Writing female characters without resorting to stereotypes can prove challenging for some writers, especially when they must cross the gender barrier in order to do so. But with some research, close observation, and practice, it is possible to write a believable and authentic female character—regardless of the book’s genre or narrative structure.

Read on for some things to keep in mind. And remember: The goal is to create a convincing female character, not a perfect one, so be sure you’re allowing yourself some creative flexibility.

Develop her backstory
Creating a past for all of your female characters—even if what you come up with doesn’t explicitly get discussed in your final manuscript—can go a long way toward fleshing out her character and will help you avoid unintentionally manufacturing a glorified cardboard cutout.

Think about where and how she was raised, significant events that happened throughout her life and how these things may have shaped her views, her choices, and her personality in general. If you want to present her as an anxious character, for example, explore the past traumas or incidents that may have originally produced that anxiety. Are there any advantages that being anxious might provide, such as a fierce loyalty to friends or an extra sense of tenacity for getting through tough times? Play around with what makes the most sense for your particular characters in the context of your overarching plot.

Consider her flaws
I can safely say that there are very few people out there who enjoy reading about a perfect woman with absolutely zero imperfections or weaknesses. So much of what makes a female character interesting is her various flaws, which also exist to serve multiple purposes within the story itself: Namely, they make her much more relatable to the average reader andact as great catalysts for either the major events of the novel or the emotional growth that stands at the core of the story.

Just be sure not to limit yourself to the most commonly used flaws—sometimes something that actually looks like a strength at first glance can become a flaw if it’s taken to the extreme (and often gives you even more to work with in terms of character development). If your female character is a perfectionist, for example, how could that trait alienate some of those who are closest to her?

Consider her strengths
As important as it is to consider your female protagonists’ flaws, it is just as important to acknowledge and embrace her strengths. Typical “flaws” can often be turned into strengths if looked at in a different way.

If your female character is considered overly blunt and outspoken, for example, how could that trait serve her or those around her to get what they want or move the plot forward? The most important thing to remember is that, like the real people who exist around you, people tend to have a myriad of positive traits. Instead of focusing on just one main one (as many authors do when it comes to female characters), feel free to embrace a whole slew of admirable qualities for her!

To make it feel more realistic, you may want to try choosing different personality traits that are variously considered feminine and masculine according to common societal standards. So if your female character is a badass in the boxing ring, for example, you may want to think about balancing that with her love of, say, romance novels. Real people are inherently full of contradictions, so it’s OK to make your characters the same way.

Wrestle with her wants
What makes a female character soar to the level of “I’ve got to finish this book right now to find out what happens to her!” largely rests on the urgency with which she wants something for herself. This could be literally almost anything: a certain job, a chance to unwind, an epic romance, a second chance at redemption. As long as the want feels urgent enough and the character encounters (and must fight through) enough barriers that are preventing them from getting it, your readers will happily come along for the ride.

It’s OK to talk about looks
I wanted to be sure and tackle this stereotypical idea that often pops up in writing that authors must largely avoid describing a female’s looks to avoid coming across as sexist. The truth of the matter is that describing your character’s appearance helps readers visualize them and sometimes even further relate to them.

There is nothing inherently bad or harmful in describing what your female characters look like, even when it’s done in an admiring way. Just be sure to back up that description with all the subtleties and nuances described above to add balance and depth.

Andrea Moran lives outside of Nashville with her husband and two kids. She’s a professional copywriter and editor who loves all things books. Find her on LinkedIn.