A woman wakes up handcuffed in the back of a van speeding through the city. We don’t know who she is, how she got there, or what happens next – but we immediately want answers. This is in medias res, a storytelling tool where the narrative begins in the middle of action, as opposed to being at the chronological start.
Used by everyone from Homer to modern screenplay writers, in medias res helps us writers capture attention from the get-go. By dropping readers into a moment of conflict, tension, or uncertainty, it creates curiosity and encourages them to stick with the story as it reveals more and more.
Today at What We Writing, we’re showing exactly what in medias res means, why it’s such an effective narrative technique, how it differs from other tools like flashbacks, and how to use it effectively in your own WIPs. We’ll also get into some of the most famous examples of in medias res from the literary, film, and television worlds so you can see this technique in action.
What Is In Medias Res?
In medias res is a narrative technique where a story starts in the middle of the action rather than at the chronological beginning. Rather than starting with background information, character introductions, or world-building, the writer drops the audience at the heart of an important moment and reveals the missing context later.
As an example, a story may open with a character running from danger before they have the chance to reveal who they are, what they’re running from, or how this situation came about. This approach generates immediate intrigue and encourages your readers to continue reading to uncover the full story.
In Medias Res Meaning
The phrase in medias res originates from Latin and translates to “into the middle of things.” The term was first coined by Roman poet Horace to describe stories that begin amid ongoing events, rather than from the very beginning.
Whilst the phrase itself is ancient, the technique is still just as popular today as ever before. In medias res is still a favoured technique for writers, screenwriters, and filmmakers to use to create tension, raise questions, and capture the audience’s attention from the opening scene.
How Do You Pronounce In Medias Res?
The most popular pronunciation is in MED-ee-us Rays. Knowing the Latin pronunciation isn’t important for using the technique, but understanding the term can help when it comes to studying literature, creative writing, or narrative structure.
At its heart, in medias res is all about one thing: starting where the story becomes interesting and filling in the gaps later on.
Why Writers Use In Medias Res
Writers lean on in medias res because it captures attention from the very start. Rather than wasting your valuable first scenes on backstory or exposition, the technique places readers directly into a moment of action, conflict, or uncertainty.
Creates Immediate Tension
When a story opens in the middle of an important event, readers are immediately aware that something significant is happening. This creates tension and encourages them to keep reading to see what happens next.
Hooks Readers Fast
Modern readers have countless distractions all vying for their attention. Starting in the middle of the action helps writers make a strong first impression and quickly establish momentum.
Avoids Lengthy Exposition
Rather than explaining every detail upfront, authors can reveal information steadily as the story develops. This keeps the narrative moving whilst allowing the audience to learn about the characters and world naturally.
Makes Readers Ask Questions
Perhaps most importantly, in medias res generates curiosity. Readers immediately start asking questions: Who is this character? What happened before this moment? Why are these events unfolding?
Psychologists refer to this as the information gap – the natural human urge to find missing pieces of knowledge. By creating that gap, in medias res provides us with a good reason to keep on turning the pages.
How In Medias Res Works
At first glance, in medias res may seem a little complex; thankfully, this storytelling technique does follow a simple pattern. Rather than beginning at the start of the story, writers place readers in the middle of an important event and reveal the missing data over time.
A traditional narrative typically follows this structure:
Beginning → Middle → End
An in medias res story may look more like something like this:
Middle → Earlier Context → Continue Forward
To ensure this works effectively, writers normally follow four key steps:
1. Begin with Action
Start with a moment of conflict, danger, tension, or change. The opening scene needs to immediately grab the reader’s attention and make them want to know more.
2. Introduce a Mystery
Don’t explain everything off the bat. Leave some unanswered questions in the air about the characters, situation, or events unfolding before them.
3. Reveal Context Gradually
As the story progresses, provide the backstory readers need to understand what’s happening. This information can be revealed through dialogue, flashbacks, memories, or exposition.
