clock, a story element that gives the main character a limited amount of time to accomplish an important task. It is essential because it creates suspense and urgency.
EXAMPLE: Consider adding a clock to the character’s promise to improve his grades. If he doesn’t earn a B by mid-semester, he’ll be off the basketball team and he’ll lose his scholarship.
***Until April 12, the official release date of “The Editor’s Lexicon: Essential Writing Terms for Novelists,” I will be posting one definition a day here. Check back often! Read more about the book here.
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