Getting to the Goal

by Michael Carroll
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Our critique groups, how-to books and writers’ conferences are filled with formulas, and one of the favorites is the formula for goals. The simple equation for fiction is to establish an interesting character, give that character a specific goal that the reader cares about as much as the character does, and then throw a bunch of obstacles in the way. Voila, you have story, narrative, adventure!

Goals come in three general flavors: revenge for something, relief from something, and possession of something. Every major literary work has, at its core, one of these goal types. But we writers can fall into a few pits along the way to creating a goal, and in this case, those pitfalls aren’t story and adventure; they’re potential literary catastrophe. So here are a few tips:

1. Make your goal clear and limited, not general. In Lord of the Rings, is Frodo’s goal “peace in the Shire?” No. How will the reader know when that goal is truly achieved? How will it be recognized? “Peace in the Shire” is far too amorphous. No, Frodo’s goal is far more focused: to toss a ring into the heart of a volcano.

2. Associate the goal with character/s as well as action. When your goal is embodied within a villain or an interesting foil, the story becomes more intimate. Luke Skywalker’s objective was, ultimately, to defeat the Evil Empire. But that empire was beautifully embodied in the quintessential villain Darth Vader. The Empire was an abstract concept. Darth was a sinister and immediate threat.

3. Be hard on your character. That goal can’t be too easy. As author Randy Ingermanson puts it, “Disaster is our friend.” In your character’s darkest moment, make that goal seemingly impossible to reach, and your reader will thank you when your hero pulls a miraculous comeback.

4. Remember who your character is. Your hero’s personality type, the way he or she is wired, can help you determine the goal. That goal will be far more interesting if it contrasts with the character’s essence. Little Women’s Jo March (Louisa May Alcott) bucks the system and stereotypes in her journey to become a writer in a world where women don’t do such things. Frodo Baggins is not a strong warrior, ready to stand at the simmering edge of Mount Doom. He is a small, humble Hobbit called to do something distinctly out of his comfort zone. That is exactly where we want to put our character.

With these simple guidelines, a story can be easier to write, and it can also offer stronger narrative for our readers.