Скачать или смотреть The Importance of Strong Female Characters in Literature

When The Ancient One was first written 30 years ago, female characters in fantasy adventures were far more likely to be sidekicks and love interests rather than heroes of their own stories. Strong, intelligent, and courageous young women like Rey, Hermione, and Katniss had yet to find their way into fantasy novels, not to mention mainstream epic tales.

When my first child was born, I had just left my day job to find out if I could write a story worth reading. I was working hard on the first book in the “Adventures of Kate” series, “Heartlight.” At the time of the book’s inception, I didn’t know whether the lead character would be a boy or a girl.

But as the story progressed, I realized that its core idea was that everyone — even a lone youngster — has the power to make choices that could change the whole world. It was an idea that I hoped our infant daughter would someday understand. So I decided to make the protagonist a girl.

The decision to write a strong female character is only the first (and easiest) step. Building on that character and giving her a voice beyond that of just a sidekick takes lots of soul searching, honest listening, and rewrites. But the rewards for doing so are immense.

I’m pleased to say that the hard work was more than worth it. Kate’s adventures — in a distant galaxy, with an ancient Native American tribe, and deep under the sea — became fan favorites.

I get hundreds of letters, emails, and art every year from readers who encounter her stories and identify with this smart, brave, and vulnerable girl. Some of these letters now come from adults who met Kate as a child and who, today, are sharing her adventures with their own children — girls and boys alike.

In this article, originally published by @hypable, I explore the importance of strong female characters in my stories. https://tabarron.com/blog/importance-...

Do you have a favorite female lead character?

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