I’ve finally come back to a manuscript I started a few months ago and — shocker! — have had to put it on the back burner because I’ve got sidetracked. I’m now struggling with something I didn’t count on when I plotted this romance — my sassy heroine is pregnant . . . .
See, I, too, am pregnant. Every time I write (although I’m sure some of me goes into my character), I try to filter things as much as possible because, really, no good can come out of having a character too like me.
Especially not now. Truly. I get heartburn so bad that sometimes I picture a tiny Chucky baby inside my stomach throwing sharp knives all the way up to my throat. Yes, that’s how much it hurts. And the forgetting . . . I mean, what was I saying?
Oh, right. The blog post. Pregnancy. Got it!
I’ve read tons of books where the heroine was pregnant and everything was peachy. She only gained weight on her stomach, had energy to sexually entertain the hero, and passed on the epidural. I can easily say that’s not my case — that’s not how I want my heroines to be. I like to throw curveballs. I guess the hard thing right now is finding the happy middle, where my heroine still has pregnancy-related symptoms but I don’t turn the book into one of my long, complaining phone calls to my mother. 
How about you? When you’re writing a book, and your protagonist has a certain trait in common with your own experience, do you find this to be obstructive?
Oh dear!
I often write my stories and the protanganist with a bit of me in them, it makes it easier for me to empathise with them and get under their skin. But it’s usually with the benefit of hindsight. I’m not sure I’d like to write a character who was going through something the same time as me, it would mess with my perspective too much.
As it happens, the sequel to Christmas is Cancelled has a pregnant heroine. Her first interaction with the hero sees her shoving him aside and barging through his front door so that she can go and throw up in his bathroom. Oh yes, I intend to have some fun with her pregnancy symptoms. And yes, she too can go to bed with a bottle of Gaviscon every night.
Best wishes for your pregnancy, Carmen, you know it will all be worth it in the end x
Hi Aurelia!
Wow, love that scene
We should get our pregnant heroines together for a brunch
Thanks
I always found cold milk helpful for heartburn. You’re doing a realy good job, just keep it up and don’t let it get you down.