5 Hero(ine) Don'ts and Dos

Heroine Don't

Top 5 Characteristics A Hero(ine) Cannot Have:

1. A penchant for ass-scratching or nose-picking ... and most definitely not one then the other
2. An incessant need to berate everyone all the time
3. An addiction to whining
4. A habit of kicking puppies or sticking babies on pikes
5. An incurable case of Too Dumb To Live (TDTL)

Classic Heroes

Top 5 Characteristics a Hero(ine) Should Have:

1. Believable Actions/Reactions
2. Believable Actions/Reactions
3. Believable Actions/Reactions
4. Believable Actions/Reactions
5. Believable Actions/Reactions

What about the long flowing locks and the body blessed by Venus? Where is the tortured past or the broken heart of gold? Where are the Goals, Motivations, and Conflicts?

Truth is, readers will forgive a lot as long as they can wear the character. Go ahead, make a serial killer your heroine or promote that dust-bunny to a hero ... just make sure the body-suit fits your readers.