Admit it. Friday nights have given rise to a degree of frustration in finding something good to watch—never mind getting your family to agree!
In our house this goes like this. We scroll through the screen, find a cover or picture that catches our eye, read the blurb, make a aye/nay decision and settle down to watch when we get to an aye.
Five minutes into the thing (sometimes sooner) the wife and I look at each other and decide this isn’t working.
We start over and twenty minutes later we turn off the darn telly and return to reading a book.
All of us have seen movies or read books that have sucked us in from the first page and held us enthralled. This largely stems from their having great openings.
Storytelling is no different. Starting well is critical to not only catching your audience’s attention but retaining it. Experienced storytellers use a variety of ways to do this.
They may begin with a question.
Use a prop.
Make an outrageous statement.
Use a technique referred to as “in media res.”
“In media res” refers to the practice of starting a story in the middle of the action, rather than at the beginning. You’ve read a book that begins with a cliffhanger or seen movies that begin in the midst of the action – such as a bank robbery in progress (The Baby Driver, The Dark Knight) or a car chase (Max Max Fury Road). That’s “in media res” in action.
Yesterday when I began my blog post with
“I can’t believe that you praised that da*n salad!” My colleague and engineering manager was furious. His team mate joined right in, “It’s one thing to be polite, but to go overboard like that!”
I was using “in media res.”
By starting in the middle of the action, you as the storyteller immediately capture the audience’s attention and propel them forward.
So, what makes “in media res” such a powerful tool? First, it appeals to our sense of urgency. By starting in the midst of things, the storyteller creates a sense of immediacy that draws the audience in and keeps them engaged. We want to know what’s happening and why, and we’re more likely to stick around to find out.
Second, it allows for a deeper exploration of character. By starting in the middle of the action, the storyteller can immediately reveal a character’s motivations, fears, and desires. This depth of character is essential to creating a compelling story and can be achieved quickly and efficiently with “in media res.”
Finally, “in media res” allows for a more dynamic and engaging storytelling experience. By starting in the middle of the action, the storyteller can interweave flashbacks, flash-forwards, and other narrative devices to create a multi-layered and complex tale. This is a powerful way to keep the audience engaged and invested in the story.
Of course all this works better with planning and practice.
- Start by recognizing where other storytellers use “in media res.”
- Try it with stories you tell frequently first.
- As with everything else don’t over do it!
