FASHION vs. FUNCTION

Following on from Part 1 - Fierce Introductions, we’re going to take a look at how your warrior woman appears; the visual element. Clothes matter, especially to someone on a mission or with a job to do. Yet, when we search for pictures of female warriors, or see female warriors depicted in fantasy and sci-fi spaces, they’re usually impractically dressed and over-sexualised.

This is a choice…

FIERCE INTRODUCTIONS

So you’re writing a book that features a kickass woman. A woman who can hold her own in a violent world. A woman who could dispatch a seven foot Titan without breaking a sweat. That’s feminist, right? As soon as you’ve given her sword you’re there, right? As soon as you’ve integrated her into your band of heroes, you’ve done your bit for female representation… right..?

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

As far as I’m concerned this is very simple. A dragon is a dragon, a wyvern is a wyvern. We have names for these things that are long-established. It is simply what they are called.

BUT

There are a few good reasons for authors to call wyverns dragons, and these come down to accessibility and marketing.