4. Resolve Unanswered Questions Later
The questions raised in the opening should eventually be answered. The satisfaction of discovering how the story came to that first point is one of the reasons why in medias res is so effective.
When used well, this technique creates curiosity from the first page and keeps readers hooked as they piece together the missing parts.
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6 Famous Examples Of In Medias Res
One of the best ways of understanding in medias res is to see how the best writers and screenwriters utilise it. In each of these examples, the audience is dumped right into the heart of an ongoing situation and must piece together the missing context as the story unfolds.
The Odyssey
Homer’s The Odyssey does not begin with Odysseus setting sail for Troy or even with the end of the Trojan War. Rather, the poem opens nearly two decades on from his departure from home, with Odysseus stranded on the island of Ogygia and his family struggling in Ithaca.
At first, the audience misses much of the hero’s journey. Through conversations, flashbacks, and stories delivered by Odysseus himself, they gradually learn about the encounters with the Cyclops, Circe, the Sirens, and other adventures.
This approach allows Homer to begin with an urgent situation while slowly revealing the events that led there, creating both suspense and narrative momentum.
The Iliad
Rather than telling the complete story of the Trojan War, The Iliad opens during the final year of the conflict. The audience enters the story in the middle of a dispute between Achilles and Agamemnon, long after the war has already begun.
As the audience, we’re initially missing the cause of the war and the many events that preceded the conflict. Homer provides this context through references, dialogue, and the audience’s existing knowledge of Greek mythology.
By focusing on a crucial turning point as opposed to the beginning, Homer creates immediate drama and concentrates the narrative on its most emotionally significant events.
Breaking Bad
The pilot episode of Breaking Bad opens with a chaotic sequence in the New Mexico desert. Wearing just his underwear and a gas mask, Walter White drives an RV at high speed with unconscious passengers in the back.
As the audience, we’ve got no idea who Walter is, how he ended up in this position, or what has gone wrong. The episode then jumps back in time and steadily reveals the chain of events that led up to this moment.
This technique works because it creates instant curiosity. We are compelled to keep watching to understand how an ordinary chemistry teacher wound up in such extraordinary circumstances.
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins begins The Hunger Games on the morning of the Reaping rather than with a lengthy explanation of Panem’s history. We meet Katniss as she prepares for a day that will change her life forever.
At this point, many details about the Capitol, the districts, and the Games remain unexplained. Collins reveals this information naturally through Katniss’ thoughts, observations, and experiences.
The result is an opening that balances action and world-building, pulling the audience into the story before delivering the broader political context.
Fight Club
Both the novel and film adaptation of Fight Club open with the narrator standing at the top of a building while Tyler Durden holds a gun in his mouth. The audience immediately gets into a high-stakes moment without any explanation.
Questions soon emerge: Who are these characters? Why are they in this situation? How did they get here?
The story then moves backwards to fill in the missing details. This structure creates suspense because readers know the narrative is heading toward the dramatic scene they witnessed at the very beginning.
Star Wars: A New Hope
Star Wars: A New Hope opens in the middle of an ongoing galactic conflict. Rebel forces are already fighting the Empire, Princess Leia is already carrying secret plans, and Darth Vader is already hunting the rebellion.
The audience receives very little explanation upfront. Instead, the world, politics, and history of the galaxy are revealed through dialogue, action, and character interactions.
By beginning during an active conflict rather than explaining years of backstory, the film instantly establishes stakes, momentum, and intrigue – demonstrating precisely why in medias res remains one of the most timeless techniques in storytelling.
In Medias Res Vs Flashbacks
Whilst in medias res and flashbacks are often used together, they aren’t quite the same thing.
In medias res is a narrative structure that determines where the story begins. On the other hand, a flashback is a narrative device used to show events that happened before the current point in the story.
| In Medias Res | Flashback |
| Starts the story in the middle of the action | Returns to an earlier event after the story has begun |
| A narrative structure | A narrative device |
| Creates immediate engagement and curiosity | Provides context, backstory, or explanation |
| Shapes the overall opening of a story | Can appear anywhere in a story |
| Raises questions for the audience | Answers questions for the audience |
The two techniques often work together. In fact, many stories that begin in medias res later use flashbacks to explain how the characters arrived at the opening situation.
