by Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes @KHutch0767
When authors pen thrillers, they must utilize three fundamental elements to help them craft, outline, and compose their book. These are known as the three Cs—the contract, the clock, and the crucible. The contract refers to the promise made to the reader that they will gain specific information by reading the book. The clock constantly pressures the protagonist to figure out their problem against a stringent timeline. The crucible is the pivotal part of the book when the antagonist and protagonist usually face off, and the protagonist is changed, arrives at a revelation, or solves a crucial problem.
