Writing the Fierce Female Lead
Dear Maggie,
Romance novels aren’t all about the dashing hero saving the damsel in distress anymore. I want to read about modern women in these stories. How do you write a strong leading lady in the romance genre? What qualities should she have?
Sincerely,
A Romance Reader in Raleigh
Dear Romance Reader,
What a great question! Because I published my first few books in the still somewhat male-dominated science fiction world, I’ve given a lot of thought to writing strong female lead characters. This thoughtfulness followed straight into my romantic suspense series.
Here are some things I consider when developing the ladies. First, strong women can come in many flavors. She doesn’t have to be a warrior princess wielding a sword or leading an army into battle to be fierce. We don’t have to make our women behave like men to show them as powerful. That doesn’t mean they can’t inhabit previously male dominated spaces and perform well there. I’m currently working on a female lead who was an ex-marine and is now a bodyguard. It only means that we can show a range of personalities and talents, careers and interests, reflective of real women.
Second, strength itself can be shown in different ways. A woman who has been a victim can become a survivor. A woman can save her man. A woman can use her intelligence to get out of a jam. Strength can be shown by healing, solving, loving, persevering, and sometimes walking away if necessary.
In addition to a romantic relationship, romantic suspense novels have to have an element of danger and adventure. In my stories, even if the woman needs rescuing at some point, I don’t ever portray her without agency. She’s never only just a damsel in distress, even if she is in distress!
Finally, a woman doesn’t have to be perfect to be strong. Neither does the male lead, for that matter. A character, just like a person, comes with imperfections and flaws. These things make us human, and they make our characters relatable and authentic. Strength can be shown by a character working through a flaw, overcoming an insecurity, showing fear but acting anyway. Characters will make mistakes, just like real people. Mistakes offer opportunities for character growth and evolution, and they provide good material for plot complications.
Strong women are fun and satisfying to write. I try to develop female characters with varying personalities, skills, and different dreams and desires. I hope you enjoy meeting the feisty leading ladies in the Tactical Solutions International series!
In other news…
Hop on over to Goodreads during the month of October, and enter to win a FREE copy of Sing for Me, book 1 in the Tactical Solutions International series!
From October 1 - 8, Lost and Found will be discounted to $.99 as part of a Book Bub promo. Take advantage and grab a copy!
So, the vet visited, and it turns out our new kitten is a girl! Neo has been renamed Beatrix after Uma Thurman’s character in Kill Bill. My kids are kinda badass. #BabyBea
