from Mia Marlowe ... I was fascinated by Gina Conkle's blog from yesterday about heroes and our favorite archetypes. (I confess a weakness for both the Arrogant Alpha and the Wounded Soldier.) Her post made me think about what usually happens when I give my Meat on the Bones characterization workshop to writers' groups. The function of the protagonist in fiction is to give readers a character to care about and pull for and we've been blessed with lots of terrific heroes. I always invite attendees to call out their favorite heroes from books, TV and the big screen. The names fly fast and furious and I finally have to cut them off so the workshop can move forward. Then I ask for favorite heroines. Cue the crickets. Finally, someone will sheepishly raise a hand and ask with a questioning lilt, "How about Dorothy?" This worries me. It makes me think we writers are not doing our job if we can't create more memorable heroines. If my readers don't wan...
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