"I like good strong words that mean something..."
-Jo March in Little Women
My favorite fictional characters all have interesting, non-feminine names. I think it's a recipe for success, and those authors are brilliant. Scout Finch. Swede Land. And Jo March. Each of these fictional women embody the fiery, stubborn spirit I seem to relate to so well. They are strong, memorable characters, and they have inspired me to live with more adventure and tenacity.
Of these characters, Jo March was definitely my favorite. I remember reading Little Women when I was younger and loving this bold, intelligent, boisterous girl. I'd read out of our gray and yellow hardback version and wish I could put on plays like the March girls. There was such simplicity and warmth in the life Jo and her sisters lived. It was the kind of nostalgia you long for.
I love Jo for many reasons. When I was little, I loved her because she was sassy and a tomboy. She calls herself the man of the house when their father is away and often takes the leadership role within her family. I saw her as solid and strong, willing to be different and daring. And today, I love some of the same things about this character. She is assertive, straightforward, and eager to learn about the world. She shows humility and sacrifice; she loves her family and serves others. Today, though, I'm struck by her commitment to her passions, especially when it comes to writing. Jo's character is an avid reader and writer. She desires to write professionally, but it takes her a while to get there. Even in the difficulty though, Jo persists.
Tonight, I am struggling as a writer. I've been looking at a computer screen for a few hours, wondering who and what to write on. I'll be honest, Jo March was not initially on my list of 30 women. In the racking and aching of my brain tonight, she popped up and something felt more settled. I've loved the story of Little Women for a long time, and I knew right away who my favorite March sister is. But it wasn't until I came across this line from Jo that I realized how significant of a character I'd encountered.
"I like good strong words that mean something...," Jo said.
That is completely Jo. She wants strength and purpose - not only in her words, but in her self. I feel like my thoughts are mirroring this quote tonight. I don't want to write something empty. I don't care to put words on a document, copy and paste it to this blog, and post it just to finish my self-appointed challenge. I want to write with strength and purpose. I want to take this character of Jo March and adopt a bunch of her traits. Her stubbornness (check), her boldness, her sense for adventure and joy, and her persistence. I want to be a bit more like Jo March.
I am pushing through frustration. I am reading words that mean something from authors that value strength, as well. And I'm working to become a better writer through the life of a fictional character.