goal, motivation, and conflict - the three building blocks of good fiction. Goal - something the character wants; when the character pursues a goal, it creates forward momentum in the story and gives the reader an objective to root for. Motivation - the reason the character wants the goal and cannot quit until she gets it; motivation makes the story believable and helps the reader sympathize with the character. Conflict - something that makes it difficult for the character to reach her goal; it tests the character's determination and makes the story interesting. The term "GMC" was popularized by romance author Debra Dixon's how-to book GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict.