In Media Res
On our way to Maine last month, I watched an episode of The Office on the airplane. In Season 4, Episode 1, we encounter one of my all-time favorite scenes. Office boss Michael is at home and talking directly into the camera that follows him everywhere: “This is going to be a very good year. Very good. Jan is at home. Jim is back. My protege Ryan is at corporate. Good stuff. Um... Andy and Dwight are rockin' the sales team. I feel very blessed.”
Suddenly, BAM, we see Meredith’s limp body and flaming red hair slam against the top of the car hood.
It’s the classic cold opening, a favorite of sitcom writers everywhere. And a favorite of viewers, too. We like to be surprised. I’ve probably watched this episode a dozen times, and I laugh out loud EVERY SINGLE TIME.
In literature, writers call this method In media res, and it’s is a latin phrase I love. In media res literally means “in the middle of things.” A story will begin partway through the plot, and the missing events will be filled in later, often through dialogue or flashbacks.
July feels a lot like in media res to me.
While other bloggers I follow are talking about work and midyear goals, I’m finding it hard to believe we’re halfway through 2024. And I don’t know about you, but once school got out, I sort of hit the pause button on a bunch of work-ish type stuff.
If you have kids, maybe you’ve felt like that too. Seasons change, and there’s a sudden shift in energy and schedules. Don’t get me wrong. The vacation time has been a real gift, with trips to the beach and the mountains, the city and country. I’ve spent time with the kids, with my spouse, and alone. We’ve gone to bed early and slept late. We’ve eaten well and played hard.
But summer came in media res, and now we’re nearing the end, and I realize (hopefully not too late) that it’s time to get organized and resume the story.
Gearing Up for What’s Next
When writers employ in media res, they plunge the reader into the thick of the story, and it’s the responsibility of the reader to piece together the literary cues that will help them understand the story’s context. In Media Res hooks the reader who is dying to know what happens next.
Isn’t that a little bit like life? We long to gaze clearly into that elusive crystal ball.
And while “what happens next” largely depends on the decisions we make in the midst of this current story we’re living, there’s a lot of unknowns out there too.
None of us has a crystal ball, but predicting the future IS possible, even in the midst of in media res.
Here’s How:
Flashback.You can plan for what’s next based on what’s worked in the past.
One of the techniques writers use to clue readers is flashback. Can you “flashback” to your life last year? What context clues can you use to inform how this next year will go for you? Through years of record keeping, I’ve noticed that the rhythms of my family are closely tied to the seasons. I know that I start feeling restless in October, that December is full of ambitious plans, that February leaves me melancholy, April can be a slog, and that by May I’m gearing up for another summer of fun. In my journal, I even keep a record of the books I read and what I make for dinner on a given night. This year, when I’m feeling overwhelmed or stuck or lacking creative ideas, all I have to do is take a look at that journal and be immediately inspired to take action. How do I know this will work? Because IT ALREADY HAS.
Communication. Some of the easiest-to-read stories are those that include a lot of dialogue.
Dialogue moves the story forward, and it works in real life, too. If you already know what your schedule will look like come August, when sports and homework and meetings and extracurricular activities threaten to suffocate you, go ahead and pre-decide who will be responsible for what. You don’t want to have to do this in the midst of frustration and overwhelm, so DO IT NOW. Aside from the tedious logistics we must coordinate, getting clarity on personal objectives is also important. Your big plans and big dreams feel attainable when you say them out loud.
Narrative summaries. Think of a traditional Christmas letter. You’re basically summarizing last year’s highlights. But we don’t have to save the narrative for December.
The transition between seasons is a great time to revisit the past few months. Where did you leave off? What were your highs? Your lows? What do you want to repeat? Where do you need to make changes? What loose ends need to be gathered up? Summarizing our accomplishments can make us feel both proud and motivated.
All that being said, one thing I know about myself is that I value downtime. I need the peace that comes with a slow day. Even slow seasons are welcome. When our kids were really little, we set aside certain seasons to be free of sports and other extracurriculars. Some days are created for slow work. And so in media res I took a break. That trip to Maine was a literal breath of fresh air. And now I’m ready to start back up again.
How about you?
Until next summer, I’ll be content building a couple of slow days into the extra busy weeks. You don’t need to feel guilty about days spent reading, taking long walks, or having lunch with friends. Those slow days are good for your soul, too.
Want more good stuff?
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