"In medias res" is a Latin term that translates to “in the midst of things.” It means altering the typical chronological plot sequence to start a narrative toward the center of its arc. Here, you bypass exposition and gradually provide context through dialogue, flashbacks, or description of past events. 

A notable example is Hamlet. Shakespeare begins this play after the death of Hamlet's father and uses characters' references to King Hamlet's death to supply necessary backstory without the plot first establishing this fact. So, the play focuses more on Hamlet and his revenge than on the motivation.

In this article, we explore four significant effects of starting your narrative in medias res.

Effects of starting a narrative in media res

You may think of starting a story in the middle of the action as opening in a scene where a major event occurs. But this can also include starting with an exposition that gives away some crucial middle-point information. What's important is that you fiddle with the chronological story structure and open in the middle of events. 

Here are some effects a writer achieves when he starts a story in medias res:

1. It captures readers' attention. It's every writer's goal to quickly pique readers' interest from the first line of their story. A powerful narrative style gets readers' attention by confronting them with the unexpected. And starting in medias res hasn't failed to deliver this effect; it puts readers in the middle of the action at the beginning of a story, rather than the introductory narration they were expecting. Successful use of this device can get your readers hooked and invested in your novel right from the first page.

2. It introduces the story question. What makes in medias res beginning so compelling is that it quickly establishes a central question or mystery, which readers get invested in cracking. Opening your story in the middle of the action leaves a lot of information gaps, raising many intriguing questions that stir readers' curiosity. And the only way to fill those gaps is to continue turning the pages. 

3. It creates dramatic irony. Another notable effect of starting in medias res is that it allows you to drop many hints for the reader to uncover the mystery in your story. While your characters fumble in the dark, chasing false leadds, you let readers know a bit about where the story is headed without giving details of how it will get there. And this requires you to understand the difference between offering enough information to captivate readers and giving away the plot. 

4. It creates suspense. Ultimately, the endgame of in medias res is to create suspense and dynamic writing. From the opening of your story, this technique allows you to stoke suspense that immediately places your readers on the edge of their seats. A lot of blanks bring a lot of uncertainties, and uncertainties instantly create a sense of tension, mystery, and excitement, which propels your narrative forward. This technique has featured long in creative writing through the years because of this effect, especially with how it maintains tension even in a quiet scene.