The Story Secret Sauce: Goals, Motivation, Conflict!

Hi Reader,

Today, we're diving into the heart of every gripping story to discuss Goals, Motivation, and Conflict (GMC) from the book Goals Motivation Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction by Debra Dixon. Serendipitously, someone mentioned this book on a podcast recently. I got about a third of the way through a story when I realized everything was happening to my heroine, instead of her choices driving the story. If you have run into a story roadblock, I suggest clarifying and strengthening your main character’s GMC as your first fix.

In Dixon’s words, GMC is the foundation of your story. Each is interconnected, each building on and bouncing off the other. She starts with her GMC chart and fills it in as she develops her story and characters. Her GMC is her story roadmap.

Ready to sprinkle some storytelling stardust? Let's go!

Goals: The What 🌟

Ever wonder what makes a character leap off the page and into our hearts? It's their goals! But not just any goals—these goals must be urgent and important. Imagine a world where failure isn't an option because the stakes are sky high for your character. Your characters' goals are the lifeblood of your story.

Two Kinds of Goals:

· External Goals: The tangible, concrete objectives (like finding the treasure or winning the race).

· Internal Goals: The emotional, often hidden desires (like finding self-worth or healing a past wound).

The Goal Cascade

Characters have a big goal accompanied by a series of smaller goals to get to the larger one. In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy wants to go home. To get home, she needs the Wizard’s help. When she gets to the Wizard, he tells her he will only help her if she brings him back the Wicked Witch’s broom. Dorothy has to accomplish all of these smaller goals to get to her big goal of getting home. Think of multiple goals as meteors crashing into each other, forcing characters to make pivotal decisions.

Motivation: The Why 🔥

Why do characters chase after their goals with such fervor? Motivation! It's what drives them, pushes the plot, and makes us root for them. Motivation is your magic wand for reader empathy. Think of motivation as the fuel that powers your story engine. It needs to be clear, compelling, and urgent. Whether it's Dorothy needing to meet the Wizard to get home or a hero seeking redemption, strong motivations are the bedrock of a gripping narrative.

Two Kinds of Motivation

· External motivation drives action.

· Internal motivation creates emotion.

Crafting Compelling Motivation

Ask:

· Why do your characters want this goal?

· Why must they achieve it?

The Motivation Mantra

· Every action must have a because. (She is doing this because…)

· Motivation should be simple, strong, and focused.

· Motivation creates choice, purpose, and action.

One overriding motivation provides the fuel to keep the story going. When motivations collide, characters become allies and enemies, creating tension and complexity. A well motivated character can do the impossible and take your readers along for the ride. Interestingly, a character can behave in reprehensible ways, but if the motive is strong enough, audiences will forgive him. Using the GMC chart, you can visualize where your story is going. You can assess whether the motivation is strong enough to compel your characters to take on the challenges you have in store for them.

Warning: Do not confuse coincidence with motivation.

Conflict: The Why Not ⚔️

Conflict is the reason characters can't simply waltz to their goals. It's the obstacles, the friction, the opposition they face.

Types of Conflict

· External Conflict: The physical, tangible barriers (like villains or natural disasters).

· Internal Conflict: The emotional, psychological struggles (like fears or moral dilemmas).

What is Conflict:

· Conflict is the reason your character can't have what she wants.

· Conflict is the obstacle your character must face in obtaining or achieving her goal.

· Conflict is a struggle against someone or something where the outcome is in doubt.

· Conflict is bad things happening to good people.

· Conflict is bad things happening to bad people.

Conflict tests your characters, pushing them to their limits and revealing their true mettle. It's the villain lurking in the shadows or the internal demons whispering doubts.

In a nutshell, conflict is your story's heartbeat. It's what makes characters grow, transforms their journeys, and keeps readers hooked from page one to "The End."

So there you have it. Goals, Motivation, and Conflict are your trusty tools for crafting stories that captivate and resonate. Dive into your next project with these GMC principles and watch your characters come to life in the most spectacular ways.

Until next time, keep those creative fires burning and your storytelling magic flowing! Let me know how you are using GMC in your stories.

In response to last week’s newsletter about putting your characters through the wringer, reader and historical fiction author Jo Donahue responded – “Usually, one of my prewriting tasks is to list everything that could go wrong.” She starts with natural disasters like floods and droughts and then lists people problems like sibling conflict and bullies. I love this approach. Thanks Jo!