Why write strong female characters? Why do I do it? In short because I am one – or I’m usually at least two of those things. Definitely female, often strong, always a character. Ba da dum tss. When you’re done groaning, please read on.
The best reason to include female characters in your story is that, hey, women are half the world – how are you leaving them out? Okay, but why do they have to be strong you may ask? Because strong people are interesting and make for a compelling narrative. They have enthralling talents, challenging opinions, and make decisions for good or for ill – they drive the story forward rather than being carried along like a leaf in a stream.
For too many years and in too much media, women were portrayed as one-dimensional characters, defined mainly by their relationships with men or used as a plot device, the classic passive damsel in distress. You know, the one who gets easily captured or bamboozled, who twists her ankle and falls to the ground enabling the villain to almost catch the group. The one who screams and faints and get hysterical – always at the worst possible moment. I’m sure we’ve all had enough of that trope. So yes, let us be strong women and write strong women and celebrate strong women.
You can never discuss strong female characters without someone bringing up the dreaded “Mary Sue” accusation. Rather than straying into a discussion of that volatile topic, I’m going to say that I get it. No one likes a character who seems too perfect and is flat and dull due to a lack of flaws and mistakes. The trick to writing strong females without straying into Mary Sue territory is to have more than one female character. When you have only one, then the temptation is to make that woman nearly flawless because so much is hanging on her portrayal. Any flaws she has are magnified. Her screw-ups don’t mean that the character failed, they’re possible proof that women just aren’t up to the job – whatever that job may be. As Clare Boothe Luce said, “Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, ‘She doesn’t have what it takes;’ they will say, ‘Women don’t have what it takes.’” If you have a female character who fails and two or three who contribute to success, you can neatly avoid that pitfall.
When I say strong women, though, I don’t just mean women who can punch or shoot or fight. Though I definitely want to see those characters because for too many years we just didn’t get enough of that. By having several strong women in each of my novels, I can highlight the different ways a character can be strong. For instance, in Where No One Will See we have the MC Lucia. She is physically strong, absolutely, and she can shoot a gun like nobody’s business, but she’s also a talented seamstress who uses that gift to outsmart her foes in a very surprising way. Additionally, she is determined and clever. Then there’s her best friend Juli, who can’t fight or shoot worth a damn but she is morally strong, compassionate, smart, and perceptive. Lastly there’s Angie, Lucia’s mother. She’s not morally upright by any measure but she has grit and street smarts up the wazoo. And she can spot a mark a mile away. These three highlight some very different ways for a woman to be strong, some good, some bad, none dull or too perfect.
In conclusion, strong female characters add variety and vitality to stories that would be otherwise lacking without them. If they’re well-written, they allow women of every stripe to see themselves portrayed as capable and worthy contributors. And lastly, they’re just a lot of fun to read and write.
©Felicia Watson
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