Coleen Kwan | Goal, Motivation, and Conflict in KISSING HER ENEMY

One of the first things an author learns when creating her characters is the
concept of GMC, or Goal, Motivation, and Conflict. Goal is simply what the
character wants. Motivation is why he or she wants that goal. Conflict is what’s
standing in the way of that goal. The goal of a character is something to be
achieved in the future, whereas motivation is rooted in a character’s backstory
or past.

In my new book, KISSING HER ENEMY, backstory plays an important part in both my heroine (Amber) and hero (Logan). Amber grew up in a trailer park, raised by her single mom, whereas Logan was born into one of the wealthiest families in town, wanting for nothing. Amber quickly learned to fend for herself, using her natural feistiness as a defense against bullying and put-downs at school. But then she met Logan in her senior year and developed a secret crush on the rich and popular jock. Against all odds, it seemed Logan liked her too. Until she caught him with his girlfriend and caused an almighty public scene that had Logan embarrassed, seething, and avoiding her like the plague.

Twelve years later, Amber is the proud owner of a hardware store. She’s worked
really hard to achieve this. Her store supports not just her, but her flighty
mom, too, who is recovering from illness. So Amber is understandably horrified
when she learns than Logan wants to buy all the stores on her block, demolish
them, and build a huge hardware and garden center. If the project went ahead,
her neighboring store owners would be able to relocate their businesses to
another part of town, but Amber wouldn’t be able to compete against the super
center and would have to close her business. After years of struggling, Amber’s
not about to give in, especially with her mom needing assistance and outstanding
medical bills still to pay.

Logan has returned home to take over the running of the family company from his
father. Ostensibly, this is merely part of a succession plan, but in reality he
needs to rescue the company from financial ruin due to his father’s
mismanagement, while also hiding this from his mom and sister. His father,
recovering from illness, refuses to acknowledge his mistakes and insists on
meddling in Logan’s decisions. Worse still, his parents have decided that, given
Logan’s reputation as a player, they won’t give Logan full control of the
company until he’s in a relationship with a ‘suitable’ girl.

Logan desperately needs the proposed mega hardware center to save his family
fortunes. Building it will also prove to his father that he’s more than capable,
and hopefully stop his parents from trying to match him with a woman of their
choosing. He thinks it’s a win-win situation for everyone including the store
owners, since they will get a decent price for their aging properties and either
retire or relocate to somewhere else in town.

So he’s stunned when Amber barges into his office and declares that she’ll never
sell to anyone, and especially not to him. Logan is sympathetic toward her
plight, but he’s determined to build his mega center. The two are immediately at
loggerheads, but despite their antagonism, the attraction between them is as
strong as ever. This is very unexpected and inconvenient for both of them! How
can they remain enemies when they find each other so irresistible? But they must
because others are depending on them. There’s too much at stake for them to fall
for each other.

So there you have it, the goal, motivation, and conflict for my hero and
heroine. I hope you enjoy reading Amber and Logan’s story. I certainly enjoyed
writing it!

Coleen Kwan