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Creating compelling female characters is important for boosting stories and portraying an array of viewpoints. Strong, well-developed female characters can draw audiences, bring depth to narratives, and boost the relatability and impact of stories.
In this article, we will learn about creating compelling female characters, the impact a strong female character can bring to the story, and the different characteristics of female characters. Continue reading to understand what difference well-developed women characters can make.
Table of Contents
- Learn From the Best
- 4 Characteristics of Strong Female Characters
- Meet One of Your New Instructors
- 4 Examples of Strong Female Characters
- How to Write a Strong Female Character
- Conclusion
Learn From the Best
Creating realistic characters is a skill that most well-known authors in the industry have perfected. Known for her work on “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” Shonda Rhimes is an expert writer of complex, multifaceted female characters. Another expert is Aaron Sorkin, celebrated for his sharp dialogues and compelling character developments in “The West Wing” and The Social Network”. The creator of “Fleabag,” Phoebe Waller-Bridge, is popular for her honest, raw, and humorous portrayal of women. You can learn from such expert writers to understand and develop correct skills for the art of screenwriting.
AAFT Online’s Certification in Screenwriting offers the opportunity to learn from Smita Bharti, a well-known playwright, director, and social activist, compared to these giants of the industry. Smita Bharti is a treasure of knowledge for her students, having years of experience in theatre and storytelling. Upcoming screenwriters can get comprehensive and insightful teaching and direction from Smita Bharti through AAFT Online, which will assist them to polish their skills and develop compelling stories.
4 Characteristics of Strong Female Characters
Let’s understand the 4 important characteristics of a strong female character:
- Independence
- Complexity
- Growth and Development
- Relatability
Independence
Strong female characters usually demonstrate independence, pursuing their own path and making their own decisions. They are not only characterized by their connections or other person’s actions, but they also have the agency to create their own narratives. This quality not only empowers them but also motivates viewers and readers.
Complexity
Complexity is very important to develop a strong female character. Their characters need to be complex, showing weakness, contrasts, strength, and emotions. This leads them a be more human and relatable, which improves the story and makes it more engaging.
Growth and Development
Characters that grow and develop throughout the story are more engaging making viewers or readers difficult to forget. A female character should develop through time, learn from her mistakes, and be exposed to new difficulties. This gives her character more depth and keeps the viewers more invested in her journey.
Relatability
Viewers and readers feel connected to characters that think are relatable as they feel that they are seen and understood. Readers and viewers can feel connected to strong girl characters personally since they often come across tough times and circumstances that are evocative of real-life issues. This relatability leaves an impact and makes the story more enduring.
Meet One of Your New Instructors
Dheeraj Sarthak, a seasoned filmmaker, screenwriter, and documentary maker, joins AAFT Online’s Certification in Screenwriting faculty. With extensive experience in filmmaking and journalism, he is renowned for blending real stories with commercial appeal. His notable works include feature films like Aapara (2019) and Point Blank Range (2019), documentaries such as Sundarbans: Rising Water Ebbing Life (2017), and the audiobook Corona ki Kahani. Known for his innovative content and exceptional copywriting, Dheeraj brings a unique perspective to screenwriting education.
4 Examples of Strong Female Characters
Strong female characters may reflect an array of women and different perspectives on what makes a “strong” woman. Old tropes and stereotypes should be avoided, in terms of writing strong female characters, as they can impact readers negatively on a female character. Here are some common characteristics of strong female characters, if you are writing a female character:
She has her own opinions: Villains also have motives for their choices; therefore, a strong female main character will go with her instinct and make her individual judgments based on her own principles. She will make mistakes but will always try to improve and make it right. Even if they have their own emotions about their surroundings and the events that take place in them, strong characters are nonetheless prone to influence.
She is her own person: There is no need for all the female characters to be independent and strong single women. They can be shown caring about their partners in a relationship without being weak or dependent. A strong female character, however, has her own identity, her own aspirations, and her own goals apart from her relationship with a person.
She has flaws: A strong female character has her own problems and flaws like everyone else, but how she comes out of it is the real deal. Every strong character has issues and weaknesses, and that’s what connects readers and viewers to the story.
She is tough on her own: What qualifies a woman tough? The phrase is subjective. Does the character’s ability to intimidate someone physically show their toughness? Or is it her ability to think fast under stress with powerful figures? A woman’s role may not always indicate who she is as a person; a homemaker can be as fierce as any other woman.
How to Write a Strong Female Character
Let’s understand how to create a strong female character:
Practical Tips and Guidelines
It’s essential to pay close attention to the independence, complexity, and relatability of strong female characters when developing them. Begin by developing characters that are self-reliant and independent, able to solve issues by themselves and make decisions. To add depth, give them backstories that will have an impact, a range of emotions, and a combination of strengths and flaws. Create a unique character journey that showcases the characters’ growth and development throughout the story, along with hurdles that make them change and grow. By adding universal themes and highlighting their frailties and emotional moments, you can make them sympathetic. Make sure their important interactions and relationships, which highlight various aspects of their personalities, propel the plot along. You can create compelling and complete female characters by following these rules.
Step-by-step Advice on Creating and Developing Strong Female Characters
Here is a step-by-step advice on creating and developing strong female characters:
Define Independence: Make your character capable of making her own decisions.
Build Complexity: Give her a strong backstory fused with strengths and weaknesses and different emotions.
Plan Growth: Develop a character journey that will show her evolution and growth because of her challenges and experience.
Ensure Relatability: Add common themes and showcase her vulnerabilities to make her connect with the audience.
Drive the Plot: Allow her to actively shape the narrative through deep exchanges and connections that highlight various facets of her character.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Steer away from stereotypes and make sure your strong female characters aren’t restricted to gender-specific clichés to avoid mistakes. Make sure your character has agency—that is, rather than passively reacting to things happening, they actively move the plot and make important choices. Steer clear of perfection and give her space to grow with her flaws and errors. Let her have her strengths and weaknesses. Make sure she is not limited to a specific trait or role but rather has an extensive personality and history. Lastly, steer clear of tokenism by giving her a deep, important position that thoroughly incorporates her into the narrative.
Conclusion
In conclusion, developing strong female characters necessitates paying close attention to their relatability, complexity, growth, and independence. Strong female characters should be the protagonists of the story, have complex personalities, and captivate viewers with their nuance and realism. To make sure your characters are well realized and integral to the story, steer clear of common mistakes like stereotypes and tokenism. You may add depth to your stories and provide your audience with significant representation that enthralls and motivates them by creating well-rounded female protagonists. Take on the challenge and allow your girl characters to emerge as strong, memorable characters in your stories.
Ready to create your own strong female characters? Join our writing certificate course and bring your stories to life.
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