#unlikeable heroines

[ellebeauregard]

Author Dream 🔑🔓 Unlocked!

A couple of weeks ago I appeared alongside Jasmine Silvera, Jo Segura, and Jen Comfort at The Ripped Bodice and basically if I die tomorrow I'll have at least that bucket list item checked off. But also, can I go back please?

[mswyrr]

finally saw Lisa Frankenstein

SPOILERS BELOW

i love that this movie is about true love and the writing has no compunction about needing to pretend like true love has to be between moral people - soulmates can be kind of selfish assholes who are nonetheless absolutely perfect for each other and tender and good to each other

and i love, after choking on so many heroines who are so pure it's inhuman in recent YA (which I largely only read for canon f/f) for Lisa to just be... so id-tastic and her story to be driven by the intense feelings of teenage girl coming-of-age stuff that gets prettied up and erased

she was internalizing her pain the way a good girl is "supposed to" -she was hurting so much that she wished she was dead with him. instead, he comes to her and they BOTH come more and more alive as he kills the people who hurt her. in increasingly "unfair" ways because it's not about right & wrong

he's kind of her dark side, speaking to and expressing the things she's shoved down inside along with her will to live - as he acts those things out, as she is complicit and eggs it on, covering for him and feeding him the attempted rapist as a victim, her will to live comes back

but they don't do the "maleficent" (and the whole "bad girl but in a safe way" kind of story) thing of making Lisa's dark side "safe" and her only fairly getting revenge - the darkness the Creature speaks to and acts out is not fair, it is not safe or contained.

instead of internalizing her pain, Lisa shares in externalizing it and making other people hurt and she blossoms into herself. and who she is is a bit cringe in the best possible way? she's embracing her own life energy, or own crazy selfish lustful weird set of desires.

it's about Lisa's feelings and what she WANTS, morals enter nowhere into it. except when it comes to Taffy - the one person who really tried to love her at her most broken. everyone else abandoned Lisa emotionally--including her father--but Taffy tried to be there, as awkward as that could be at times

speaking of which: Taffy and Lisa make an interesting contrast to Needy and Jennifer from Jennifer's Body (also a film by Diablo Cody and she says they both take place in the same storyverse). both Jennifer and Lisa decide that what makes them feel most alive is embracing their inner monster, but Taffy doesn't go all "i have to kill the beast" the way Needy does. i like this much better. Taffy is wearing Lisa's mom's rosary at the end and, by doing so, accepting Lisa's "I love you" despite everything Lisa did. whereas Needy ends up ripping off the BFF necklace and rejecting Jennifer's love. In my mind the two films are a tale of two necklaces now lol - one where the "good" girl rejects the monster girl and the other where she accepts that love and carries it with her.

[mermaidsirennikita]

Rules for a Proper Governess, which is what I'm approaching as a "everything you like about Sir Philip Book but without the bullshit" novel, thus far features:

--a pickpocket heroine who steals the lawyer hero's shit, after which he chases her down to the like... basement... where she lives? Goes "bitch you live like this???", has a minor panic attack about his dead wife, and passes out

--(he wakes up and realizes she's like dragged his unconscious form so that his head is on some pillows lmao I died)

--(they make out when he wakes up)

--he does a good "get your head IN THE GAME, Sinclair!!!" @ himself, only to come home like two days later (during which she JUST. STALKS HIM.) to find that his governess has left because his children are nightmares, our heroine is there because stalking, and the kids love her

--so he's just like "FINE. YOU CAN BE GOVERNESS FOR NOW" before watching her walk away and resigning him to just. not sleeping. because boner.

Already, \this is much better.

[mzannthropy]

Although,even if I want a Warren and Lisa spinoff miniseries, it's not likely to happen after what Sebastian chacon was accused of,so maybe a spinoff book by TJR. (I did read that they were mentioned in another Taylor Jenkins Reid book, but this post was pre DJATS show.)

Yes, I did see someone say that TJR has a celebrity universe (or entertainment business universe, or what do I call it), and some characters appear in more than one book, or at least are mentioned. I don't plan to read any of her books again.

[bookshelf-in-progress]

The Good News: I've found an angle to take on an "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" retelling that could live up to my image of the fairy tale.

The Bad News: Who knows if I'll ever write it.

