July 10, 2008 | Filed under: Stuff
We’ve gone over what makes a great hero before — those eyes, that bod, the sexy smile, the outlook on life, his occupation, etc. — but it occurred to me as I struggle with my current heroine, that we haven’t really talked about that so much.
My current heroine is stubborn, tough on the outside, vulnerable on the inside, and did I mention stubborn? A mule has nothing on this woman. I guess what I’m saying is that she’s flawed. Maybe more so than any heroine I’ve written before.
So here’s my question. What makes a heroine worthy of her book, in your eyes? And can you think of your favorite ones? If you can’t remember their names, that’s okay, tell me what drew you to her. Curious minds want to know.
Posted by Jill @ 1:00 am | Make a Comment
Stacy ~ says:
Jessica from Loretta Chase’s “Lord of Scoundrels”. She was intelligent, beautiful, fierce, loyal, and didn’t let the hero intimidate her one bit (no matter how she tried). She actually shot him. While pretty cool, that’s not why I liked her. Well, not completely, anyway. It’s because she didn’t change herself for her man. She was who she was, no apologies. She was also super attracted to her hero, Dain, yet never denied it. That was pretty cool too.
Als Daphne from Laura Lee Guhrke’s “Guilty Pleasures”. She was considered more plain, a bookish woman that the hero could easily ignore. Once she found his out about him, she didn’t get a new makeover and become this ravishingly beautiful woman to grab his attention. Instead she used her brains and stood up to the idiot and showed him what she was made of. He didn’t stand a chance.
So I like heroines who don’t change themselves to please a man. They don’t give up a job they love to run off to follow his dream, they don’t back down, and they aren’t afraid to show him how smart she is. Instead it’s the hero who has to prove themselves worthy. Love that.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 3:17 amStacy ~ says:
Note to self: proofread. That should say (no matter how much HE tried).
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 3:24 amMental P Mama says:
Mary Wollstonecraft. She wrote the first treatise on women’s rights during the French Revolution. Brilliant work, she just couldn’t adhere to it always…as a matter of fact, I truly think I was Mary Wollstoncraft. Seriously. Everyone is human.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 4:48 amAsthmagirl says:
Diana Gaboldon’s Claire. Smart, clever, capable and a true protagonist. Although she is thrust into a strange and violent world, she doesn’t sob in her pillow. Claire always has a plan. She is also capable of appreciating Jamie. She doesn’t romanticize him or trivialize him. She understands men generally and Jamie particularly. She never takes the position that men are stupid or “I’m swearing off men”.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 5:23 amHer ability to veiw people and plots clearly, her appreciation of the lives of the people around her, make her someone that you can respect and someone that you’re interested in.
The fact that she still occasionally worries about the size of her ass seals the deal in my opinion!
Dee says:
Dadgummit, Asthmagirl took my idea. The Outlander books are all so awesome and Claire rocks. I met Diana Gabaldon at a lecture once, and she’s a tiny little woman with long black hair and brown eyes - no glamourpuss at all, but so funny and so intelligent.
I like heroines who screw up and fix situations themselves, without anyone rescuing them. I think we as women need to see that. Everybody screws up.
I also like heroines who are not gorgeous, but who have other interesting attributes, like a great smile or sense of humor, or great kindness. I like Catherine Coulter’s heroines because they usually are like that.
I can’t stand heroines whose main preoccupation is shopping or shoes or their hair, or other such vain nonsense. This woman is my hero:
http://www.littlebrowndress.com
Dee
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 6:16 amElen says:
Jill - I hopped on my ancient laptop to respond.
I love all kinds of heroines. I particularly love them if their sassy and have some gumption, grit. Mostly, they need to be believable. Not realistic, but believable. Flaws and vulnerabilities are a given.
One of my fave heroines is Rachel Stone from Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Dream A Little Dream. Lady Johanna from Julie Garwood’s Saving Grace. Lady Madelyne from JG’s Honor’s Splendour. Actually, any of her historical heroines. Lilia London from Karen Kendall’s Open Invitation. In some ways they are fragile and, yet, have backbones of steel. They show grace and courage under pressure. They push through their fear.