For example, Breaking Bad begins in medias res with Walter White driving an RV through the desert. The episode then effectively “flashes back” to earlier events, revealing how he ended up there. The opening structure creates mystery, while the later scenes provide the context required to understand it.
A simple way to remember the difference is this: in medias res asks questions, while flashbacks answer them. One pulls the audience into the story; the other helps fill in the missing gaps.
In Medias Res Vs Nonlinear Storytelling
Many writers use the terms in medias res and nonlinear storytelling interchangeably, but again, there are some notable differences to keep in mind surrounding the two terms.
In medias res describes where a story begins. A narrative that begins in the middle of the action is using in medias res, even if the rest of the story unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
By contrast, nonlinear storytelling describes how a story is structured overall. A nonlinear narrative presents events out of chronological sequence, often moving back and forth through time to reveal information gradually.
The key difference is that a story can begin in medias res and still be mostly linear afterwards. Likewise, a nonlinear story does not necessarily start in medias res.
For example, The Hunger Games opens in medias res on the day of the Reaping but then progresses largely in chronological order. In contrast, films like Pulp Fiction use nonlinear storytelling throughout, rearranging events to create a more complex narrative structure.
In short, in medias res is an opening technique, while nonlinear storytelling is a broader approach to narrative organisation.
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How To Write In Medias Res (Step-By-Step)
Starting a story in medias res isn’t just about opening with a random action scene. The most effective examples start at the moment when something important changes, then gradually reveal the information readers need to understand the broader picture.
Here is how to use in medias res effectively in your own WIPs.
Step 1: Identify the Most Interesting Moment
Before you write your opening scene, ask yourself: What is the most dramatic moment in this character’s journey?
This doesn’t have to be the story’s climax, but it should be a moment where something is at stake. Rather than beginning with a character’s normal routine, begin when their world is upended.
Example:
A detective investigating a missing person’s case could open with the moment they discover the missing person’s body has returned – rather than the earlier scenes of them receiving the case.
Step 2: Remove the Setup
Many first drafts begin too early, spending pages introducing characters, locations, or background information before the story really gets going. In medias res works by cutting directly to the moment that sparks interest.
Ask yourself what information readers genuinely need instantly, and what can be removed later.
Step 3: Start With Conflict
A strong in medias res opening typically contains some form of conflict. This could be physical danger, an emotional struggle, a difficult choice, or a mystery that needs solving.
Conflict gives readers a reason to care before they finally understand the situation in its entirety.
Example:
Instead of starting a fantasy novel with a character learning about magic, begin with them using forbidden magic to save someone’s life. The consequences and rules of that magic can come later.
Step 4: Leave Questions Unanswered
The power of in medias res comes from curiosity. However, there is a difference between creating mystery and confusing your audience.
Give your readers enough information to understand the immediate situation while holding back the answers that made them want to continue.
Example:
A thriller may open with a character burying something in the woods. Readers can get what they’re doing, but not why. The mystery becomes the reason they stay hooked.
Step 5: Reveal Backstory Gradually
Once you’ve got your readers’ intrigue, slowly provide the missing context through dialogue, memories, flashbacks, or discoveries. Avoid stopping the story to explain everything in one sweep.
The best in medias res stories make readers feel like they are discovering the truth alongside the characters.
Example:
A novel may begin with a soldier returning home from war. Rather than immediately explaining what happened abroad, the writer reveals pieces of the past through conversations, nightmares, and the character’s reactions to everyday scenarios.
When done well, in medias res creates a balance between mystery and understanding. Your audience has all they need to follow the story, but enough still up in the air to continue reading.
Common In Medias Res Writing Mistakes
While in medias res can often be a powerful way of opening a story, it’s easy to misuse. A strong opening should create curiosity and excitement, not leave readers feeling lost. Here are some of the most popular pitfalls writers fall into when using this storytelling technique.
