Rider - GMC's

I'm participating in a class on conflict through one of my chapters and we've just covered GMC's. While I've technically understood this in the past, finding and exploiting the character's GMC's has always been somewhat of an ordeal.

Amazingly, they jumped right up, eagerly waving their little hands for the h/h in Rider.

Here they are:

Heroine
EG - She wants to guard her hidden past
EM - because she'll lose her livelihood
EC - but a handsome stranger threatens to reveal her secret unless she helps
him find his kidnapped sister

IG - She wants a family of her own
IM - because she's been alone
IC - but no man can accept her dark secrets and love her


Hero
EG - He wants to find his missing sister
EM - because he's to blame for her disappearance
EC - but he can only do it by blackmailing the heroine

IG - To earn the respect of his adopted family
IM - because he owes them for giving him a home
IC - but he feels he'll never be worthy of them

Of course, maybe these are so apparent to me because I'm writing chapter 8 right now. Maybe? LOL, I've completed two other books and wasn't so sure about the GMC's even after I finished!

The Little Frog

I just read an article by an author that really resonates with me. I'm posting an excerpt of it here so I don't forget.

"One of my favorite stories, one that I repeated to myself almost daily was a story about two frogs. Two very thirsty frogs. They were out for a walk along a dusty country road and happened upon an open bottle of milk. Nearly dying of thirst, they jumped in feet first and immediately went under.

When they surfaced, gasping for air, the first frog cried: "We're going to drown. We're going to drown."

"No," said the second frog, keeping his calm. "If we paddle our feet, we'll stay afloat. We won't drown."

"But I can't paddle," whined the first frog, making a half-hearted attempt before giving up. "I'm too scared. I'm too tired."

"Just keep paddling," the wise second frog repeated, his little green feet moving like mad.

"No, it's too hard. I'm afraid. I'm too tired," cried the weaker one.

I guess I don't have to tell you what happened to this little frog. It was much easier for him to cry and complain, to give up; thus, what he feared most happened because he refused to even try. When the going got tough, he just gave up.

The second frog, although saddened by his friend's death, became even more determined to stay alive and soon, a funny thing happened.

As always happens with milk, the cream rises to the top. The little frog had paddled so hard and for so long, when the rich, thick cream rose to the top of the milk bottle, it carried him with it, higher and higher until he was able to jump out of the bottle and save himself.

So if the going ever gets rough, really rough, and you?re tempted to whine or just give up, think about the little frog who refused to give up.

And keep paddling like hell, because with desire, discipline and determination, eventually you will reach your goal. Remember, cream always rises to the top!

Sharon De Vita, an Adjunct Professor of Literature and Communication, is an award-winning author with over a million copies of her Silhouette novels in print.'

Words to live by, eh?

Cheer!

After reading the partial of Heartstone, the editor at Cerridwen Press asked for the full! It's not an offer of a contract, of course, but it goes a long way toward disspelling my disappointment in the rejection I received from the agent a few days ago especially since I consider Devil's Choice a much stronger story.

There are other agents out there though and that gal has lost a potential client.

Speaking of stories, I made real progress on Rider this week and resolved, in my mind, a small problem I'd had with the hero's occupation. I think this new job will put a bunch more tension between him and the heroine and, if I can resolve it successfully, make it a much stronger story.

Rejection

Sticks and stones will break my bones,
but words will never hurt me.

That's a lie. I just received the agent's rejection on DC and it hurts.

When I read the letter, all I saw was 'We're being extemely selective and, while I found this project intriguing, I didn't love it enough to pursue for our list.' This immediately translated to 'You're no good. Why did you send this crap to us?'

I put the letter down. Did a few household chores (housework doesn't stop just because you have a day job or a rejection). Thought perhaps the agent sees something in my work, something that's a clear indicator, regardless of how many contests DC has finaled in, that says this will never sell.

I thought about quitting. Seriously thought about it. Why write if you so obviously have a lack of talent? Why put yourself out there risking rejection and those hurtful words 'I didn't love it enough to pursue'? I have always written stories--I can continue to do that for my own enjoyment and with no risk.

I looked at the letter again hoping something in it would tell me if I should quit.

'You have an interesting premise and an eye for detail' opened the letter. Well, that's not exactly 'your story is crap' but it's not a big compliment either, is it? So I'm wondering now if it's one of those 'let her down gently' lines like guys use. You know the one -- 'I'd like us to be friends'. That tells a person where the relationship is headed, doesn't it?

Nowhere.

But I do believe DC has an interesting premise and, damn it, I do believe I have an eye for detail. One of my writing instructors once said 'The story is in the details.' I have to believe he was right and if he was, then I have to continue working toward publication.

That's the goal. And meanwhile, I can continue writing the stories I love for my own amusement.

With luck one day I'll find an editor or agent who absolutely loves my writing.

I'd keep my fingers crossed but that makes typing, legibly, awfully hard.

A Sad Day

Yesterday, a sad day for us all, Pope John Paul II passed away. While I am neither Polish nor Catholic, I always admired the Pope. He had a joy about him that transcended nationalities or religions or age. He will be missed.