I have to stop now. lol
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 6:25 amJess in MA says:
Oh, that’s a tough one! In general I like it when a heroine, and hero for that matter, grow and change. Like the ladies above mentioned, not to change FOR someone, but for themselves. We all learn and grow over time and having a challenge come your way lets you decide whether you like yourself as you are and want to stand up for that or if you have some changes to make before you’re satisfied. So I enjoy stories where someone looks at themselves and decides for themselves what is best.
Hmm, some of my favorite heroines: just about all the ladies written by Jennifer Crusie- they aren’t perfect and they are funny with zany families. My favorite pairing of a hero and heroine in need of some growing up was Mary Jo Putney’s The Rake.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 6:28 amAshley says:
Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum is the first one that comes to mind. She’s the average everyday girl who can hang with the guys better than most other guys could! She’s snarky and doesn’t back down. I like alot of the same things that the others ladies like: won’t change for a man, fixes screw ups herself, and she is who she is -take it or leave it!
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 6:39 amAnother heroine that I liked alot that I just finished reading is Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Natural Born Charmer) Blue Bailey, even though she was hiding from herself, she was hilarious, and the chemistry between her and the hero, Dean, made that book!
jo says:
One of my favorites is Eve Dallas in the in death series. She is tough and stubborn but vulnerable at times. I love reading about her because you never know what she going to do next. I also enjoyed Jamie from lori foster, Faith knew what she had to do to protect her daughter and would stop at nothing to get it done. That entire series is wonderful.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 7:10 amAllie says:
One of my favorite heroines of all time is Mrs. Polifax. She is bored with her life and decides to apply at the CIA to be a spy. Through a complete fluke, she is sent on her first assignment. There is a whole series of these books and I just love them. Mrs. Polifax is independent, resourceful, and never gives up. I love characters who are independent, stubborn, resourceful, and full of common sense. I also love it when they have a quirky female sidekick of some kind.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 7:10 amLaurie says:
One of my favorite heroines is Jane from Rachel Gibson’s See Jane Score - feisty, smart-mouthed and self-assured but at the same time incredibly vulnerable and insecure. She wasn’t wishy-washy, but experienced multiple emotions, like we all do in our everyday lives.
Another favorite is Lily from Susan Andersen’s Getting Lucky. Lily was a highly intelligent woman, a corporate chef who’s determined to own her own restaurant someday, all packed into the body of a five foot brick house. She was determined and strong, knowing she didn’t need a man to succeed, but willing to admit that it was nice to have one around. Luc didn’t stand a chance from the moment he first saw her, but after he got to know her, he was a total goner.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 7:13 amLiza says:
Eve Dallas from the In Death Series is my favorite heroine. She is smart and doesn’t take crap from anyone, but she shows her vulnerable side when she is with Roarke. She also has overcome so many things in life that it just makes her even more amazing.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 7:22 amDiane W says:
Jill-
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 7:37 amI would have to agree with what the ladies have said so far. Spunk, gumption, believability, depth, a huge capacity for love, strong enough to accept help, and a big one for me is common sense.
I have to be honest with you Jill…when you said your new character was stubborn as a a mule, warning bells went off in my head. I have read books with stubborn heroins and they become annoying. A huge turn off.
The “I know the bad guys are after me and it makes perfect sense to confide in you and tell you the truth but I wont because I can do this on my own and I feel I am protecting you and I am stubborn” or the “I know it is silly to try to go off on my own when you have shown how well we can handle the situation together, but I will trick you and sneak off on my own when you are not aware of it because I am stubborn” heroin is a big turn off for me. She had better show some growth or the book will go unread.
I also like an intelligent heroin. This means that there should be intelligent conversation between hero and heroin. I am a huge fan of humor but the heroin who has nothing but sarcastic replies does not do it for me. The characters are adults and the conversation should reflect that.