Starting With Chaos Instead of Conflict
An action-packed opening does not automatically make a story engaging. Explosions, arguments, or dramatic scenarios only work when readers understand why they matter. Conflict needs emotional stakes, not just movement.
Withholding Too Much Information
Mystery is important, but readers still need enough context to understand the basic situation. If the opening creates too many unanswered questions all at once, your audience will likely feel disconnected from the story, rather than intrigued by it.
Creating Confusion Instead of Curiosity
The goal of in medias res is to make readers ask, “What happens next?” not, “What is happening?” A strong opening provides clarity about the immediate moment while leaving the bigger picture unexplained.
Never Explaining the Missing Context
The questions raised by an in medias res opening eventually need satisfying answers. If writers delay important information for too long, the mystery can become frustrating rather than fulfilling.
The best use of in medias res creates a balance: readers should feel curious about the missing pieces while remaining invested in the story unfolding in front of them.
When You Should NOT Use In Medias Res
While in medias res is certainly an effective storytelling tool, it is not always the right choice for every story. Starting in the middle of the action only works when the moment creates genuine interest and gives readers a reason to continue.
When the Backstory is the Most Interesting Part
Some stories depend on understanding a character’s journey from the get-go. If the emotional impact stems from watching a character change, introducing them halfway through proceedings may weaken the story.
For example, a coming-of-age novel may be more powerful if readers experience the character’s early struggle instead of starting after the biggest turning point.
When Readers Need Context First
Some genres and stories demand a foundation before the main conflict begins. Complex fantasy worlds, historical fiction, or mysteries with intricate rules may need some space to establish important details before throwing readers into the action.
When the Opening Event Isn’t Compelling
Not every dramatic moment makes for a good opening. A scene should create curiosity, emotional investment, or conflict. Starting with an event that has no meaning to readers yet can feel confusing rather than exciting.
The best writers use in medias res when the middle of the story is genuinely the best place to begin – not just because they’re looking for a flashy opening.
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In Medias Res Writing Template
If you’re looking to experiment with in medias res in your own writing, use this simple framework to build an opening scene:
Character is_____
Suddenly_____ happens.
The reader knows_____, but doesn’t yet know _____
The immediate conflict is _____
Later, reveal _____ to explain how the character arrived at this moment.
The key here is to create a balance between mystery and clarity. Give your readers enough information to understand what is happening right now, while holding back the details that make them want to continue reading. A strong in medias res opening should raise questions, but it should also make readers care about discovering the answers.
Quick In Medias Res Practice Exercise
Take a simple story opening and rewrite it using in medias res:
Ordinary opening:
Sam had always dreamed of becoming a detective. After years of studying crime and investigation, she’s finally got the chance of tackling her first case at the city police department.
Now begin the story in the middle of the action. What’s the most exciting moment of Sam’s first case? Perhaps she is standing over a shocking discovery, chasing a suspect, or uncovering a dangerous secret.
Ask yourself:
- What unanswered question will make readers stick with the story?
- What information can you reveal later on?
- How can you start with conflict instead of explanation?
Wrap Up
In medias res is one of the most effective methods of creating an engaging story opening. By beginning in the middle of the action, writers can capture attention, generate curiosity, and encourage readers to uncover the missing pieces of the narrative.
However, the technique works best when it balances mystery with clarity. The goal isn’t to confuse readers, but to make them ask questions they genuinely want to have answered. Whether you are writing a novel, screenplay, or short story, starting at the right moment can transform your opening scene and make readers keen to discover what comes next.
James has been passionate about storytelling ever since he could hold a pen. Inspired by the epic fantasy and historical dramas he devoured in his youth, his work now centers on dark, psychological tales featuring intense, introspective characters and atmospheric, gothic undertones. In 2025, he founded What We Writing to share his creative journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way with fellow writers and passionate storytellers.
