[ SECRET POST #3308 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3308 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 065 secrets from Secret Submission Post #473.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 1 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I read a lot of mystery novels over the years, and this is one of the writing flaws I see over and over-- in an effort to write "spunky, feisty" heroines, the (usually female) authors create bratty monsters that make me sort of root for the murderer. (If I never read another heroine complaining that the handsome cop is "sexist" for suggesting she leave investigating murders to the professionals, I will be very happy.)

I mean, in the case of the murder mysteries, I KNOW the heroine is going to be the one to solve the crime. That's the point of an amateur-sleuth book. But if the heroine is bratty and stupid, I'm just going to take the book back to the library and look for something else.

[(Anonymous)]

Another mystery novel reader here, so I know what you mean. It's poor writing, IMO... a lot of authors see feisty, opinionated, irrational and bitchy as traits of a "strong" female character character. They literally do not know to write a heroine who doesn't go off and do stupid, random shit because of plot convenience, and they don't seem to see how that might make a heroine somewhat unsympathetic.

[(Anonymous)]

AYRT-- exactly! It drives me crazy, especially when the story seems like something I would really like, and then I realize I just can't stand the main character. It's one thing if the character learns from her experiences, but in series books the character often stays pretty much the same over the course of the series (because that's how a series works) so if I don't like her out of the gate I probably never will.

[(Anonymous)]

That can spoil a series for me, too. I don't think writers are aware of just how clumsily put together their heroines are, sometimes. We're being asked to believe this is an intelligent woman who can solve mysteries either on her own or with limited assistance, but if she's constantly doing/saying really dumb things that seriously erodes her credibility as a smart investigator.

She doesn't have to be a flawless Mary Sue (because that would also be bad writing) but if she's going to make mistakes, make sure the mistakes aren't the sort only a moron would make.

[(Anonymous)]

AYRT--I tried a series once in which the heroine wasn't stupid, she was *mean.* Like, totally uncharitable to everyone who crossed her path. It was another form of brattiness and was it ever a turnoff. Series didn't last long, either!

Mind you, my introduction to mystery, when I was a teenager, was Trixie Belden, who screwed up all the time but was essentially kind and tried to learn from her mistakes. She meant well, she was just impulsive and had a bit of a temper and her curiosity got the better of her. I loved her as a character.

[(Anonymous)]

Aww, Trixie Belden was the best.