I guess this has been more of what I do not like in a heroin as opposed to what I like in a heroin! Sorry!!
Amy says:
I like the heroines who are clearly wounded, but are dealing with it with perserverance, spunk and attitude. That “never let ‘em see you sweat” mentality. It’s great fun to watch and shows what strong women they are. They don’t do stupid things just to prove how capable they are, but they will take matters into their own hands before asking for help. They take a strong hero, HE must be worthy of his heroine.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 7:42 amAng. says:
I agree with all of the ladies above.
I like my heroine to be spunky, intelligent, have a sense of humor, and maybe not take herself seriously. She doesn’t NEED to have a man rescue her. She also should have flaws, maybe not be the drop dead beautiful woman that men dream about. I dislike reading about the “barbie girl looks”. What woman in this world has those looks (without buying them)? She needs to be a real woman..you know larger than a size zero, but has a spunkiness in her eyes that men are drawn to and are not real sure why.
Define stubborn? Is she unwilling to change at all, does she want things done only her way (you know my way or the highway)? What made her stubborn? Or does she just believe in her abilities and will not sacrifice her beliefs/abilities for someone else? Some people might see her as stubborn but others may see her as strong.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 7:59 amJill says:
I am loving all your thoughts. And also the fact that Claire and Eve are two of my all time favorite heroines ever.
As for my “stubborn” heroine, there are no bad guys that she walks right into the path of, she’s not going to be too stupid to live, I promise. I guess when I said stubborn, it’s that she wants to be one thing and I sort of had planned for her to be another . . . and we’re going to have to meet in the middle.
And yes, I realize now you’re going to think I’m crazy because I do understand she’s not real, lol, but trust me, there’s a process to this madness called writing and she is not cooperating.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 8:17 amElizabeth K says:
My favorite heroines are resourceful. Intelligent. Inherently good and kind. I hate bitches that snarl and snipe and are too sarcastic. If a heroine comes off as a bitch right away, my interest wanes… sometimes I don’t even finish the book.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 9:15 amDonna M says:
So many of the bloggers have already said it well. The Heroine doesn’t have to be drop dead gorgeous, in fact I love it if she is beautiful but doesn’t seem to know it. The Heroine should be smart, funny, have a big heart, not fight being in love, be true to herself, be able to get up again when life knocks her down, be caring & kind, strong when necessary. Stubborn is okay if she realizes that she could be wrong and have the grace to rethink her positon. Maybe I’m being repetitive! Good luck with this lady, I’m sure the two of you will be able to work things out and end up with a really good story for us to read.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 11:07 amJackie Colt says:
Me too. Eve Dallas and Claire.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 11:43 amMy only gripe with each of them is the reinteration of their back stories. Only because I think each of them have evolved far beyond the wounded stage. Wouldn’t it be interesting to have them in one book.
Karin says:
Anne in L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables is definitely my all-time favorite heroine. She’s just such a great overall character who suffers tons of insecurities stemming from being an orphan and having red hair. Luckily, those insecurities help make her the strong woman she grows into because she overcomes them. She turns them to her advantage, really, and doesn’t take any crap from anyone. She’s also very relatable because the mistakes she makes could happen to anyone. And, she’s pretty courageous as well, in everyday, normal situations.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 12:42 pmBrandy says:
All of my favorites have been listed! I prefer a heroine who will not cower from a man, one who is intelligent and has a sense of humor, not just about the situations around her, but about herself. Good luck with the stubborn heroine!
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 1:02 pmCarol says:
I love any heroine that’s far from perfect. I can identify with a flawed character alot more then someone who is near perfect. Like when Dorie,from Trouble with Paradise, fell going aboard the ship revealing all her worldly goods I said “Yep. Coulda been me!”