[ahb-writes]

Writing Problem: The Character Logic Is Muddy

Problem: The Character Logic Is Muddy

Solution: Investing in realistic characterization will give a novel the curious details and sense of familiarity readers will readily absorb. Good character logic means providing original characters with the agency to speak, act, and react with authority. (It also doesn't hurt to have a character or two who are really good at faking it.) But it's not enough to simply imply a character's sense of self through dialogue and action. Writers should aim for a level deeper.

Don't write characters, write character arcs. Don't write character flaws, write character flaws that make characters curious, enticing, or attractive. Craft inimitable dialogue, encourage characters to engage their environment, and remember to hold characters responsible for their actions.

Writing Resources:

3 Redemptive Character Types (September C. Fawkes)

6 Ways to Write Truly Terrifying Villains (The Novel Smithy)

What Is Pathos in Literature? A Complete Guide (Jericho Writers)

Character Motivation Thesaurus (One Stop for Writers)

"I don't think you need all the backstory in the world..." (advice from Brennan Lee Mulligan, TTRPG gamemaster; ahbwrites)

How to Improve Your Secondary Characters: 6 Fresh Ideas (Em Dash Press)

Some Quick Character Tips (Coffee Bean Writing)

The Importance of The Unlikable Heroine (Claire Legrand; ahbwrites)

Don't Design a Character, Design a Character Arc (avalera; ahbwrites)

How to Write Character Arcs (Helping Writers Become Authors)

❯ ❯ Adapted from the writing masterpost series: 19 Things That Are Wrong With Your Novel (and How to Fix Them)

[feluka]

reading every criticism about every single tales protag that isn't yuri, a summary:

[chadsuke]

Comics Read in 2023:

Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu Vol. 11 by Natsuya Semikawa & Virginia Nitouhei (2020)

Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu Vol. 12 by Natsuya Semikawa & Virginia Nitouhei (2021)

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts Vol. 1 by Yu Tomofuji (2016)

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts Vol. 2 by Yu Tomofuji (2016)

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts Vol. 3 by Yu Tomofuji (2017)

The King's Beast Vol. 1 by Rei Toma (2019)

The King's Beast Vol. 2 by Rei Toma (2019)

The King's Beast Vol. 3 by Rei Toma (2020)

The King's Beast Vol. 4 by Rei Toma (2020)

[ID: Covers of the aforementioned books. End ID.]

[dapurinthos]

powerpoint: success. my doctor laughed and said it was hilarious and something she needed today, and had me send it to her. i exported it to a video so the fun text effects could stay and now she wants all her patients to make them. the next time i come i should put a 'previously on ... ' section at the beginning.

medications: apparently wellbutrin is the culprit (given that it's usually given to people to counteract the sexual dysfunction of normal ssris), so it's going down to 150mg so this ~restless genital syndrome~ will cease.

[qserasera]

ok i absolutely Have to buy the official version for this manhua manhwa because the amount of Insane cronchy tropes has me feeling some kind of way

what if we had the lady and their lionheart knight trope but it's baked into the royal social structure and has toxic magical brainwashing as its foundation

what if we had (1) princess who didn't want to do that and actually refused to select a personal knight for years

what if there was (1) knight for that princess that became her personal lionheart knight that was also narratively expected to overthrow the royal monarchy

because the knights are magical homuculus humans, at any kind of balls or parties they are Required to wear gauzy black blindfolds to set them apart while in fancy dress

[lightningandfireinmybones]

The thing is... Aemond not answering his phone? Sus. Aemond not answering twice? And when she's the one calling?? And AFTER he was brought in to Help Her with a thing she needed His Help with to be Helped? By Him? Her? And after they shared their little Ice cream date? And she was all relaxed and maybe sliightly flirty? And again... After he definitely could tell how the weight dropped off her shoulders when he touched her and ya know... Was near her? And he still didn't answer?

Aemond is dead people. Sorry to spoil it. He...yeah. he has passed.. the afterlife isn't a thing cause not even his ghost picked up that phone? Yeah.. sorry folks.. that's a wrap!

But in all seriousness.. he must have been taking care of her business or he was in deep shit himself? But if sth had happened and he Was fighting for his life then what was he doing at the club? Many questions....

Also an an extremely mentally unhealthy person with a horrible anxious attachment style and a disgusting amount of low confidence which is expressed by feeling like a burden the people around me who love me can't wait to be rid off..... I get her. 110/10.

