In this Quick Bites episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell use the Amazon Prime series Ride or Die to explore how writers can create stronger, more believable female characters.
Spoilers ahead for Ride or Die — so if you have not finished the series yet, consider this your playful warning to come back after you have.
They talk about why strength does not have to mean emotional invulnerability, how female friendships can carry conflict without losing love and respect, and what makes a female villain feel layered instead of flat. The conversation also looks at fallibility, accountability, and why women do not need to reject vulnerability or relationships in order to seem powerful.
In this episode, they discuss:
- Why strong female characters still need fear, emotion, and vulnerability
- How to write female friendships with conflict, history, and repair
- Why compelling women should be allowed to make bad decisions
- What makes a female villain emotionally layered
- Why heroes and villains both need wins, losses, and consequences
Episode 81