Meet J Von Tobel

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to J Von Tobel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

J, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

Every story starts with a singe idea rattling around in your head. You don’t have the words to express its beauty, even if you took hours to explain. It is likely half formed, full of holes, and the most staggeringly beautiful things you’ve ever seen. This will happen again and again. Sometimes those beautiful ideas become stories. Sometimes they collapse like a table with too thin legs. It will happen again and again and again.

And every time you get to the other side, you will be haunted by one thought: what if that was my last good idea?

I’ve had this thought many times. However, I can happily report that I continue to come up with good ideas, new stories, and intriguing hooks. It’s something we all fear from time to time, but there is one thing that I would encourage creators to embrace if they want to keep their creativity alive: patience.

Working creatively is a running fight against burn out. We want to create regularly enough to have progress, but anyone who’s written 50k words in 30 days knows how it feels to push that to the limit. There smaller things that can alleviate the crushing weight of creation, but none of them are as powerful as patience. The desire to create is inside of you and given the correct amount of space, it will replenish. If you have been working on a larger project and feel as if you are staring at a brick wall, it might be time to take a step back. This small break could be a day, a week, or even a month if your deadline allows for it. Giving yourself the license to ease off and focus on something else is a reward. You should treat it as such.

Another potential creativity killer is the dead time between projects. You’ve finished a book or a piece of art, done what you need to do, and it is off. Well, we are creatives. We’re never satisfied with just one thing. Every new project needs a new idea. When it comes time to find the seed for a new project, I’ve found two methods that work: The Shower Method and Pressure Cooker Method.

The Shower Method is fairly well known already. It’s a common experience to think of something unique while showering, washing dishes, walking a dog, or other activities. When you’re feeling stuck on an idea, it can be incredibly useful to detach from it entirely for a time. You don’t want to do something that requires a lot of focus. Movies, games, and conversation all require you to think about what you’re doing. We want activities where you can rely on muscle memory or where the mental load is low. These are activities that encourage you to day dream. Find those and use them to create distance from the creative process. I’ve often found I do my best thinking when walking my dogs.

The Pressure Cooker Method is the exact opposite. I would not recommend this for the initial process of creation. Often for this to work, you need some ideas and themes to start with. I would describe this process as complete focus on the idea at hand. Create a list of themes and elements involved in this project: names, setting, mediums, plot, symbols. All of that works. The next step is to take it to a new medium of work. Are you a writer who types all day? Break out some note cards and a sharpie to make a connected map of thoughts. Use a white board to plot out beats. There are many ways to go about this method, but the core idea behind it is complete focus. You are interrogating your ideas for a way forward.

The last thing I want to touch on is mental state. When someone feels they’ve run out of ideas, I would wager it has more to do with their mindset than the actual creative process. Stress, depression, and uncertainty can stymie creativity with horrifying efficiency. When we are too worried about other things in life, we can’t create as well. If you’ve tried every other idea, but still cannot break a log jam it might be time to evaluate your mental health. Whether that means confiding your worries to a friend, seeking therapy, or just having a snack, don’t forget that all of these ideas come from an organ: your mind. Take care of the organ and it will take care of your creativity.

The greatest takeaway I can leave you with is that creativity is never dried up. It is never the case that someone is just out of ideas. I’ve gone over a few ways to keep your creativity alive. I’d encourage you to explore these ideas in your own time and find what works for you. No two creators are the same. One person’s process might not work for you, regardless of how well it works for them. Be sensitive with your own needs and give yourself the grace to struggle.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I write romantasy (fantasy romance) and dark fantasy. Part of my background is a love of worldbuilding and weaving intriguing, grounded worlds. I was a Game Master for Dungeons & Dragons campaigns for 11 years. In that time, I was able to essentially beta test ideas against a group and receive real time feedback. The result is that my novels are lauded for sharp dialogue, thrilling plots, and settings so interesting that they rival the story for interest.

I love writing stories about the human heart in conflict with itself. Even among books where the fate of the world hangs in the balance, there is no higher drama than someone who refuses to accept something about themselves. Drama has always existed between characters. Thrilling set pieces and terrifying monsters and great, don’t get me wrong. What brings readers back are the bonds they form with characters.

I am a proud Chicagoan and an active member of the Chicago North Romance Writers. When I’m not writing, I love trying out new recipes and cooking for friends.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Dedication, acceptance of my own faults, and patience. Being a writer is a demanding skill that requires a great deal of focus. To me, it always feels like a balance between pushing yourself and easing up. If you push too hard, you’ll burn out. It’s one thing to feel tired and need some recuperation. Burnout is far more sinister. On the other hand, if you continually excuse yourself then you’ll never put a word down.

For those new to the practice, I would strongly suggest timeboxing. Decide on a time of day for when you want to write or paint or work or whatever it is you are struggling to do. Have a hard start time and a hard cut off time. Do not do more than you are capable of. Be patient with yourself and listen to your gut.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

I’ve spent a lot of time transitioning from dark fantasy to romantasy. In the last year, I’ve taken a lot of care to think over personal, heartfelt scenes and how love is conveyed beyond merely dialogue. Pacing, place, time, and perspective are all deeply important for a romance. It was one of my weaknesses at first, but I feel like I have made great strides.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jacobvontobel.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jvontobelwrites/

Image Credits

@fondlyframed @zoeee_arts