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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMany authors shy away from writing soppy, weak, emotional women characters\u2014which they should. But instead of correcting these characters, they run right past the truth to a one-dimensional, unfeeling, female warrior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, I\u2019m going to be showing you several tips to consider when trying to write a strong female character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Tough is not always buff<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Your female character doesn\u2019t have to possess physical strength to be strong. Along with this, they don\u2019t have to know how to shoot a gun or something else of that nature. True strength doesn\u2019t lie in physical ability. And let\u2019s all face it\u2026 generally speaking, men are physically stronger than women anyways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your woman character just might have to ask for help in lifting those heavy boxes up the stairs. Or it may even turn out (gasp) that someone else has to rescue them<\/em> from the evil villain. This does not<\/em> need to determine their strength as a character\u2014and even if they are<\/em> female warrior-types, allowing their outward strength to define them is still just poor writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So looking at our example in Judges, we see that we aren\u2019t really given a physical description of Deborah. And that works because we\u2019re not focused on that\u2026 we know that Deborah is a strong character because of her internal\u2014not external\u2014state. Also notice that it never says that Deborah went to fight in the battle, or even that she led soldiers into the battle. She wasn\u2019t a warrior, but that doesn\u2019t make her character any less strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have a female character who is muscular, hardened, and ready to fight, just ask yourself a few questions. Why<\/em> is she strong? Is it because of her physical abilities? Or is it because of who she is inside?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Tough is not always emotionless<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s a popular misconception out there that tough people don\u2019t cry. This is true in a sense\u2014strong characters are not spineless wimps who moan, groan, and whine about anything and everything. Nor are they emotional wrecks who struggle to keep it together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, as the Bible says in Ecclesiastes, there is \u201ca time to weep\u201d and \u201ca time to mourn.\u201d While strong characters are generally going to be just that\u2014strong\u2014there will be times for weeping. It\u2019s okay for them to break down over the loss of a loved one, or to have some kind of fear. This does not make them weak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea that strong characters never feel any kind of sorrow or fear is kind of a pet peeve of mine. It\u2019s unrealistic, inaccurate, and\u2014yes\u2014unbiblical. While God does not want us to be falling apart all the time, there will be points in our lives where we are overwhelmed by grief, pain, and sadness. But this is where a truly strong character will lean on God instead of on themselves. Rather than steeling themselves against any emotion or letting their feelings rule their lives, they will give these cares to their Savior, trusting Him through the emotional time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So in our example from Judges, Deborah is definitely far from emotionless. Now, reading just chapter 4 might give us this impression, since it\u2019s focusing more on what\u2019s happening than what the characters are feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, in chapter 5, we find that Deborah and Barak break into song. This beautiful piece of poetry is full of emotion. Yet even here, we find an overall tone\u2014not of fear, sorrow, or even bravado\u2014but a simple faith in the Lord. And this is the type of strong character that we should portray in our stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So ask yourself\u2026 is your female character unrealistically emotionless? Have you succumbed to the lie that tough characters don\u2019t let emotions show? Does this character have any fears? Is she portrayed as a real person with real feelings, or is she just an unemotional machine?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Tough is not always masculine<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This goes along with the previous points. A woman does not have to act like a man in order to be tough. As I mentioned before, men generally have greater physical strength than women. However, since we\u2019ve already determined that physical strength does not make up internal strength, why then should a woman have to appear externally masculine to be a strong character?