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 1:19 pmSusan says:
Schyler Crandall from Slow Heat in Heaven by Sandra Brown is one of my favorite heroines. She is strong and gets to boss around the men that work for her family.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 1:34 pmDiane W says:
My all time favorite heroine has to be Margaret Mitchell’s Scarlett O’Hara. She was not beautiful but people were drawn to her by her charm and the sheer power of her personality. Flawed? Yes! Stubborn? Yes! But you somehow forgave her for that and more because she was Scarlett. The amount of growth she goes through over the 15+ years of the novel is amazing. She goes from a self-centered 16 year old child to a 32 year old woman who has come to see herself clearly and realize the love of those around her. I for one am of the FIRM belief that Scarlett and Rhett found their way back to each other. I also believe that “tomorrow is another day!”.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 2:02 pmAnnette says:
Laura Ingalls Wilder for her determination and spirit.
I also liked Darcy Rhone in Something Borrowed and Something Blue. Like Scarlett O’Hara she is flawed and self-centred, but goes through tremendous growth.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 7:47 pmBayou Woman says:
She is the strong woman, who has a great head on her shoulders, who also exudes sexual appeal without even trying. She is confident, but not boastful. And below the surface there is always, always, always, a mystery about her.
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 8:41 pmYou’re welcome!!!
BW
limecello says:
I think I’m equally demanding of the heroines I read as the heroes, if not more. I relate to them better. I like a smart heroine, and someone who has a spine. However, she shouldn’t be TSTL. I’ve been infuriated with the books I’ve been picking up recently, because the heroines are “strong” and “walk to the beat of their own drum” and are “take charge” - but all they’re doing is creating unnecessary drama, and putting all the characters in danger. I actually hoped the hero would punch the heroine in the face at one point during one of the books… and that he would break her finger while disarming her. [Because yes, she pulled out a gun on him. And to make it better, she had no idea how to use it. But she carried it around with her. Excellent.]
Posted on July 10th, 2008 at 10:25 pmJumping to conclusions, making assumptions, not clarifying or resolving what should have been minor issues with a very simple conversation… I’ve had enough. My suspended belief and tolerance is long gone. I know authors need to create drama and suspense, but I’m reading the wrong books or the wrong authors or something. Ok. Done ranting [I hope].
I also like the heroine to have a sense of humor, and… be real. It’s nice if she has friends - some sort of safety net. She makes mistakes, but knows how to apologize for them, and knows when she’s crossed the line or done something wrong. She also feels bad. [I'm so sick of "bad girl heroines" who mess everything up but won't apologize because "people should just deal" - what kind of message does that send?!!?] (Oh and I loved Diane W’s post. I’m in the camp that Scarlet, while not someone you’d want to deal with daily, was a misunderstood character and under appreciated.) I guess the underlying thing is, I can take a lot if the heroine has heart. Scarlet seems incredibly selfish, but she sacrifices her name, reputation, and relationships in order to help out and care for those that she’s alienated. [Of course, there is only one Margaret Mitchell, so writing about a bitchy heroine people are inclined to hate probably isn't the way to go.]
Cryna says:
I like heroines who are smart, sassy and independent. I hate the clinging ones. Someone who can give back as much as she gets to the hero, and is not afraid to stand up for herself or go head to toe with him. But at the same time has a softer side, and a mystery about her that keeps the hero off balance.
Posted on July 11th, 2008 at 9:21 amNina says:
Hmm heroines… Where to start? Well, like most everyone that has commented before me I like a heroine that is intelligent and not afraid to show it. She knows what she wants, but isn’t too stupid to ask for help when she needs it. Another important thing is also that the heroine has to have the ability to break down and cry once in a while. I mean, we’re only humans. I recently read a novel (no I will not tell you which one, it wasn’t one of yours Jill) where the author piled all sorts of dilemmas on the heroine at the same time and she just went on without really reacting to them as a normal person would. Nobody can take too much without at least have a good cry, a bag of cookies or a new pair of shoes before kicking some bad guy a** and/or getting her man.
Of course, it’s also nice when the heroine doesn’t look like a super model. I mean, how many look like that? It is nice to read about the average woman getting a decent man. Even more cool to read about the average woman getting chosen over the super model.
Nina
Posted on July 14th, 2008 at 3:01 pm