If sb I felt like I had wronged, that I had destroyed their life, that I was going to be a bother to them just by existing didnt pick up..not once but twice? Oh i got the message. I'm so sorry i will lose your number and i wont even think of you again lest you can feel the weight of my thoughts and it's a discomfort to you.

Girlie is going through it!

Also the self harm stuff... The anxious anxiety of NOT wanting to think a thought or deal with a situation and your mind keeps reminding you and your heart starts beating fast, you get a stomach ache, you get antsy.

Yeah.. i.. this chapter is the most realistic thing I've ever read.

Also, something about her photo being that of a rare never seen before thought to have been extinct dragon Mid Flight ..

I just love Targaryens being crushed and obliterated and liquified under the massive weight of their legacy that is impossible to be met ever.

In conclusion regarding this chapter :

Rip aemond, full of powerful declarations of love and fealty and unable to back them up,,,

For real though aemond doesn’t do things by accident👀 he has his reasons👀 good thing it’s an aemond chapter next👀

Valaena is for the anxious attachment girlies!! For the mentally ill folk whose decisions don’t always make sense!! For the self destructive ones!!! The girls gays and theys who cry to the archer by taylor swift!!!

(For real though the more comments I got about her being pathetic and not badass and undeserving of aemond the more I double down on her being realistically flawed woman who doesn’t always make the right choices and is allowed love anyway)

TARGARYENS CONSTANTLY CRUSHED BY THE WEIGHT OF THEIR OWN DYNASTY,,, YOU GET IT BESTIE

keeping a legend alive sometimes kills you, as the Targaryens tragic figures would know!!!

Bless bestie thank you I wasn’t feeling the best about this chapter so this made my whole ass weekend:’)

[fideidefenswhore]

What if NONE of Henry VIII's wives were virgins when he married them? History's mysteries.

The only one we know for sure wasn't (I mean...ostensibly, virginity being a construct anyway, I guess meaning what was considered 'consummation of a marriage' back then) is Catherine Parr, but it would be funny.

Idk, I was just thinking of this because Lipscomb says in BSR that Henry 'fetishized virginity' and I understand why that's theorized...but I also think if he 'fetishized' it all that much he wouldn't have married Parr? She cites Catherine of Aragon as an example but I think it's pretty thin to use that as an example of 'fetishizing virginity', it's more like he was looking for answers as to why he hadn't had any surviving sons by the marriage, and that was the answer he arrived at?

[microwaving-tesilid-argente]

muriel:

[tecnologynursing]

Black Justice - Real Episode- Read in "HISTÓRIAS ÁGUA COM AÇÚCAR MASCAVO". Acess in tunacatunna.blogspot.com

[midnightprayertroops]

Daily Devotional "An Unlikely Heroine"

Daily Devotional “An Unlikely Heroine”Be different!December 09, 2023 ✓ Subscribed “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace” (Hebrews. 11:31). Rahab illustrates the depth and breadth of God’s amazing grace. Our final Old Testament hero of faith is an unlikely addition to the list. Not only was she a prostitute,…

[writers-potion]

Writing Female Fighters

The Heroine Must. Fight.

Today's female protagonists cannot sit on the side crying and breaking down or whimpering as the battle ensues.

Readers want to see autonomous female fighters who can at least defense themselves with courage and adequate skill.

Not all women are the same, but the heroine should get her butt moving.

Less Muscle, but More Flexibilty

The average woman is shorter than the average man, which makes it more difficult to wield a long sword or slam something down on the opponent's head.

A woman who works out can plausibly be stronger than a male couch potato, but if her male counterpart works out as much as her, the man is going to be much stronger.

On the other hand, the center of gravity in a woman's body is lower than a man's which makes it harder to knock her off her feet.

She is also more flexible, which gives her advantage in grappling fights, making use of complex landscapes, or deflecting blows.

A woman's small size can also be an advantage if her opponent has only ever trained with male opponents. His big hands might not get a good grip on her slender limbs.

In historical fiction, giving your heroine good muscule build can be tricky as exercise was generally considered harmful for women, with some exceptions for horseriding any maybe archery at best.

In such cases, make your heroine an accomplished dancer or an eager horsewoman, or the only girl whose father considered to be son replacement and thus, gave her a boy's education.

