What makes a [good] Chick Lit Character?

What makes a [good] Chick Lit Character?

Since Chick Lit is a particular genre- it must have characters that have distinct personalities in which we can analyze.  So I set out to search for character analyses of those characters in Chick Lit, most importantly the protagonist.  I came across an article written for http://www.timesonline.co.uk that tries to describe how to write Chick Lit as if it were some sort of recipe. 

 

“The single most important element of your chick-lit novel is your main character. What readers love about chick-lit is that the heroine is them — but with more attitude, more courage, or maybe just more shoes.

She is Everywoman, with quirks and problems that are believable yet larger than life. She’s confident yet insecure. Smart but naive. Loveable yet flawed. How you create her will depend largely on who you are and whom you’ve come into contact with in your life.” Full Article

So I get the feeling that the mina character is what every woman wants to be.  But what about her job?  Are there certain jobs that most Chick Lit writers have their protagonists do?    After looking through my own collection of Chick Lit I found that some main characters:

o       Are writers- magazine editors, book reviewers, novelists

o       Are into fashion- designers, models

o       Are good with children-nannies, teachers

o       Are good with food- waitresses, food critics

But above all most readers are wanting someone they can relate to.  I found a Chick Lit Author Roundtable through a blog that I think summarizes what readers want in a character for Chick Lit:

“Author Sherrie Krantz: Chick Lit characters need to live in the same world that the readers do — the real world. From the smallest of nuances to the most careful considerations in the plot line, it’s all about reminiscence. The best Chick Lit characters are those who are familiar; with echoes of the reader herself, her friend, relative, ex-boyfriend, etc.” Full Roundtable Discussion

This goes with most books- not just Chick Lit.  Good YA books tend to capture their readers by their characters.  Readers are more likely to connect with certain books and enjoy them if they can visualize themselves as the actual protagonist.  So Chick Lit has at least one good thing to offer: characters the reader can relate to.