In Medias Res: Jumpin' Right on In

How do you begin a scene? How should I begin one? Say, for example, a scene from On Tejas Trails? There's this scene that shows the main character Katterina and her family members in the parlor of their ranch home, and the important thing that happens involves a magical amulet.

Now, I might think like this: So the family is in the parlor--- why? I guess Katterina's Pa decided to call the family together. How? Well, maybe he sent the housekeeper to each of them with the message. Yeah, he did that because he wants them together when he unwraps the amulet that just arrived. OK, so we show each family member where they are when they get the message, and then   going to the parlor, and then they sit down and exchange pleasantries, and then....

Actually, there is a better way. Begin in medias res. Or, jump right in to the middle of things. The family is there, in the parlor. Pa unwraps the amulet and puts it on a table. And the action begins. Katterina, who has a magical Gift, reaches for the amulet, while dull brother Edward fusses over her manners and her clothing which riles Katterina enough that she snatches the amulet and tries it on, and is transformed.... Well, let us just say that is where some excitement begins.

You see, the thing is, when we start out writing we have this impulse to start everything off at the beginning. With the character getting out of bed and brushing his teeth, or taking the subway, or putting a saddle on his horse (or his dragon) preparatory to an adventure.

But that's the boring stuff. The prosy stuff. Want to keep a reader's attention? Skip that stuff.

The next time you read a cracking good novel, slow down a bit. Pay attention to how the scenes start. Do they begin with the transitional and routine beginning stuff? Or do they jump right to where the action begins? Make a mental note. And go thou and do likewise.

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