Writing Romance: Creating a Heroine

Gone are the days of the so-called “feisty” heroine who was really only feisty until the hero came around. Let a tall, handsome hero walk in the room and suddenly all her spark flew out the window. Perhaps the industry didn’t truly believe readers wanted a strong heroine and believed what they really wanted was Cinderella. (I think a lot of romance authors wanted to write strong heroines, but were stifled by a cautious publishing industry.)

Well, the industry seems to have caught up with the readers, because today’s heroines are witty, successful, powerful and completely able to stand on their own two feet without the help of a man. In fact, many times, the only thing missing in the heroine’s life is romance. Enter the hero, stage left. Wait, let’s hold off on that stage direction and talk about today’s heroine.

What is different about today’s heroines from yesterday’s heroines?

Yesterday’s heroines, even though they were passionate with the hero, were weak. They were unable to take care of themselves without the aid of a man. If she held a job, she was a nurse, secretary, kindergarten teacher or some profession that often required she bow to an over-demanding hero. She was a nurturer who put the needs of others first, often neglecting her own needs or giving up her dream for the sake of the hero.

Jump forward to today. But let me clarify that there is nothing wrong with the professions listed above and even today, there are still heroines who fill those positions, but they have a different attitude about their work—they bow to no one.

Today’s heroines are strong, independent, and oftentimes a little sassy. The best part is she doesn’t lose that attitude when she meets the hero. In fact, the hero just may bring these qualities even more to the surface, causing her to dig in her feet and stand her ground. She wants it all and she’s not afraid to make her dreams come true. She can still be kind and gentle, but she needs to have an inner strength that reveals itself to the reader.

But what about flaws? Should she have any? Of course, yesterday’s heroine might not have had any by yesterday’s standard, but today’s heroine has flaws. She isn’t perfect, but be careful if she has a deeply rooted flaw which could make her un-relatable. Readers are not as forgiving of a heroine’s flaws as they are a hero’s flaws. It hardly seems fair, but if you remember that she is the one that the readers want to relate to it won’t be so hard to believe. The readers want a heroine who says the things they would say and does what they wish they could do. They don’t want a heroine who makes irrational decisions that irritates them. They can forgive the hero his flaws, because they are cheering for the heroine to overcome them.

It has been said that heroes are tortured by their past and heroines are tormented by theirs. To put it another way, heroes often react to their pasts by acting out, whereas heroines are often reflective of their pasts, afflicted with self-doubt.

The most important thing about heroines today is they are not doormats. No matter what archetype she is or how strong her hero is, she does not let him walk all over her. She does not throw common sense to the wind, and she does not act foolishly when the hero comes into the room. She will try to hold tightly to her independence, but she will be drawn to the hero who fills the romantic void she has been missing in her life, even if she didn’t realize she was missing it.

Okay, now…. Enter the hero, stage left.

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