skips the oatmeal. In Medias Res plunges your readers right into the good stuff—the action, the conflict, or the moment when everything starts to go horribly (or hilariously) wrong. It gives us a reason to care right now.

The term comes from ancient epics like Homer’s The Iliad, where the story begins smack-dab in the middle of the Trojan War. No tedious setup. No drawn-out backstory. Just spears flying, gods meddling, and warriors already knee-deep in chaos. Readers catch up as the story unfolds—and trust me, they’re happy to do so.

Why You Should Start In Medias Res

If you’re wondering, Why can’t I just describe my protagonist’s breakfast routine and call it a day?, I hear you. But let’s talk about why In Medias Res works so brilliantly for novel beginnings:

1. It Hooks the Reader Immediately

Your opening line is a promise: “This story will be worth your time.” Starting in the middle of the action makes that promise loud and clear. Readers don’t have to wade through pages of backstory to get to the juicy part. You give them excitement and intrigue right away. They’re hooked.

2. It Raises Intriguing Questions

If your story opens with a character dangling from a cliff, readers will want to know how they got there, why they’re there, and what happens next. By starting in the middle, you invite curiosity. Readers become detectives, piecing together what’s going on—and they can’t stop until they figure it out.

3. It Avoids the Dreaded Slow Start

Let’s face it: Long-winded prologues and backstory dumps are a surefire way to lose your audience. In Medias Res eliminates the fluff and gets straight to the meat of your story. It’s like saying, “Trust me, this is worth it. Let’s go.”

4. It Fits Any Genre

This isn’t just for action-packed thrillers. You can start in the middle of emotional conflict, a mystery, a romantic misunderstanding, or even a comedic disaster. The point is to drop readers into a moment where something interesting is already happening.

Examples of In Medias Res Done Right

Need some inspiration? Here are a few famous examples of stories that nail the In Medias Res opening:

  • Homer’s The Iliad: The story begins during the Trojan War, not before it.
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: The opening scene shows Katniss preparing for the reaping. We don’t need a long explanation of her life beforehand because we’re already invested in this mysterious, ominous event.
  • The Martian by Andy Weir: The first line? “I’m pretty much f**ed.”* Mark Watney is stranded on Mars, and we’re instantly hooked.
  • Breaking Bad (TV Example): The very first episode opens with Walter White driving an RV in the desert, wearing nothing but his underwear and a gas mask. Chaos is already in motion, and we have to know why.

How to Start Your Story In Medias Res

Ready to try it yourself? Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Find Your Story’s “Inciting Incident”

The inciting incident is the moment that sets your story in motion—the day everything changes. It might not be your first scene, but it’s a great candidate for an In Medias Res opening.

  • Example: Instead of starting with your character’s boring commute, start with their car breaking down in the middle of nowhere… where something creepy is waiting.

2. Start with Conflict, Action, or Tension

This doesn’t mean explosions or sword fights (unless you’re into that). It can be emotional, comedic, or mysterious.

  • Action: “The tires skidded. Emily screamed. Then everything went black.”
  • Conflict: “‘You’re late again,’ he said, slamming the door behind him.”
  • Tension: “She had three minutes to decide: run or confess.”

3. Reveal Backstory Later

One of the biggest mistakes writers make is frontloading their story with backstory. Trust your reader to follow along. Give hints and clues as the action unfolds—they’ll appreciate the mystery.

  • Example: If you start with a character mid-escape, let us figure out why they’re running as the story progresses.

4. Keep It Focused

Starting in the middle doesn’t mean chaos for chaos’s sake. Ground your readers with a clear sense of who, what, and where, even if the why comes later.

  • Bad Example: “Explosions! Dragons! Screaming! Where am I? Who am I? WHO CARES!”
  • Good Example: “The dragon roared as Marcus ducked behind a crumbling wall. How did a simple treasure hunt turn into this?”

5. End Your Opening with a Hook

Once you’ve dropped readers into the action, don’t let up. Leave them wanting more by ending your first scene or chapter with a question, twist, or unresolved moment.

  • Example: “She thought she’d escaped… until she heard footsteps behind her.”

Try It Yourself: Interactive Challenge

Alright, writers—time to flex those creative muscles! Here’s your challenge: Rewrite the opening of your current work-in-progress (or brainstorm a new idea) using In Medias Res.

  1. Pick a moment of conflict, action, or tension from your story.
  2. Drop your reader into that moment with as little setup as possible.
  3. End on a hook that makes readers need to turn the page.

Need a push? Here’s a prompt to get you started:
“The door slammed shut behind me, and I realized two things: I wasn’t alone, and I’d left my weapon outside.”

Post your openings in the comments or share them with your writing group. Let’s see how many readers we can hook!

The Bottom Line

Your beginning is your handshake with the reader. Make it count. Starting In Medias Res is like saying, “Hold on tight, this story’s going places.” It grabs attention, raises questions, and makes readers eager to dive in.

So skip the oatmeal and start with the alligator wrestling. Your readers will thank you.

What’s Next?
Did you try the challenge? Share your rewritten openings below! I’d love to see how you’re using In Medias Res in your stories. If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out the rest of our writing technique series and subscribe for more tips, prompts, and inspiration.

Happy writing, and remember—when in doubt, start with the explosion.


Drop your In Medias Res opening in the comments

Comments

Leave a comment