by Katie Gowrie
If you’ve thrown yourself into writing, you’ll notice we’ve been posting a lot lately on conflict and characterization. Let’s talk about something that goes hand-in-hand with these two things. And I’m so excited about it, I’m going to caps-lock about it from a virtual mountaintop:
IT’S MOTIVATION, FOLKS.
Ah, motivation—the foundation of your story.
If you don’t believe me, you may want to grab Debra Dixon’s book, GMC—a must-read and one of our favourites here at the Harlequin Toronto office. But in case you need a quick breakdown (or refresher), SYTYCW’s got you covered.
GMC. Goal, motivation, conflict = the story in a nutshell. And while the first and last are important, motivation is at the center for a reason 🙂 The all-encompassing, big, fat why.
Why does your heroine want what she wants? What’s driving your hero to achieve his goal? When editors read submissions, the issue with proposals is most often a lack of strong conflict. And that usually ties in with character motivation that’s not compelling or simply not fitting for the story.
Let’s try this on for size: Ben wants to make an ice rink in his yard in July and skate on it dressed as Voldemort. Oooookkaay. Ben’s a bit of an oddball.
But wait, a reader will accept almost anything the protagonist wants. Provided they have a sufficient reason (and one they can get on board with).
If Ben wants to do this so he can film it for a laugh and then burn the tape because it’s just too embarrassing, we may have lost him. And donated that book. Character motivation that falls flat can deflate the whole story. Despite all the other reasons we want to love it—hilarious dialogue, an adventurous plot line—a story is only as strong as the forces driving its characters forward.
What if Ben wants to achieve his goal so his dying twin brother, Scotty, a Potterhead who will never see another hockey season again, can play once more on the backyard rink they’d make every year at Christmas? It’s his birthday, the puck drops and it’s the ultimate battle: Dumbledore vs. Voldemort on ice… Well, we may just whip out a vuvuzela and start cheering vehemently for Ben. Dig up that yard, order those costumes…defy heat. At this point, we don’t care how crazy Ben’s dream is. We want to see it realized because he’s got a really good reason for doing it.
Strong motivation thrusts the character forward–and it’s our pleasure to watch them take risks, despite rational thought or their own best interests. We’ll follow our protagonist anywhere, even into danger; we’ll watch them sacrifice everything.
What if Ben were a 70-year-old billionaire named Belinda? Would she exert herself making a rink in the yard, or would she simply rent out the Air Canada Centre (like a boss)? The character’s motivation should fit with who they are. And if you read our post on misunderstandings, you already know that coincidence isn’t a substitute for strong motivation—because you can’t root conflict in something that flimsy 😉
In romance, when we’ve got two characters with a goal, and strong motivations driving them away from each other and towards those goals, we’ve also got high stakes and strong romantic conflict.
So, remember, the why is arguably more important than the what—ask yourself this question often. Happy writing! Nox.
One reply on “Advice from the Archives–Why: The Foundation of Your Story”
Thank you
Comments ( 7 )
I spent the entire shutdown working. Had no time to wind down. I didn’t see my son much when school shutdown. My one co worker was told to stay home for 3 weeks so I picked up her hours. This year has been really crappy.
Ugh, Janell. Here’s hoping the rest of your summer is better.
Thanks for the info, Carol! Everyone is different in how they deal with the shutdown! I stay at home all the time since I don’t work so I haven’t been too effected but my shopping and errands sure have been effected!
Valri, I’ve been doing most of my shopping online. My local Target is still low on some items – mostly cleaning supplies. Grocery store is pretty much back to normal. Most of the dining in our town is outdoor. I can’t imagine have school-age kids!
Wow–getting your creative process on track must have been daunting–especially with “extra-large dog” glad to have you home. You don’t like coffee–I love coffee and have enjoyed my fortifying 2 cups in the morning even more than usual! How as COVID affected your story lines and characterizations? Best Wishes for all releases!
Interesting question, Virginia. You’ll have to tell me if the tone of my “COVID” books changed any! LOL
Life has changed so much! My dad passed Feb 2. The assisted living facility my folks were at went into hardcore lockdown the beginning of March. Mom couldn’t leave her apartment for 4 months! She was on the third floor, Will be 89 in two months & doesn’t use the phone. My husband and I remodeled the lower level completely and moved her in with us July 1. What a life change and difficult transition for the 3 of us! But we’re working thru it!