The Ticking Clock
The Ticking Clock is a classic literary device used by writers to inject their narratives with urgency, tension, and suspense. You might also know this device by another name: Hitchcock’s Bomb Theory
A rose by any other name - this device works by giving characters a limited amount of time to achieve a goal or resolve a conflict, thereby compelling the audience to stay engaged as they wonder whether the characters will succeed before time runs out.
Understanding and effectively using this device can enhance storytelling, making stories more engaging and emotionally charged.
What is The Ticking Clock?
The Ticking Clock refers to a scenario in a story where characters are racing against time to accomplish a critical task. This time limit can be:
Literal - like a bomb countdown
OR
Figurative - needing to make a decision before a certain event occurs
The key element is the imposition of a deadline that adds pressure to the narrative, making every moment and decision crucial.
How It's Used
Creating Suspense and Tension:
The most obvious use of "The Ticking Clock" is to build suspense. As the deadline approaches, tension naturally mounts, making your audience more invested in the outcome.
Character Development:
Under the pressure of a ticking clock, characters are often forced into make difficult decisions, revealing their true nature, priorities, and capabilities. This can lead to significant character growth or change. It’s also helpful for you as a writer to push this change or growth faster than it might otherwise occur.
Plot Progression:
This device can propel the plot forward, ensuring that the story maintains a brisk pace. A nice by-product is providing a clear structure for the narrative, which helps to prevent the story from meandering. If there IS meandering (in small doses), this could add to the tension even further.
Using The Ticking Clock in Your Work
Define the Stakes:
For "The Ticking Clock" to be effective, the stakes of failing to beat the clock must be clear and significant. Whether it's the end of the world, risk of death, loss of a loved one, or a missed opportunity for happiness, the consequences of failure should be dire and compelling.
Integrate with Character Goals: The deadline should be directly related to the characters' goals and conflicts. This alignment ensures that the ticking clock feels organic to the story rather than a contrived plot device.
Keep It Realistic: The time frame should be realistic and consistent within the story's world. If the deadline seems arbitrary or the characters' actions within the time frame feel implausible, it can break the audience's suspension of disbelief.
Vary the Pace: While "The Ticking Clock" inherently speeds up the narrative, varying the pace can enhance its effectiveness. Moments of slower-paced introspection or backstory can heighten the sense of urgency when the action picks up again.
Resolution and Consequences: The resolution of a ticking clock scenario should be satisfying but not necessarily predictable. Whether the characters succeed or fail, the aftermath should have significant implications for the story and its characters.
Want a Couple Examples?
Anytime you see a movie description with, “In a race against time…!” You’re almost sure to have hit a strong Ticking Clock device.
Here’s a great literal example from one of my all time favorite childhood movies: The 5th Element
Note how it hits all 4 of the elements (ha) we mentioned earlier:
Define the Stakes:
The stakes are CLEAR. It’s a bomb for fuck’s sake! (for fucks sake? …Not sure the punctuation on that one) It’s underscored even more by the emergency response and panic from both the patrons and our heros. The consequences of failing are also dire and compelling: They’ll die and so will the whole world since they won’t be able to complete their mission.
Integrate with Character Goals:
Our hero’s just got the sacred stones and need to GTFO anyway to get to the temple to save the universe as defined earlier in the story. This just speeds up the process and amps up everything that was already going to happen.
Keep It Realistic:
Within the world of course - Zorg, agent of chaos, would totally stoop to blowing up an entire resort ship to get his way.
Vary the Pace:
Right before the bomb is about to go off we slow down with the action, seeing the sweat on Zorg’s brow, waiting until only 5 seconds are left before he dismantles the bomb.Resolution and Consequences:
The countdown stops (expected), but another soldier activates a back-up device which activates a backup detonator which kills Zorg in the process (unexpected). Some might find this a little annoying since our heroes don’t exactly defeat Zorg, so much as Zorg is defeated by his own hubris… but since there’s a bigger enemy to fight, and it’s loaded with nostalgia for me, I am not upset.
Now, here’s a BAD literal example, even though it’s a great throwback:
Define the Stakes:
The stakes are completely undefined. No one mentions or consider’s there’s a bomb at all. Since there are no stakes there is no tension.
Integrate with Character Goals:
There are no goals or conflict! Just singing!
Keep It Realistic:
Does a bomb really fit in The Wizarding World? Eh. Also, and I’m no demolitions expert, but the ticking seems to go on for an extraordinarily convenient amount of time
Vary the Pace:
The pace isn’t varied at all - in fact it’s a veritable metronome! Keeping the pacing even (re: predictable) the entire time.
Resolution and Consequences:
I suppose in a way, the mysterious ticking noise being revealed as a pipe bomb is unexpected. As mentioned earlier, pipe bombs don’t exactly fit the world of Harry Potter is a surprise. There are no implications for the rest of the narrative though, because the bomb blew them all up… except for Dumbledore, which does track.
All in All
There are LOADS more examples of The Ticking Clock, both literal and figurative throughout Film & TV. It’s often extraordinarily identifiable from the literal ticking sound embedded into the audio.
Next time you sit down to watch something, keep an eye out for this technique. You’re going to see it everywhere, and for good reason!
The Ticking Clock is a versatile and powerful device that, when used skillfully, can enrich a narrative in multiple dimensions. It not only enhances the story's external conflict but can also deepen the internal struggles of its characters, ultimately creating a more thrilling and emotionally resonant experience for the audience.
