In Media Res

A powerful way to grip your reader

In Media Res is Latin for ‘In the Middle of Things.’ It’s a clever way to start a story because it pitches your reader straight into the centre of the action. Let’s take the familiar fairy story of ‘The Three Little Pigs’. A conventional way to start the story might be ‘There was once a family of three little pigs. One day the little pigs were sent out into the woods by their mother to seek their fortune…’ All very well, but it’s a little dull and, inevitably, formulaic, so we tend to switch off fairly soon. A better ‘hook’ might be to start the begin the story at its most tense and exciting point:

 So there I was/ or: the little pig was, sitting quivering in my house of bricks, knowing that the wolf had eaten my two brothers and that I would be next. My heart was pounding and my trotters were bathed in sweat. What on earth could I do to save myself?

Immediately we are engaged. We are right inside the pig’s head for a start, so much closer to his fear. We are also desperate to know if he will manage to extricate himself from this terrifying situation. Our hearts are thudding along with his – we’re gripped!

So in terms of a brilliant hook, In Media Res is a great device. But once you’ve hooked your reader, where do you go from there? You’ve still got to tell the story.

Well, at this point you can go back to the beginning, safe in the knowledge your reader is keen to read on. It’s fine to put in the context stuff here that a conventional story might start with, as it helps to increase the tension. We are prepared to keep reading because we are intent on finding out what happens to the pig – we’re hooked! We are also much more invested in the character because we’ve felt his fear, so happy to pick up on the back story.

So at this point we can go back to the beginning: My/the little pig’s terrible tale began one sunny day in August….

There is a danger of overuse of course, but, if judiciously employed, In Media Res can be a very successful device.