By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
How do you determine the heroine in your novels?
Discovering who my female character is and what matters to her takes time and patience. She’s not a victim, although she might have been in the past. Because of that critical experience, she’s changed and grown into a survivor who’s strong and independent.
My characteristics may not be what readers’ expect, but I believe they’ll see her special qualities listed below.
- It’s not a woman’s intellect or beauty.
- It’s not a woman’s ivy-league education.
- It’s not a woman’s ability as a crack shot or a master of self-defense.
- It’s not a woman’s profession.
She must possess is a tight grip on tenacity to solve a problem or reach a goal.
Here are 13 important characteristics that point to my heroine.
- A heroine doesn’t need a man to rescue her.
- A heroine loves unconditionally.
- A heroine is proud of her femininity.
- A heroine is strong mentally.
- A heroine isn’t defined by social status.
- A heroine puts her own life on hold until the problem is solved.
- A heroine risks everything to keep people safe.
- A heroine refuses to accept age as a barrier.
- A heroine shoves greed from her DNA.
- A heroine takes care of her body.
- A heroine thinks of others before herself.
- A heroine recognizes evil and turns from it.
- A heroine values her faith in God.
Now it’s your turn. What do you think is critical for a woman to be called a heroine?
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. Her titles have appeared on the 
CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian Fiction books of 2014.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Suspense Sister, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference with social media specialist Edie Melson. She teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.
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