The next person who asks me why I write so many girls
I am going to direct them here, to a study that finds that men, even if they are animals, are the main characters in 57% of books that are published per year, contrasted to 31% women. (Don't ask me where the other 12% went.) Adult men or animals show up in 100% of books, adult women or animals 33%. Male animals are central characters in more than 23% of books; female animals in 7.5%. 36.5% have a male in the title; 17.5% have a female in the title.
Most of you probably know it burns my bacon to be asked, as I so often am, why I write so many books with girl characters. This just rubs salt into my burn. In terms of children's books, with their large numbers of female writers (though a number of the stars in the industry are male), this just burns me worse. We need intelligent, lively, fun, real female characters in every aspect of kidlit--why are we writing in a majority area that isn't our own?
I know the answer: to make money. But we aren't going to make money writing female characters unless a lot more of us stand up and say, hey, there are more books out there for guys, when girls are the big readers. Isn't writing even more guys shooting ourselves in the foot? Let's write for the bigger audience, what do you say?
Or at the very least, fight for the damn girls, for cryin out loud!
Most of you probably know it burns my bacon to be asked, as I so often am, why I write so many books with girl characters. This just rubs salt into my burn. In terms of children's books, with their large numbers of female writers (though a number of the stars in the industry are male), this just burns me worse. We need intelligent, lively, fun, real female characters in every aspect of kidlit--why are we writing in a majority area that isn't our own?
I know the answer: to make money. But we aren't going to make money writing female characters unless a lot more of us stand up and say, hey, there are more books out there for guys, when girls are the big readers. Isn't writing even more guys shooting ourselves in the foot? Let's write for the bigger audience, what do you say?
Or at the very least, fight for the damn girls, for cryin out loud!
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Sarah
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May 04, 2011 08:02PM
THIS.
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I love your female characters, My favorite is Beka Cooper and Daine, well I love them all but I have reread more often these two characters stories,Thank you for the adventures........
Woohoo, you know how to prove a point, haha. You make valid points
Very good points! I adore all of your books, how you write them and who is in them. Strong characters, every one of them.
I always tell people to have their children read female empowering books such as your. I think that if our sons read books with strong female characters and it gives them a chance to see other strong females it is a good thing. Maybe someday we will have a more equal world.
Your lively and strong girl characters are the reason why I loved all of your books growing up, and still re-read them today! Don't let the haters get ya down :)
I'm 60 years old and I remember when I was a child almost all the true child adventure stories had boys in the lead. I used to read these book and pretend that I was the boy doing whatever the main character was doing. Not that I wished to be a boy, I just wanted the adventure. This is one of the reasons I so enjoy the Tortell books.
I never knew the stats, but since I have studied English I noticed the heavy amount of male protagonists. I love your books for so many reasons but reading this just reminds why I appreciate them. If I ever have kids, I can only hope that there are even more strong female characters because this post encouraged some writers :)
I always had strong girls to read about because I read your books! :) Thank you!
Haha I love you. I buy a lot of books with female characters but it seems like most of the time female characters are so naive and incapable of taking care of themselves. Too often they rely on their male counterparts. I love your books. Keep writing female leads because we'll keep reading them.
YES."Why do you write these strong female characters?"
"Because you're still asking me that question."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYaczo...
When I was in middle school a teacher introduced me to your Wild Magic series. In that particular series the first time The Lioness made an appearance I remember that you first just referred to her as The King's Champion. It confused me at first when you kept using the word "she" and I had to go back several pages and read more carefully. I had just assumed that the character would be male, even though I'm female and I work on a lot of stories with strong female leads. It was a bit of a shock to realize that I had been so brainwashed in this culture to assume a male sex to such a strong character. I later went back and read all about The Lioness. Funny thing is, I remember that same teacher introduced several of the male students to your books as well. The first week that they were assigned it for their book reports they couldn't stop complaining. Then they became a lot quieter as the project went on. By the end they were excited about your books, describing with enthusiastic detail in front of the class the highlights of your books. Even with several other males making fun of them for it, they were singing your praises. I noticed that the next book report we had - there were several males in the class arguing over who got the classroom copy of your books for the project. :) I think even men are tired of only reading about strong men and having most female characters really just there as scenery more than anything else.
Alanna was one of the first strong female characters that I remember reading about as a young child. I was in awe of her. Thank you for writing such wonderfully vibrant female characters :)
Strong independent females are desperate for strong independent female characters to read about. There is a need and your writing fills it. When I found you on the bookshelf it was a bonus because you had more than one female character and more than one story to read. Thank you!
