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The Writer's GMC
You have a dream! You want to write a book. Congratulations! Happy Dance! So now what? How do you go from great idea to great reality? With The Writer's GMC*, that's how. Answer the questions below to uncover you writing goals, motivations and conflict. You can do it! This next step requires your handy tools of creativity, honesty and perseverance.
G is for Goal
What is your current writing project? What are your long-term writing projects? Describe each one, as applicable, in as much detail as possible, addressing for example, genre, length, and audience.
M is for Motivation
What is your main motivation fueling you -- to write in general and to work on your current project? What are your secondary motivations? Peer deeper, and find another reason, if you can. Some write because their day isn't complete with out it; others write to communicate a message or a dream, make a point, or impress others. There is no right answer, only clarity achieved, by knowing why you write.
C is for Conflict
Focus on your perceived obstacles -- both internal and external. Allow any negative or limiting self-talk to be recognized for what it is -- an obstacle to be overcome. No need to judge, just acknowledge. And notice what external factors interrupt the path to your writing time, be it busyness, work and family obligations, or TV watching. No judgment here. Only notice that these obstacles are often there by our own choosing and that by recognizing them we can choose differently. We can find solutions through our strengths. Strengths What strengths, both internal and external, can you use to achieve your writing goals? Include inner qualities like humor, intelligence, curiosity, drive, and outer benefits such as a space to work, a regular schedule to slot writing into, a nice computer, or no pressure to make money at your writing.
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Share
Congratulations! Now that you are more clear on your writing goals, motivations and conflicts and strengths, share them with a supportive writing buddy, writers group, teacher or coach. By sharing your GMC, you up the ante for yourself. You are responsible for your own goals and sharing helps to stay accountable for your stated goals. Also, a success buddy can cheer you on and validate that took you action on your dream today. Lastly, a buddy or writing group, coach or teacher, can ask you "What next?" and encourage you to plan and execute your next step.
Next Step
So what is your next step in your writing project? Do you need to sit down and write? Do you need support to review and activate your GMC? Do you need to create a project timeline? Lastly, what support, kudos, and rewards will you need along the way? Don't forget those. None of us achieves a dream without the many people helping us along the way. Welcome to the Writers Community of the World!
* Thanks to Deb Dixon and her book, Goal, Motivation and Conflict, for inspiration for this article. Also see Gryphon Books For Writers for more information.
c. 2007 Beth Barany
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"To feed your Muse, then, you should always have been hungry about life since you were a child. If not, it is a little late to start. Better late than never, of course. Do you feel up to it?"
-- Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You
"The dream is as alive and compelling as one's dreams at night, and when the writer writes down on paper what he has imagined, the words, however inadequate, do not distract his mind from the fictive dream but provide him with a fix on it, so that when the dream flags he can reread what's he's written and find the dream starting up again."
-- John Gardner, On Becoming a Novelist
"Great fictional characters come to life when they are motivated by the same things that cause a given behavior in your own life."
-- James V. Smith, Jr., The Writer's Little Helper: Everything you need to know to write better and get published
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