Looking to grab the attention of literary agents with your work? One way to elevate your writing from the rest of the competition is to develop a strong female lead, without falling victim to clichés.
Here are a few quick tips to help create a real, strong female lead:
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- Don’t forget that strong does NOT mean perfect. Even the strongest of all characters have flaws. No one is perfect, so make sure to develop some personal flaws in your leading lady.
- Character Arcs are important! Develop your character as you do your story. If you start her off with no room to grow, there is no room to go!
- Be Real. A strong female lead does not mean physical perfection. Make her realistic so readers are able to connect and believe in her strength. A physique like Wonder Woman does not equal a strong female lead.
- Avoid Stereotyping. To avoid the cliché trap, identify potential female stereotypes in your writing. If not, your character will lose her believability.
- Give her a reason. What made your character so strong? How did she overcome her fears to grow into the strong lead in your story? What keeps her strong?
- Strong does not mean invincible. A realistic lead will have weaknesses and moments of insecurity and fear. How she overcomes these barriers helps develop her true strength and character.
- Read novels with strong female characters. What makes them real? How do different authors develop their strong female leads into characters that the reader is invested in? How can you get your readers invested in the success of your own character?
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