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are plenty of tough women who have retained their femininity, and this is the way it should be. Your female character doesn\u2019t have to be masculine or have a man\u2019s job. In fact, one of the toughest jobs out there is motherhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So don\u2019t be afraid to let your strong female character be feminine. Perhaps she falls in love, shows motherly instincts towards her children, or (horror of horrors) likes the color pink. Again, this is not what defines toughness. Internal fortitude makes up a truly strong character\u2014and this goes for men, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Deborah\u2019s story, we find that, as I said before, she did not try to take over a man\u2019s job. She didn\u2019t fight in the battle, and the Bible never even says that she sought out people to give counsel to as a judge. All it does say is that the people came to her for judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This really says a lot about what one\u2019s testimony can do. There\u2019s no need for being showy\u2026 simply live out your life as God would have you do, and you will find that He will bless that. Whether or not His plans include something big and grand such as Deborah\u2019s role as judge, or something seemingly small such as the day-to-day tasks a mother does, a strong character will embrace and thrive in whatever situation they are placed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is your strong female character distinctly feminine? Or does she give the impression of a woman who\u2019s straying from God\u2019s design? Do you allow the presence (or lack) of masculine traits to gauge the strength of a female character?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Tough is not always flawless<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This can be more of a writer\u2019s subconscious tendency than anything else. We want our female character to look tough, so to have her slip up or make mistakes would show her true, flawed nature. Yet the Bible says that \u201call have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.\u201d So whether she is a Christian or an unbeliever, your female character is going to sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, a truly strong character would have the right response toward these sins. But in fiction, it sometimes takes a while for them to come around. In a Positive Change Arc, she may spend most of the story wrestling with her flaws. In a Flat Arc, she\u2019ll have flaws, but they won\u2019t necessarily be very evident or emphasized. (We\u2019ll talk more about this balance in our Plots and Character Arcs series.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So give your female character a problem with pride, or anger, or worry. As I stated before, she will overcome the most major flaws by the end of the story, but they need to be there. Also, they need to be portrayed as wrong throughout the story. Don\u2019t give your audience the impression that these sins are okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deborah\u2019s flaws are not really mentioned in Judges since she is a Flat Arc character. But this doesn\u2019t mean she isn\u2019t dimensional. She\u2019s still portrayed as human, whether or not her flaws are portrayed. And there are many other examples in the Bible of flawed yet strong female characters. If you have time, Rahab and Miriam are two that you should definitely check out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking at your own female character, ask yourself a few questions. Is she portrayed as realistic and human? Does she have any evident flaws? If not, is this because she is a Flat Arc whose flaws are not emphasized, or is it because you think it will affect her strength as a character?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Note: This point can be applied to all characters, not just strong female characters. There is no such thing as a flawless person this side of Heaven, so make sure you\u2019re portraying all of your characters realistically.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Tough is not always rebellious<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
I would go so far as to say that a truly strong character will<\/em> not be rebellious. (When I refer to rebellion during this point, I mean the unruly, disobedient attitude of one who refuses to even regard authority.) It\u2019s very popular today (especially in YA fiction) for the strong female characters to be incredibly rebellious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know some people won\u2019t take this well, but God has put authority over every person, whether it be parents, bosses, or government leaders. And the Bible states very plainly that we are to have a respectful and submissive attitude towards these authorities. Now, we are to obey them only in the Lord, which means that we should not obey if we\u2019re told to do something wrong. But there are no excuses for disobedience just because we don\u2019t feel like it or because we have a different opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again, this is very unpopular today, especially among young people. YA fiction is full of rebellion, breaking boundaries, and going outside of God\u2019s plan. A true strong character is one who will stand up for what\u2019s right<\/em>, not for what they think they should be allowed to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A rebellious attitude in female characters often manifests itself when they disregard authority, such as their parents. They also may take on men\u2019s roles, and their actions will typically be bold, brash, and attention-drawing. This is not the mark of a truly strong character. Rather, it\u2019s the description of someone who gives in to their own desires, opinions, and wishes instead of following the design of the one who created them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This does not mean that a woman cannot defend herself, cannot have her opinions, and cannot have a voice. In fact, when a truly strong female character humbly obeys God first, she will often find that she\u2019s going against the flow. But she will not do it in a way that seeks to bring herself attention and recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, it is<\/em> possible to have a strong female character who is rebellious. As I said before, every person has flaws. But since rebellion is so often looked upon as good, we as writers should be very careful