Does your story have a Doomsday Clock?  Why do you need one, and what the heck is it anyway?  In the real world, the Doomsday Clock is a non-tangible device that the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists at the University of Chicago created in 1947 to warn the world of an impending atomic disaster.  Since its inception, the phrase “Doomsday Clock” has taken on a meaning that if someone doesn’t take action, disaster will occur.  It’s as inevitable as time itself.

Why this matters for fiction

In story-land the Doomsday Clock can be anything that represents impending doom such that if the course of events aren’t changed a disaster will happen.  And sometimes an event is inexorable as in movies like 2012, Volcano, and The Day After Tomorrow; so the disaster here would be if the heroes can survive.  But what about other stores where it’s not so obvious?  Here are some examples of Doomsday Clocks in movies:

• The Hunger Games – The rules of the games themselves, only one participant can survive so it’s just a matter of time before the game ends.  If Katniss doesn’t take action then disaster will occur, which in this case is her death.
• Back to the Future – The lightning strike on the clock tower that is known to occur on a certain date and time.  If Marty and Doc don’t time it perfectly, then Marty will be stuck in the past.
• Star Wars – The Death Star becoming operational.  If they don’t stop it from being fully built, it will destroy a planet.  They don’t anticipate it being ready so early, and the Death Star does in fact destroy the planet Alderaan.  Then a second Doomsday Clock is started: The Death Star destroying a secret Rebel base on a moon of the planet Yavin.  This new clock is used to great effect because the Death Star has to orbit the planet to get a shot at the moon, and we even have a countdown to destruction.
• Any movie where a hostage will be executed if the kidnappers don’t have their demands met.

Why your story needs a Doomsday Clock

To put it bluntly, if your story doesn’t have some kind of Doomsday Clock then your story concept isn’t big enough.  The Notebook has one.  The Princess Bride.  Cinderella.  The Wizard of Oz.  All stories that matter have some kind of Doomsday Clock.

Try to identify your story’s Doomsday Clock.  Does it have one?  What to do if not?  Your story should have  a core, intrinsic conflict between the hero and antagonistic force.  If it doesn’t, then I’m afraid you need to go back and brainstorm more.  This core conflict is a seed for high story concept, so plant it and envision how the tree will look.

Another method is to complete this sentence:  If <the hero’s name> doesn’t <accomplish the story’s overall goal>, then <this will happen>.  For The Princess Bride: If <Westley> doesn’t <stop Buttercup from being married>, then <true love will be lost>.  The Doomsday Clock is, of course, the impending marriage ceremony.

Does your story have a Doomsday Clock?

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