- In medias res means starting "in the middle of things".
- The story opens amid action, not at the beginning.
- Backstory and context are filled in afterward.
- It hooks readers quickly with immediate momentum.
- It must still orient the reader enough to follow.
In medias res (Latin for "in the midst of things") is the technique of opening a story in the middle of the action rather than at the chronological beginning, then filling in the necessary context and backstory as the narrative continues. It hooks readers immediately with momentum and stakes instead of slow setup. The craft balance is starting with enough action to grip while still orienting the reader so they are not lost — engagement first, then the context they need.
Chapter i·Why it matters
In medias res is a powerful answer to the slow opening: by dropping readers into action, it creates instant engagement, which matters when first pages decide whether readers and agents continue. But it requires skill — too little orientation and readers feel lost; too much backtracking and the momentum dies. Understanding the technique lets a writer open with energy while delivering context smoothly, a common solution to the problem of where to start a story.
Chapter ii·What to include
- An opening amid action, not at the start.
- Context filled in as the story proceeds.
- Immediate momentum and stakes.
- Enough orientation to follow.
- A balance of engagement and clarity.
- A solution to the slow-opening problem.
Chapter iii·Example
Instead of opening with her detective's quiet morning, a writer begins in medias res — mid-chase, the suspect fleeing across a rooftop — then weaves in who they are and why it matters over the next pages. The reader is gripped from line one, and the context arrives without killing the momentum.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom's Plan studio helps you find where the action starts, so an in-medias-res opening hooks without losing the reader.
See the Plan studio