The Process: Stuck In the Middle (With You)



Pretty Vacant: Made In China Part One Page 1

(Note: This is an entry in the ongoing series of bringing a new twist to an old story.)

Start in with the action already!

Look, you’re a writer, not a pastor. You don’t have to start from the beginning; you can start off in media res!

In media res is Latin for in the middle of things. This literary device has been used since The Odyssey was the hot new intellectual property in the 8th Century BC. If it’s good enough for Homer, it’s good enough for you.

It’s not like you can write 200 pages explaining everything about your characters anymore. The authors of the Jane Eyre and A Tale Of Two Cities would have a hard time being noticed if they had to compete with Hollywood summer blockbuster movies and iPads.

Pretty Vacant: Made In China starts off with security guards waiting to ambush Gigi, Barnaby and Hans when they exit the elevator, not knowing that Gigi is ready for them as well. After the action sequence there is a flashback to the beginning, where the readers discovers why Gigi and Barnaby made the decisions that lead to the stand-off with the security guards and the reason for the “Made In China” title.

Starting a story in the middle and then going back to the beginning has the ability to hook your audience immediately, dropping them right into the heart of the tale without any explanations needed until later. This is not just a method for books or comics; it’s used in television (BBC1’s “Doctor Who”), films (1981 Academy Award winner Raging Bull) and video games (God Of War).

And if you’re still confused as the (Charles) Dickens, ask yourself this: do you want to be waiting in line for something to begin, or would you prefer to be in the middle of the action?

Kudos if you know the song which gave this post its title! Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right.

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