We welcome Judy K Walker, author of the Sydney Brennan Mysteries, to the Story Works Round Table this week to discuss strong female protagonists. What is a strong female protagonist? What traits define her? Can she be feminine and strong? Does the genre shape the protagonist? How do readers react to Sydney Brennan, a woman in a man’s world? 

VIDEO

AUDIO

SHOW NOTES

If you haven’t heard our first episode with Judy on PI novels, check it out here!

What makes a female protagonist a strong female protagonist? And where does that strength come from? How aware of social and cultural norms should you be when developing a strong female protagonist? And is strength unique to genre?

What we talked about:

What is a some traits that define a strong female protagonist? (1:31)

What about cultural and social expectations and roles for women? (4:40)

Strength comes from creating your own identity. (7:30)

How aware of cultural and social norms was Judy when she created Sydney? (9:45)

Has Judy received feedback from readers about her strong female protagonist? (12:50)

How do you define strength? Does it differ male to female? (16:25)

Is strength a genre thing? (17:27)

Are there more acceptable forms of female strength? (19:10)

What are Sydney’s strengths? (21:35)

LINKS

Things we mentioned:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin 
Atomic Blonde 
The Chain by Adrian McKinty

Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.