Women of lower classes who couldn't afford to be fashionably weak will be plausibly stronger, perhaps even more than an idle gentleman.

More Room for Negotiation, but Prolonged Ruthlessness

In the Suspense part of your fight scene, females are more likely to negotiate and talk more, strategically trying to descalate the situation rather than attacking on a momentary impulse.

Generally, women are less aggressive than men and remain level-headed longer than her male counterparts, opting for non-violent methods first before using force.

Exceptions apply if she is trying to protect her children (or someone who she cares for as a child). Mothers can be tigresses.

A female pre-fight conversation may be: "If you had not done so-and-so and betrayed me with so-and-so, we could have been good friends as I thought we would be." "What do you mean? It was in fact you who brought bad blood between us. I can still hear you laughing with so-and-so, taunting me, purposefully making me look bad -" "But that was so long ago! If you want me to say sorry about something so insignificant, you should have just said so: I'm sorry. There. Satisfied?" "Ha! I can't believe you say that so easily. You still don't get it, do you?" "Who's being petty and unreasonable now?"

A male pre-fight conversation will be shorter: "Who's the coward now?" "You're wrong." "Prove it." "Bastard."

Compared to men, it will take more time for a woman's fight hormones (adrenaline, neurotransmitters and such) to kick in.

She would be slower to engage initially, throwing reluctant punches and thinking, but she'll grow more and more violent and lose all rational thought and compassion, and once she's in full flow, may not stop even when her opponent begs for mercy.

When writing a male-female duo, you can show him going for the first blow while she observes and strategizes first. When he's past his peak and panting, she is flying about left and right. Later when the tension wears off and she becomes wobbly and teary, she can rely on him to have recovered faster and distract other teammates so that they won't see her cry.

Plausible Skills and Backstory

In many cultures and time periods, the general attitude of society towards girls is that they have no place in fist fights or martial arts, unlike how it is encouraged for boys of the same age. So if your heroine has physical prowess that surpasses typical 'fitness' or is hidden, build a backstory of how she's obtained it.

For modern heroines, it can be as simple as signing her up for martial arts classes or yearly membership at the local gym. For historical fiction or girls with strict 'feminine' upbringing, it can be trickier.

It can be related to profession: maybe she was an erotic wrestler, catfighter, or an assasin who thought killing was more honorable than prostitution. They may have dabbles with it for a short time and is now trying to hide their past from their respectable employer or fiance.

It can be family backstory: Perhaps her mother was an accomplished martial artist or she had to fend for younger siblings on the streets from an early age. Maybe she was the only girl in a family of many boys who refused to be the punching bag.

Inexperienced Female Fighters

A woman with no fighting experience or training is likely to resort to one of these on instinct:

Try to talk herself out of the situation, attempting to persuade or negotiate for her life.

Grab something to use as a weapon. This instinct seems to be stronger for women than it is in men.

Use her hands to try and break free, or kick (often wth little success)

Pull hair

Scratch.

In a serious fight, pulling hair and scratching won't be helpful, except when the police come to find her body, they would find the opponent's DNA under her fingernails.

Plausible Weapons and Clothing

All of the above applies to scenes where both parties have no weapons, or has the bare minimum (like one dagger each).

Weapons are equalizers, and if your heroine is pointing a gun at her opponent she will definitely NOT hesitate to be the one to shoot first.

When giving your female character a weapon, choose one she can plausibly use. It would take an unusually brawny woman to wield a great medieval longsword.

For historical fiction, give your heroine something she'll plausibly own. Swords and firearm were a no-go for women, but archery was borderline acceptable.

For clothing starters, you definitely CAN NOT dress her in a tight miniskirt and chainmail bra with long, flowy hair and multiple silver chockers. Unless she's trying to seduce her way into her opponent's bedroom, and he has a chainmail bra fetish.

A practical heroine will have her thighs covered, preferably with leather but at least with fabric, since a lot of blood flows through the thighs and a slash would be critical.

She'll keep her hair tied, tucked under a helmet, braided back, etc. so that it won't impede her vision.

She'll support her breasts with a strong sport bra. In a historical eprioid, she'll either tie her breasts tight with a fabric bandage or support them with some kind of leather corset.

Invent a female version of male fighter clothing of the time you are writing about if it doesn't exist.

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