Ah, the heroine. For me, heroes are easy. Easy to write, easy to
read, easy to like. Heroines? Not entirely sure why, but I find heroines not
quite so easy.
An ideal heroine is what we’d like to see in
ourselves—self-confident, smart, independent and inviting a partner with those
same qualities. Strong enough to be a little soft and vulnerable at times. The
same as a hero, I think, but on occasion it’s difficult to depict those
qualities in a heroine without her appearing bitchy (mean-spirited or
nasty/hurtful to others), whiny, or worst of all, the dreaded TSTL. Character
flaws are great, but the hard part is portraying them in such away they aren’t
over the top, annoying, or give an impression an author might not necessarily
intend. My biggest pet peeve is a heroine that comes across with a streak of
bitchiness used in place of strong, independent character traits, like the two
are one and the same. They aren’t. Conviction, opinion, and confidence don’t
have to have a negative connotation and can be tempered with common decency and
politesse, but showing that can be a challenge. A hero can be portrayed as an
asshole in place of strength and confidence just as often as a heroine, but
have we come to accept that as a double standard—it’s okay for a man to be an
ass, but not a woman to be a bitch? Not sure, but I’d love to hear other
thoughts and opinions on the subject.
