What is the most exciting way to start a story?

My heart was racing watching Prime Video’s latest thriller, The Girlfriend. Every episode drops you straight into the hottest moment. It is a masterclass in starting in the middle, with action.

The technique has a name: in medias res. Latin for ‘in the midst of things’ and it’s the secret behind page-turners and binge-worthy shows.

Two big gifts come from this technique.

First, instant attention. You’re interesting from the first line. In medias res works because your brain itches to close loops. For example, imagine starting your story with: ‘Our biggest customer just rang Legal.’ Instantly, curiosity spikes.

Second, in media res gives your story momentum. Enter at speed, and you keep rolling. That urgency is contagious.

Try it this week. Take an ordinary share, such as a project update and skip the warm-up. Begin at the hot moment:

The client said, Wait, what?
The budget vanished.
The app crashed at 4:59.

Starting in media res lets you skip the throat-clearing. So many updates, emails, and presentations die in the preamble. ‘Let me give you some background first…’

Beginning your story hot doesn’t mean chaos. Start in medias res to hook your audience, then add only the context that matters. The difference is that now your audience wants it. They’re already invested.

Open in medias res, let curiosity do the heavy lifting, and watch your story snap to life.

P.S. In medias res made me do it. This is your permission slip to binge-watch. You’re welcome.