Welcome to Episode 3 of We Aren’t Dead Yet, a podcast throwing magic missiles into the ttrpg, gamer and speculative fiction sphere and seeing whether we come out alive at the end.

Every Thursday will be WADY Day, a celebration of something gamer, literature or culture shocking with three friends who found each other online via World Anvil and went “Hey! Let’s talk”.

We have a veteran Dungeon Master, an award winning World Builder & Media Producer, and a bestselling cyberpunk + mythpunk author, here to snark, speak and speculate on fiction, creative professions and games.

Today’s episode… How to Write A Strong Female Character!

In this episode, we analyze the evolution of the strong female character in speculative fiction and provide tips on writing better leading ladies. We'll take a look at the seven feminine archetypes, from maiden to mystic, and celebrate the breakout heroines who shattered glass ceilings thanks to their defiantly human portrayals. From Ripley in Alien to Katniss Everdeen, we explore what gives these icons an undeniably real magnetism and complexity beyond just being “badass.” We’ll dig into nuanced characterization that resonates. Should you make her flaws obvious vulnerabilities or barely perceptible quirks? Unpack the level of struggle, growth, and moral ambiguity today's audiences expect.

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We’ll see you next week for a discussion on female villains in fiction!

Hosts: Sapha Burnell, K. S. Bishoff, Emily Armstrong

Audio Production: Emily Armstrong

Music: Jazzy Abstract Beat by Yrii Semchyshyn

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