Roughly half of the Earth’s human population is female. With this in mind, it is a bit surprising that the majority of the heroes in the Action-Adventure genre, as a whole, are male. We have a few exceptions in fierce (and slightly intimidating) Sydney Bristow from TV’s Alias, Ellen Ripley from the Alien series, Sterling Archer’s partner Lana Kane, and more—but their numbers pale in comparison to that of their male counterparts. The beauty in this is simple: there exists a world of strong, heroic women waiting to be written. We’re here to help those of you who are brave enough to embark on the journey with your heroine by asking a few questions about her.
What is her personality?
What is she like? This can determine a general direction for your entire plot. Is she tough and nearly untouchable? Is she kind and sweet, with just the right amount of spunk to make her an unlikely heroine? Maybe her history has taught her to be careful in choosing whom she trusts, or maybe it’s a lesson she must learn along the way. A flat character is not always easier to read; adding personality quirks and unique characteristics to your heroine can pull your readers in deeper with every word.
What does she look like?
Is she a tall, Amazon-type woman? Is she small and unassuming? Many writers create characters with incredible strength and beauty, but there can be value in a plain face, one who is able to hide herself easily in a crowd when needed. Does she dress to impress or look like a vagabond? While appearance may seem like a trivial aspect of your heroine, her appearance affects how other characters, and your readers, interact with her. Plan accordingly.
Why is she here?
What’s her motivation? Few people, characters or otherwise, will embark on a perilous journey without a driving force or significant reason. Is it love? Has the antagonist put her family in peril? Has her past come back to haunt her, blackmailing her into action? Knowing your heroine’s motivation, more than just her purpose (which is still important), creates a deeper connection between her and your readers. A reader feels more for the main character if her reasons for doing what she must are evident.
What is her task?
Is she part of a group out to save the country from a ruthless corporation? Has she been enslaved and forced to fight her way out of captivity and vie for her freedom at the expense of that of others? Her true love may have been abducted, circumstances forcing her to travel to the end of the world to rescue him. Her challenge is vital, breathing life and purpose into the pages of your book and captivating your audience enough to keep them coming back for more.
Many different components come together to flesh out a character, especially one as intriguing as a female action heroine. Your answers can bring her to life, a real and nearly-tangible character for readers to relate to and appreciate. Remember that any character can be male or female. There is an almost untapped power in writing female heroines, an entire world to be explored by those willing. Are you willing? Now’s the time to write the next great Action Heroine!
More help from “On Writing Action-Adventure” coming soon, so check back with us here at Jabari & Jaser.
