When I asked you what you wanted
to see in a hero, it was pretty easy to see that you ladies were looking for a
protective, compassionate, strong man with a sense of humor.

 

Turns out that you expect a lot
more from your heroine. I found it a bit strange that you desired a man who
would be protective and yet most of you thought a heroine should be strong,
able to take care of herself, not a whiner and feisty to boot.

 

I really appreciated the one answer from a man who said this: Tough,
quick wit, and playing for keeps. Seems even the men don’t want a wimpy lady to
woo.

 

 

Here’s the list I came up with
from your comments.

  

A good heroine should be:

  

Able to look after herself /
relies on self for own happiness  (2)

 

Strong  / Tough  (3)

 

Kind  (4)

 

Empathetic  (2)

 

Good sense of humor  (3)

 

Have common sense  (2)

 

Be able to face her weaknesses  (3)

 

Hard worker

 

Compassionate  (2)

 

Not a whiner  (2)

 

No need to emasculate her man

 

Flawed

 

Honest with herself

 

Try to do the right things

 

Feisty

 

Bold

 

Assertive  (2)

 

Doesn’t worry what others think
of her

 

Intelligent

 

Brave

 

Sharp wit with a sharp tongue

 

Witty  (2)

 

Plays for keeps

 

Not afraid to ask for help

 

Not perfect / have issues and
baggage to be realistic

 

 

The consensus seems to be that
we want heroines that are kind, but tough and with a good sense of humor. They must
have weaknesses so they can face and overcome them. And this journey must be
carried out with wit and a feisty personality.

 

I was surprised and I guess
kinda pleased that, not once, did any of the commenters stress a heroine had to
be beautiful. Yet we all go to great lengths to give our girls lovely,
well-described eyes, flowing locks, sparkling white teeth, plump lips and a
body maybe the author herself yearns for. 
Okay, I’m guilty!

 

For me, I see the hero and
heroine in my story as personalities way before I see the actual person so I
guess even without my knowing it, I’ve instinctively decided on what’s
important and what isn’t. Then I plead guilty to adding their looks and bodies
which I think should match the people I’ve created and – yep – they’re usually well-formed
and good-looking.

 

Obviously, by your own comments,
looks are a minor part of a character’s attributes and not as important as we
may think to the reader. I’ll keep that in mind when I write my next book. However, I’m not saying I’ll go so far as creating someone who’s dirt-ugly because
in truth, no one is born without some positive features, right? But it might be
fun to assist a girl to find her best features…. Oh wait! I already did that
with help from a Cheeky Angel!! (did you see how I snuck in my title
there… hehehe!)

 

 

It
would be interesting to know how you create your character. First their looks –
or their personalities???