to portray our characters\u2019 rebellion as a flaw rather than a virtue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Deborah\u2019s story, we find that, though she is a judge, she still submits herself to the authority of God. She is also very respectful towards Barak, the leader of the Israelite army. Now, does that mean that she just keeps her mouth shut and lets him do all of the decision-making? Absolutely not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, what we find is that she tells Barak exactly what God expects him to do. She\u2019s not shy about it, though she is respectful. And when Barak fails to rise to the task set before him, Deborah does exactly what she should do. She doesn\u2019t make him look like a coward in front of his troops (though he kind of does that himself). She doesn\u2019t spin on her heel and say, \u201cFine, if you won\u2019t lead the army into battle, I\u2019ll do it myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, she simply aids and encourages him towards embracing his God-given role, which is exactly what a strong female character should do when someone else fails to do their job. (Though, depending on the situation, there may come a point where she\u2019ll need to take over a task that wasn\u2019t originally her own.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the battle is over, Deborah doesn\u2019t make some kind of sarcastic remark, say how she was right all along, or boast about how a woman was the one to take down Sisera. Really, the only glimpse we get of Deborah\u2019s reaction is her and Barak\u2019s song in chapter 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is how it should be. No flaunting or boasting or hair-flipping\u2026 just praise to God for what He did. Besides, I\u2019m sure Barak didn\u2019t need any sarcastic jabs to get the point (God made that point loud and clear when He delivered Sisera into the hand of a woman).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So ask yourself some more questions about your female character. Is she rebellious towards authority, either in action or attitude? If so, is this rebellion portrayed as right or wrong? Does she seek to get attention or recognition for her accomplishments? Is she constantly pushing the boundaries God and her authorities have set for her?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore we close\u2014in case you\u2019re thinking that no one ever actually writes a strong female character this way\u2014here are a few examples of some pretty resilient women characters from real-life fiction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Ma Ingalls (\u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
- Pacarina (\u201cBrothers at Arms\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
- Mary Bailey (\u201cIt\u2019s A Wonderful Life\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
- Marilyn (\u201cThe Redemption of Henry Myers\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
- Marmee (\u201cLittle Women\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
- Courtney Smith-Donnelly (\u201cRemember the Goal\u201d and \u201cThe Perfect Race\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
- Elizabeth Bennett (\u201cPride and Prejudice\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
- Mrs. Hawkins (\u201cTreasure Planet\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This is really just a sample\u2014there are many more examples I can give\u2014but I hope this will help illustrate how to write a strong female character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat is one of your favorite strong female characters? Let me know in the comments below, or drop a note on any other thoughts or questions you might have!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Deborah\u2019s story can be found in Judges chapter 4, so be sure to follow along. There are many different lessons we can learn from this story, but one of them stands out to me. Seeing as Deborah is the only woman judge in this book, I thought it would be fitting to address the idea of a strong female character.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,20],"tags":[31,26,29,45,28,47,46,48],"class_list":["post-273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-analyses","category-the-book-of-judges","tag-bible-analyses","tag-characters","tag-christian-writing","tag-deborah","tag-judges","tag-protagonists","tag-strong-female-character","tag-tough"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=273"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":373,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273\/revisions\/373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Mrs. Hawkins (\u201cTreasure Planet\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Elizabeth Bennett (\u201cPride and Prejudice\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Courtney Smith-Donnelly (\u201cRemember the Goal\u201d and \u201cThe Perfect Race\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Marmee (\u201cLittle Women\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Marilyn (\u201cThe Redemption of Henry Myers\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Mary Bailey (\u201cIt\u2019s A Wonderful Life\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Pacarina (\u201cBrothers at Arms\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Ma Ingalls (\u201cLittle House on the Prairie\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Tough is not always rebellious<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Tough is not always flawless<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Tough is not always masculine<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Tough is not always emotionless<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n