Part One of How to create Heroines who can take care of themselves! (but still want a good man!)
I used to hate romances. Why? Because I didn’t respect a woman who had to have a man to save her. BUT, I did respect a woman who allowed a man into her life to make her better, stronger, more noble, more complete.
Which is why, probably, all the heroines in my books are strong women, — CIA agents, and K-9 Handlers, and bush pilots and fire chiefs.
But for all the toughness of my heroines, they need a good man. So what makes a strong heroine?
The first element is that your Heroine must have a Goal. And that Goal must be measurable, and specific.
Now, both your characters need to have a goal, but it’s essential for your heroine. She needs to be proactive, and fight for something she believes in. We want to get aboard her cause and fight the fight with her. Making her proactive and strong makes her noble and someone we might even want to emulate.
This is similar to our hero’s Noble Cause. However, the truth is our heroines are often innately noble (it’s just the way women are – let’s be honest) Not that men aren’t, but most women are born nurturers, so we don’t need something dark and compelling from our past in order to make us throw ourselves in front of a speeding vehicle to save our child, or sit out in the sleet to watch their football game.
But, we do struggle with goals. (Men, on the other hand often have no problem setting goals – it’s a part of their innate nature).
A great heroine has a goal – and a reason for that goal. (And is must be a reason that resonates or makes sense to the reader).
Let’s take a look at our favorite movies:
My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Our heroine just wants to get away from her family business (the restaurant) and do her own thing. Yes, it helps that she sees the hero in the beginning (which gives her motivation), but her real goal is to respect herself and live life on her own two feet.
Shakespeare in Love: Our heroine wants to play a role in a play – to do something for herself before she is assigned to marry a man she doesn’t love.
Pride and Prejudice: Our heroine wants to marry, yes, but marry for love, not convenience. (Although she realizes that convenience is the convention of the time, and she is going against the flow).
Return to Me: Our heroine wants to finally do the things she couldn’t do when she had a bad heart – ride a bike, go to Italy, fall in love.
You’ve Got Mail: Our heroine wants to save her bookstore, the Little Shop Around the Corner. It was her mother’s store and she wants to hold onto those memories.
Whatever it is, the goal must be measurable and specific, and it must touch at the heart of your reader – something they can get behind and believe in. Without a goal, a heroine simply isn’t…heroic. And she has nothing to fight for in the story.
So – what is YOUR heroine’s goals? Go to www.mybooktherapy.ning.com and post them in the Heroic Heroine’s discussion. If you need feedback, or help finding a goal, let us know – Every Voice Counts!
My goal is to post the NEXT element of a Heroic Heroine tomorrow! See you then!
Susie May