Kathryn wrote: "When I was in middle school a teacher introduced me to your Wild Magic series. In that particular series the first time The Lioness made an appearance I remember that you first just referred to her..."Good for that teacher! And good for those boys! I am in the process of getting my teaching certificate and I would love to be able to have these books in the curriculum somehow--even if it's just an option for a book report for an individual student.
I agree, I love all of your books and own most of the ones that involve Alanna, Kel, Daine and Beka and all of Tortall. They inspire me to keep writing because they can do anything so why can't I.Thanks for the great books and female characters!
Is there any more Beka Cooper books coming out?
True dat.But I remember when I was a kid, my brother could never find anything to read while I was happy in books like Junie B. Jones and Pixie Tricks. It depends on the age group, me thinks, what gender books are aimed at.
Anywho, there definitely need to be more kick ass female characters in literature in general. Especially for older age group. >_< Every girl's book is about "OMG! Boys are, like, so much more important than having my own life and learning!" I want magic and dragons.
I'm only on your 2nd series with Diane, but after just reading one series with Alanna, you have moved to my favorite author list. Go Tamora!
Selena wrote: "True dat.But I remember when I was a kid, my brother could never find anything to read while I was happy in books like Junie B. Jones and Pixie Tricks. It depends on the age group, me thinks, w..."
You're right, that gets so old. I feel like a lot of female characters are just air heads!
Your books are what opened me up to fantasy novels and I wouldn't have read them but for the amazingly strong female lead character Alanna! Thanks for all of the amazing books featuring girls just like we were!
Leah wrote: "YES."Why do you write these strong female characters?"
"Because you're still asking me that question."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYaczo..."
THIS!! it's so irksome to me that you're even asked that (i hear it in a surprised or condescending manner), and is just an indication of why we need more authors like you, writing strong, adventurous female characters!
I, as a man, love that you write female characters. I read a lot and I find getting to see another perspective is refreshing. My wife and I read your books together and are constantly recommending them to our friends (with or without kids). Keep doing what you're doing, because you're doing it right.
I love your books. I always wish there were more strong female characters like yours. I have to reread them all the time. My favorites are Daine and Aly.
I will always remember reading about Alanna when I was in middle school. I re-read them so many times until I got her set for my birthday. I love that setting and it was even better that Alanna was the focus. Thank god for writers like you!
I love your female characters! In most books I read when I was younger the leading characters were male with females only playing supporting roles. It wasn't until my Mother bought me the 'Protector of the Small' quartet that I discovered a strong, admirable female character and then I raided the library to read the Lioness quartet & Immortals =D Can't wait for the latest Beka Cooper book to come out!!
When I was younger I hated reading. All the book that I was forced to read in Elementary school bored me. I did find Jack London's Call of the Wild and enjoyed reading it because I loved wolves. When I was in middle school I asked our librarian if she had any fantasy novels about wolves. That's when she handed me Wolf Speaker. I was hooked. I remember asking my mom if she could get me Alanna from the library after I read Wolf Speaker and Wild Magic. She was shocked when I finished these books in a few days and was begging for more. I couldn't stand reading till I found your books and the genre I love. I'm now in my late 20's and still re-read them. A few years ago I went through a nasty divorce and the first book I picked up to read when it all started was Alanna. Sometimes we need to read about a strong character to see the strength in ourselves.
Thank you for the stories and I hope they continue for many years to come :-)
:) Thank you! I heard about your books from my cousin, and I'm a writer and I have to say that I get asked this question a lot. Why do I always write with female main characters? Because not only is it what I know but I think that in all honestly, girls read more and then they can connect to a female lead than if it were a guy.
My brother always complains about girls being all pathetic and lame. And most of the time i agree. But i always say for him to read the Lioness Quartet. I love Alana! That was the first book I read from you and I fell in love. You write an amazing strong female!
Very true! I love your stories!!! One reason is because you have so many female characters in them! I started reading your stories when I was 13, I am going to be 24 on May 16, and I will continue to read your stories because of the great female characters you write about!
Check out The Blue Sword, & Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley and Dragonsong, & Dragongsinger, by Ann McCaffrey for more strong female characters!
toatally true!!!! its so hard to find girls as the hero's in books and thats why i love all your books and that is why i'm writing my own girl-heroish book
