Writing a Baddie Heroine? Do’s and Don’ts 💅✨
Listen, if you’re here, you probably want to write a baddie heroine—aka a woman who walks into a room and instantly raises the property value. We’re talking power, presence, and that effortless “I fear nothing except running out of coffee” energy. But here’s the thing: not every leather-clad, smirking, knife-twirling lady is actually good at being a baddie. Some of them are just… annoying. 😬 Look, I love a brooding queen as much as the next person, but if she never cracks a joke? Ughhhhhhhhh I need a nap just thinking about it.
So, let’s break it down—the do’s and don’ts of writing a baddie heroine that readers will actually root for (and not just tolerate while secretly hoping the villain wins).
✅ DO: Give Her Depth
A baddie heroine isn’t just hot and dangerous; she’s interesting. She has layers. She has fears. She has a tragic backstory that she only alludes to in cryptic one-liners over whiskey. (“I don’t do birthdays.” 👀) Give her emotional stakes. Make us care about her beyond her ability to throw a perfect punch or deliver a killer one-liner.
🚫 DON’T: Make her a cardboard cutout of “strong female character.” If she only speaks in sarcastic quips, never struggles, and is basically just a female Batman but without the emotional complexity, she’s not a baddie—she’s a cliché.
✅ DO: Let Her Fail
Confidence? Yes. Competence? Absolutely. But perfection? No, ma’am. A real baddie takes L’s. She miscalculates. She gets caught off guard. She sometimes trusts the wrong person because she’s got trauma, okay?? The point is, failure makes her human. And watching her claw her way out of a mess she definitely helped create? That’s the good stuff.
🚫 DON’T: Make her untouchable. If she’s out here dodging bullets, hacking government databases in five seconds, and never breaking a sweat, your readers are rolling their eyes. Let her struggle! Let her get knocked down! She can still be a legend while limping.
✅ DO: Give Her a Moral Code (Even If It’s Messy)
I love a baddie with a moral code, even if it’s messy. Baddies don’t have to be lawful good, but they do need some kind of internal compass. Maybe she’s a thief, but she only robs corrupt billionaires. Maybe she’s an assassin, but she has a soft spot for stray animals. Whatever it is, give her a line she won’t cross—even if it’s barely above ground level.
🚫 DON’T: Make her an edgy “I kill because I can” type. That’s not baddie behavior—that’s therapy-urgent behavior. If she’s out here committing war crimes just for funsies, your audience isn’t impressed. They’re concerned.
✅ DO: Give Her Relationships That Matter
And no, I don’t just mean a spicy enemies-to-lovers arc (though, let’s be real, that is elite). She should have meaningful connections—friends, found family, rivals, maybe even a mentor who taught her how to hotwire a car. These relationships make her feel real and add depth to her story.
🚫 DON’T: Make her a lone wolf just because it’s cool. Sure, she can be independent, but if nobody likes her and she refuses to connect with anyone? That’s giving unbearable, not baddie.
✅ DO: Let Her Have Fun
Yes, she’s tough. Yes, she’s capable. But can she also make a terrible joke in the middle of a heist? Can she dance alone in her kitchen while making coffee? Can she send her enemies passive-aggressive texts with just the right emoji? Let her be playful. Let her be messy. Let her be a whole person, not just a walking attitude problem.
🚫 DON’T: Make her serious all the time. A 24/7 grimdark personality doesn’t make her cool—it makes her exhausting.
Final Thoughts 💋
A great baddie heroine isn’t just “tough”—she’s compelling. She’s got layers, struggles, a moral code (even if it’s shady), and a personality that isn’t just “hot and mean.” So if you’re writing one, make sure she’s more than just a trope in thigh-high boots.
Give her complexity. Give her flaws. And most importantly—give her the drama she deserves.
🔥 Now go forth and write your baddie. And if you need me, I’ll be over here rewatching Villanelle compilations for inspiration.
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