A Word on The Strong Female Character

I have to take a break from studying because if I don't, I'll go insane and then I will die.

And because I'm taking a break anyway and I have writing on the brain and I have nothing else to do, allow me to say a few words on

The Strong Female Character

1. A true SFC does not have to adhere to any sort of rules about how to be a true SFC except those which you write into her DNA.

2. An SFC does not have to be eternally pissed-off.

3. Nor does she have to be vivacious and outgoing.

4. Nor does she have to be sultry and introverted, yet outspoken when she does speak to people.

5. An SFC is allowed to be saved by an SMC. This will not piss off the audience unless they have trouble distinguishing between 'human' and 'disgusting weakling.' Which, to be fair, they should, because humans are weak. And females are humans. Therefore females, like males, are--or at least are allowed to be--weak.

But wait! you say. What about Planet of the Apes and The Lord of the Rings where the SFC's aren't even human, but Elvish or apish? Then go back to CS Lewis's rule that even if it's not human, it's still 'hnau' [i.e. flawed being with a soul]. Treat it like it's human.

6. Don't force your SFC to indulge in mind-boggling mental/physical prowess or heroism just for the sake of making her an SFC. That's stupid.

Good night!

And don't complain when people's SFC's aren't good enough or are too good, because writers aren't God, and their characters aren't as realistic as His.

Actually, you can complain if you want to. I'm just tired of people hating on every FC out there for being the wrong level of S. Here's an idea: delete the S altogether and let it whatever kind of FC grows organically in your brain, be she S or BS or WTF or OMGSTFU. If you think Hermione is too OMGSTFU, then that's okay, because that's how Hermione happened in JKR's brain. Unless it wasn't, and JKR's just terrible at portraying her visions. But I don't think she is.

Good night!