In Medias Res

In medias res (Latin for "in the middle of things") is the technique of beginning a story in the midst of action rather than at the chronological starting point. The approach plunges the reader directly into tension and conflict, creating immediate engagement. Context and backstory are filled in later through flashbacks, dialogue, or exposition.

Homer's Iliad begins in the ninth year of the Trojan War, not at the beginning of the conflict. Breaking Bad opens with Walter White in his underwear in the desert, holding a gun, an image from far later in the pilot's timeline. Both openings grab attention by starting with compelling action and trusting the audience to catch up.

In medias res works because it exploits the reader's curiosity. By showing the result before the cause, it creates questions that propel reading forward: How did we get here? What happened? The technique requires careful handling of the transition from the opening scene to the "real" beginning. Done poorly, it can feel like a gimmick, especially if the opening scene is not genuinely connected to the story's core conflict.