When beginning a new book project, it's important to get to know your characters better. I do that through character sketches, vision boards, and playlists.
Category: For Writers
Build-a-Book Step 1: Imagining the initial dynamic
So, how do you start a romance novel? To me, a romance novel is ultimately the story of how two people's lives clash, and so in the earliest days of imagining a new book, my creative energy is really focused on the the couple at the heart of the book. To use a construction metaphor … Continue reading Build-a-Book Step 1: Imagining the initial dynamic
Romance novel types, tropes, lengths and formats
Learn more about romance novel tropes, romance novel categories, romance novel formats and romance novel lengths!
You’re seeing more of my face. Who’s to blame? (Or, why I decided to “show my work”)
As I mentioned in my last post, I've decided to embark on a new project. In the Summer of 2021, I'm going to build a book from scratch, and take you along with me on the journey. Before I start to tell you about the project I have in the works, I wanted to share … Continue reading You’re seeing more of my face. Who’s to blame? (Or, why I decided to “show my work”)
Something new for this summer…
It's been a long, quiet stretch here in Jess Vonn land, and like everything else in my life (the messy house, the extra weight, the feral children) I'll blame it on general pandemic stressfulness! BUT, my creative spark is back and this summer, I'm embarking on a new journey. I'm going to build a contemporary … Continue reading Something new for this summer…
What Snapchat taught me about meeting my goals
In a college-level media literacy course I taught last semester, I challenged my students to alter their social media routines in a significant way for three consecutive days and then reflect on the experience. Many of them chose to give up a platform that they felt addicted to, and for many of them, this was … Continue reading What Snapchat taught me about meeting my goals
Why I’m Inviting You To a Reader Group
Odds are, you're probably already part of an online group. Maybe it's for your favorite brand of leggings or health shakes that a friend sells. Maybe it's an interest group related to your hobbies or your profession. Maybe it's a small, secret group of friends that provides one safe corner of the internet where you … Continue reading Why I’m Inviting You To a Reader Group
Celebrating A New “Making Year!” (Or, How I Got My Creative Work Organized)
I really love cycles. It's one of the reasons I find so much satisfaction in being an academic by day. The knowledge that there's always a new, fresh semester around the corner fills me with tons of creativity and adds wind to my sails all throughout the year. Self-care resolutions at new year's, the burgeoning … Continue reading Celebrating A New “Making Year!” (Or, How I Got My Creative Work Organized)
The role of restraint in romance
To desire, and then to demonstrate restraint in the face of that desire, is not only one of the sexiest elements of the romances I read and I write, but it's also one of their most important elements (especially in light of the #MeToo movement.)
Three centering practices that keep my creative work on track
I'm finding that in order to keep at my romance writing, I've had to introduce a lot of behaviors and tasks into my week that often have nothing to do with actually writing words toward my current work-in-progress. Some of these tactics are stolen from best organizational practices I've learned at the Day Job (as … Continue reading Three centering practices that keep my creative work on track
Jess Vonn ❤️ 