Yesterday here at MBT we talked about your heroine’s fears and flaws and how they work together to create a heroine that becomes heroic. 

Today, let’s touch on another element that a heroine needs —

Confidence.

Just like we don’t like wimpy heroes, we don’t like flimsy heroines.  Give her a sense of self that is confident, despite her flaws. It’s easy for a heroine to have flaws – mostly because we write about ourselves, and we all have flaws. So you need to work at putting confidence into your heroine, and giving her something she’s good at, that makes us applaud her.

Often, that confidence rises in the end to allow her to do something that she has never done before.  However, we need to see hints about it as the story progresses and as we get to know her better. 

For example, the heroine in 27 Dresses is excellent at helping someone plan their wedding, and making sure they have the perfect day. After all, she’s done it at least 27 times!  But she is terrible at voicing her own needs – which is why she ends up in 27 ugly dresses.  And, along that vein, she’s terrible at going after the man she longs for.  (as see by the way her sister takes the man she’s always loved – and our heroine even agrees to be in the wedding).  Finally, however she is able to recognize the man she truly loves – and in her final confident moment, she goes after him. 

The heroine in Sweet Home Alabama is excellent at controlling a staff of people and her own destiny – in the designer world of NYC.  But she can’t seem to control anyone down in Alabama, and of course her ex-husband is in control of her destiny.  She finally takes control if her heart at the end by choosing the man she’s always loved.

The heroine in Pearl Harbor is an RN – she can save lives, and keep her cool in times of darkness.  But she can’t seem to heal her heart.  However, she knows what the right thing to do is when she becomes pregnant – she’ll ‘save the life’ of the baby she carries – and heal herself by loving the father “with her whole heart.”

Give your heroine some confidence – something she does well, and something she then uses to stand up and become truly heroic in her darkest moment. 

Sometimes it helps to ask:  What is your heroine good at, and how does that skill help her save the day?   Combine that with:  What can your heroine do at the end of the book that she can’t do at the beginning. 

Now you have the makings of a heroic heroine.

Need help building your characters?  Want feedback on how to use their confidence to create that heroic moment?  Can you think of heroic moments by your favorite heroines?  Go to: www.mybooktherapy.ning.com and join in on the discussion!

Every Voice Counts!

Susie May