Okey doke y'all. I've been reading the 'Women in Battle' thread and I pretty much agree with most of what's been said. But...that brings up a problem. My Secondary MC, Numarya, has been a part of the book since the beginning. She's accompanied Zaciré ever since the first chapter, and has been through her fair share of mishaps/troubles/etc.

But...there's a big battle at the end. So, what should she do? "I'll just sit this one out, guys." I mean, she's been a part of the action ever since the beginning (and fought quite a few times to defend herself). What should she do at the end, when there's this big battle?

eruheran

I had one idea, but I don't know if it's any good. Maybe she could stay back and nurse wounded men?

eruheran

The transition from being involved to just saying 'I'll nurse wounded men.' will be rough. Perhaps have a scouting party return with a man desperately needing help. Before she's done with him the battle has started, and then she keeps getting more from those that fall and are able to be brought back. But then you would need to drop hints of her doctor skills throughout the book...

I'd say you need something between "I'll sit this one out" and "I'll oblige to the stereotype and nurse wounded men." However, not only do I have that insight I also have a solution!

I haven't participated in that thread, but I have read some of the arguments in it.... errr... scholoarly interchanges. Anyhow, it seems that it was universally agreed that if the battle comes to the woman, let her fight. It seemed many agreed that it was at least "shameful" if a woman went out to fight. So here is my idea:

Let the battle come to her. Set her job up as a lookout when the enemy makes a surprise attack, have her posted as guard at the camp, have her come out to the lines for one reason (maybe she's stealthy so they use her as one of the scouts) and Lo and Behold! they found the enemy camp that unfortunately found them as well. Let the fighting begin...

I'm thinking, if she's been involved in the adventure the whole time she's going to have valuable information they have to have. If she said "I'm going to sit this one out" not only would it be weird, I can't see the guys letting her. I'd think they'd need her, not necessarily to fight, but on the battle field as a strategist. Depending on your plot of course, that's what seems logical to me.

But after being that involved to be left out? I, personally, am not a nurse, at all, and if you just left me out like that not only would it be a big let down but it would also seem kind of like an insult. "Yeah, you've been helpful so far, but this is men's work. Go forget about everything we've worked for and cook food for us." I mean, you can't just do that. You can't leave her in the background, or make it out that she's no important enough or whatever. You need to give her a position that fits both qualifications.

Then again, since she's fighting with Zacire and not just a common soldier it's also a slightly different position. (I assume there's a romantic relationship between these two?) I mean, she can't help him from behind the lines as much as she can on the field, so that's where he wants her, right? After all, she doesn't really have any other duties or responsibilities, or that's what I've gathered.

I would take a different approach then everyone else. First off, I'm not that into nursing the wounded. That's just me personally. What I would do is have something arise that would remove her from the equation, but still allow her the action she has been participating in.

Example: How many times in history has a small party been sent out to try to break through enemy lines in an effort to bring in reinforcements? Do something like this. Numarya, due to the part she has played in your story, is one of the most likely candidates. This allows her to still play the action packed, heroic part she has played, while taking her away from the immediate battle. Your readers are still satisfied.

I like that idea Airi!

That's... kind of what I was trying to say. Something like that.

I personally like the scout party or the break through the enemy one, but I would really need it to be presented like she's doing it because she has extra skills, not that she's just being slighted from battle for being a girl. You need to write it from the standpoint of "Okay, let's see, I need this, this, and this done, I know, she has this skill, I'll have her doing this! She'll be way more useful there than in the battle!" instead of "Alright, girl, got to get her out of battle, she can't fight, must get her out of battle." You have to present her as being sent on the verry special mission because she has skills better than the average foot soldier, not that she lacks anything. Because if she didn't even have the skills to be in battle, why would they send her on a potentianally more dangerous mission? Not to mention, going behind enemy lines can mean capture and possibly torture, they'd have to know she was strong enough to not give important stuff away. So you have to write her with such skills that when they say, "Okay, we're sending you here," they reader sees that as natural and fitting her character, not random and heavy-handed.
And if it turns out this girl's not cut out for this mission (she may not be), then I would just let her fight. There's nothing saying your characters have to act like perfect Biblical people all the time. From what you've said, this girl is going to want to be in the action, and people are going to see she's capable. So just let her in. To be blunt, if I was reading your book and she was shoved to the sidelines or made to nurse, I would be mad. It would seem cheap to me, like you were saying "Alright, hey, thanks for the good times, nice of you to drop by and be pretty awesome, but now let the big leagers take over."

I personally don't see a problem with Zaciré sending Numarya on the mission purely for the fact that he cares about her and wants her to have the best chance of getting out. I think Numarya offers ability in being able to go on such a venture. I don't think it should be portrayed as she is only going in order to get out of the way, but I don't see an issue with him sending her in an effort to protect her. I also don't see this as being a problem as to why Zaciré, who feels responsible for her, allows her to leave his protection. Yes it is dangerous, but she may stand a better chance of getting out alive if he sends her. That to me is a great sacrifice and pulls at the heart strings.

Thanks y'all, that's all very, very helpful. Seriously.



*sigh* Yes. . .but I don't want there to be. A certain few people suggested that and lo and behold it started appearing in my writing =P I don't know if it will stay that way, though.

You all have given me some valuable ideas. I'm going to be writing over spring break (March) so up until then I'm going to be figuring out the sequence of events in the next third of the book. This is a big piece of the puzzle. =)

eruheran

And Elanhil gets to look over his shoulder. Rats!

Are you kidding? My editors get to see everything before anyone else. Hilly doesn't particularly WANT to read my stuff, I don't think =)

eruheran

*chuckles*

If you can't (or don't want to) send her on a special mission, remember that you can be very creative in forcing her to be elsewhere. Bridges can collapse, parties can get separated and lost, she herself could fall ill or wounded. If you look at the plot surrounding the battle, you might see a tweak you can make to send the girl down a slightly different path away from the battle in a way that heightens the interest of the book. Ideally, she could do something interesting and helpful while she's elsewhere.

Also, just because she's in the area doesn't mean she needs to be in the thick of the fighting. I'm thinking along the lines of throwing pieces of millstone over the wall... you know what I mean. She could be doing something very helpful that's not hand-to-hand combat - trying to cut the ropes on a bridge, trying to open a dam, whatever fits.

^ This. That's all I have to say.

Airianna, I don't want to read his book. It takes him so long to write more because he is always revising. It would drive me insane. And, I don't want another PotK situation on my hands.

*chuckles* Understood.