GMC: exploiting your h/h's past

Just recently I was hit me over the head (metaphorically speaking) with a light bulb. I recently had GMC explained to me again. I vaguely remembered being told this during Bootcamp 109 I think, but it obviously didn't click with me then. So I want to share, now that I *think* I have a handle on it.

Okay, hope I make this clear.

We all know GMC stands for Goal, Motivation, Conflict and the hero and heroine both need a GMC = character wants (goal) because of (motivation) but can't because of (conflict). Now, the conflict is what pushes them apart, ie INTERNAL conflict (remember EXTERNAL conflict draws them together).

I was given a fantastic example on how to work out your h/h's INTERNAL conflict. Put them in a cage - naked! If they are naked, things like money no longer exist as a problem. So the conflicts can only be INTERNAL - eg abandoned as a child, illegitimate child, dead husband/wife, ex-partner, drunken parents etc etc etc

LIGHT-BULB FLASHING!!!

My Blog's 1st Birthday

I can't believe it. It's been a whole year since I started my blog.

When I started I didn't really have a goal, but after I did Susan Meier's goal setting workshops I decided I would blog once a week on my writing experiences and how I was meeting my goals.

I haven't done too badly, having blogged 51 times already this year. Some weeks slide by without a posting, while for others I keep my blog quite busy.

So how are my goals going? Well, I can tick the boxes for the following:
- enter First Kiss competition
- enter Valerie Parv Awards
- attend RWA conference
- pitch at conference
- enter High 5 competition

It's very rewarding knowing I met my goals for the first 9 months of the year.

The last few months of the year are a different story. I was lucky enough to have a successful pitch, and get a request for a partial - with the added requirement of starting the story further on. So my focus has been on rewriting and editing my submission, getting it to shine. So it's not so much I won't meet my goals, more the goal posts have just shifted


So this is my new list for the downhill run to Christmas:
- enter Emerald competition
- submit partial to Mills and Boon

I can't wait to see what the next year brings - and don't worry, you'll read all about it on my blog.

Missing in Action

I've been a little quiet on my blog of late. Of course I have an excuse, but I think it is quite a good one.

Back in August I e-pitched to Harlequin as part of RWA's national conference. Seriously, while I desperately wanted a positive outcome, that litle red devil in my head didn't think I stood a chance. I was thrilled when the request came back for a partial + synopsis. The only catch was I needed to start the story further along.

Oh my gosh!!! I reread the request a good half a dozen times looking for the catch, or the word I'd misread. Once I'd convinced myself it was real, it hit me. Start the story further along. Ummmm, where? I struggled with that decision. I thought of 3 or 4 places I could re-start it. I didn't want to screw the opportunity up, so I took a while analysing and thinking, and finally made my decision.

As a result, my hero and heroine meet in a totally new way, and quite important elements have been changed as a result. But I think it is a much better story for it.

So I have been rewriting my first 3 chapters, and am now well on the way to having them shining. Will let you know once they have been sent off, but for now I need to pick up that polishing cloth and get back to work.