The F Word - Must-Have #6

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In this issue…

My Latest Chapter (a personal update)
Writing Must-Haves
Read This
Try This
QOTM - Question of the Month

My latest chapter

Picture of a large tree with a broken limb and major ice accretion

Happy Spring!

Well, almost. I did enjoy a nice, sunny day last week, but as I write this, much of Southern Ontario is cleaning up from a major ice storm over the weekend. Several areas including Orillia and Peterborough sustained so much damage they had to declare a state of emergency.

Photos of downed power lines and fallen tree branches blocking roads surfaced on social media, along with warnings for people to stay inside and prepare for the worst. We lucked out, thankfully, and only had to deal with several days of rain, but it did get me thinking about how prepared I was (not very) should disaster strike.

As a writer, I love checklists and toolkits to keep me on track, so I was excited to find a government website dedicated to emergency preparedness. It’s full of useful advice for a range of calamities (such a cool word). Definitely worth exploring.

Trees and a street covered in ice after a storm

On the bright side, we had a houseguest. This is Tucker. He stayed with us for the weekend and was a perfect gentleman. He even watched over me while I did some writing. But he’s not just another pretty face. He’s got his own Instagram account where he showcases his singing ability and love for Steve Harvey. You can check out his pipes at https://www.instagram.com/tuckerthesinger/. What a cutie!

Finally, I’m starting to think of what I’m going to plant this year. I recently culled my seed collection and this is all I have left. Since I can’t walk by a seed display without drooling over the possibilities for my garden, this is a good thing; it means I can buy a bunch of new packets! I plan on splitting the gardens between vegetables, herbs and flowers. Come on warm weather, I can’t wait to get growing!

Writing Must-Haves

In continuation of last month’s Must-Haves theme, here’s another tip for new or hesitant writers. Of course, these Must-Haves work for any writer, but they are essential for new writers who are looking for a safe place to start. My goal with this newsletter is to make things super easy (and hopefully fun and interesting) so that you can feel good building your writer skills.

Must-Have #6

The F word (formula) for character growth: Goal, Motivation and Conflict

Earlier, I mentioned the importance of emergency preparedness in relation to ice storms, but being prepared can benefit your writing as well. Whether you are a discovery writer (or pantser as some say, starting with an idea and seeing where it takes you) or someone who plans many of the details up front (plotter), both types of writers need characters that fill a formula for growth: Goal, Motivation, Conflict. Being prepared and understanding (even if in broad terms) your character's goal, motivation and conflict is essential in developing strong, authentic characters that will resonate with readers.

Anyone who writes about craft uses some variation of the same formula. One of my favourite books is Debra Dixon's GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict. It's clear and concise, making it a must-have for all aspiring authors.

5 Reasons to use the GMC F-word (Formula).

Your story needs a roadmap, or you risk potentially writing beautiful prose that doesn't take the reader anywhere. Without a GMC, your story might take a long, winding side road and end up getting lost. Or it could turn into five new ideas (which should really be five new novels). Having a clear GMC gives your story the directions you need to get to where you wanted to go.
Your character development depends on it. If you know your character's goals (in the scene, chapter and story) up front, and their motivation for wanting what they want, then you can write in obstacles that will feel believable to your readers. Your characters will grow in meaningful and believable ways.
You can test drive your story. If you start without a GMC you could potentially hammer out 20,000 words before you take a breath. It may feel exhilarating at first, but you might end up with a long, arduous revision road ahead to make the story work. Testing out the GMC before you put in the writing hours can help you understand if your story idea will have teeth before getting frustrated trying to fix any issues.
It saves you time. Knowing your GMC helps keep you moving forward, not sideways, which will save you precious writing time. Even a simple three-sentence statement (one for each GMC) will keep you on track.
Readers want recognizable patterns. Formulas such as the GMC help to ensure a character's growth, and without growth, there's no story. They also deliver what readers want most: a reason for reading until the end - an emotional payoff for following your character through their challenges.

“There are no new plots, but there are plenty of fresh new characters with whom you can grab the reader. Characterization is the key to successful commercial fiction. Characterization starts with goal, motivation, and conflict. Character.”
― Debra Dixon, GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict

Read this…

This month's recommended read supports our Must-Have #6: Understanding the formula of Goal, Motivation and Conflict. “5 Tips for Writing Superbad Villains” by Joanna Penn is an engaging and informed piece that includes examples to help you understand how memorable characters are born. She talks specifically about goals and motivation and how they are foundational for good writing. Joanna’s website, The Creative Penn, is a Must-Have for any writer.

If you’re feeling especially curious this month, you can also read “Why Plots Fail” by Jane Friedman. Jane never fails to deliver quality advice.

Try this…

This month’s writing prompt experiments with the GMC formula.

Come up with 2-3 new ideas for a short story or novel.
Write a simple 3-5 sentence GMC for each main character.
Reflect on the process of identifying the GMC. If you hit a dead end for one of the GMCs, then that story idea needs some work before you start writing. If the GMC flowed from your thoughts like a river in a spring melt, then you know you have a winner.

Share your work with me—I'd love to feature a few in future newsletters!

QOTM

What are you thoughts on using formulas in general? Does it make sense or make you groan? Why?

Reach out on Instagram, Threads or email to let me know.

Thanks for reading!

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If you have any suggestions for making this newsletter more meaningful, please email info@sandraziemniak.com.

Until next month, write on, Prose Partner, write on!