Jess Harley's Blog - Posts Tagged "gl-series"
Behind the Scenes: Writing Lesbian Romance as Jess Harley by Jess Harley
If you’ve landed here, chances are you love lesbian romance as much as I do—whether it’s the slow-burn kind that makes your heart ache or the flirty, fast-paced novellas that keep you turning pages into the night. I’m Jess Harley, and I write sapphic stories full of emotional depth, yearning, and a good dash of awkward charm. Today I’m pulling back the curtain to share how I craft my lesbian romance stories—from character development to deciding whether a tale wants to be a novella or a full-length novel.
Starting With the Spark: Character First, Always
For me, writing lesbian romance always begins with the characters. I'm drawn to flawed, funny, resilient women—ones who often don’t realize how lovable they are until someone else sees it in them. I spend a lot of time building their emotional backstory before I even touch the plot. I want to know what they’re afraid of, what they secretly want, and what kind of girl might challenge everything they think they know about themselves.
Sometimes the pairing arrives fully formed in my mind: a driven career woman who’s never had time for love, and the chaotic artist who turns her world upside down. Other times, it’s slower. I play with opposites, shared history, or the tension of a missed connection—especially delicious in lesbian romance where representation of real, complex dynamics still feels so vital.
The Dance Between Novella and Novel
One of the most exciting (and challenging) parts of writing lesbian romance is deciding how long the story needs to be.
Novellas (around 20k–40k words) are perfect for high-concept, emotionally punchy love stories. I turn to this format when the premise is tight, the chemistry is instant, or the timeline is compressed—think a Christmas fling, a weekend retreat, or two rivals trapped in a snowstorm.
Novels (60k+ words) give room to explore deeper character arcs, complicated pasts, and those slow-burn relationships that simmer before they finally spark. These are great when the story involves a transformation, healing from past wounds, or when external stakes (family, careers, secrets) play a big role in the journey.
Both forms are valid and powerful. Some stories beg to be long and messy; others are short, sweet, and utterly satisfying. I don’t try to force a format. I listen to the characters, and they usually let me know.
Planning (Without Killing the Magic)
I’m a plotter at heart, but not a rigid one. I start with a basic roadmap: who these women are, what gets in their way, and how they’ll grow together. I write emotional beats more than scenes at first—moments where one character sees the other in a new light, confesses something vulnerable, or misreads a signal that leads to heartache or hilarity.
In lesbian romance, there’s also a unique intimacy in how women fall for each other—a blend of friendship, emotional mirroring, and deep empathy. I take my time to build that trust on the page.
But even with all that planning, the characters surprise me. That’s the best part.
Why Lesbian Romance?
Because we need more stories where queer women get to be messy, funny, angry, soft, ambitious, and madly in love. I write lesbian romance because I didn’t see enough of myself in the books I grew up with—and I want my stories to be a mirror and a celebration.
If you’ve read any of my books, you’ll know I adore writing slow-burn tension, awkward flirting, and emotionally layered payoffs. I love writing stories where two women truly see each other—and choose love anyway.
Thanks for reading—and if you’re a fellow lesbian romance writer (or reader!), I’d love to hear about your favorite tropes or what draws you to this genre. Let’s celebrate sapphic stories together.
– Jess Harley Instagram / TikTok @JessHarleyx
Starting With the Spark: Character First, Always
For me, writing lesbian romance always begins with the characters. I'm drawn to flawed, funny, resilient women—ones who often don’t realize how lovable they are until someone else sees it in them. I spend a lot of time building their emotional backstory before I even touch the plot. I want to know what they’re afraid of, what they secretly want, and what kind of girl might challenge everything they think they know about themselves.
Sometimes the pairing arrives fully formed in my mind: a driven career woman who’s never had time for love, and the chaotic artist who turns her world upside down. Other times, it’s slower. I play with opposites, shared history, or the tension of a missed connection—especially delicious in lesbian romance where representation of real, complex dynamics still feels so vital.
The Dance Between Novella and Novel
One of the most exciting (and challenging) parts of writing lesbian romance is deciding how long the story needs to be.
Novellas (around 20k–40k words) are perfect for high-concept, emotionally punchy love stories. I turn to this format when the premise is tight, the chemistry is instant, or the timeline is compressed—think a Christmas fling, a weekend retreat, or two rivals trapped in a snowstorm.
Novels (60k+ words) give room to explore deeper character arcs, complicated pasts, and those slow-burn relationships that simmer before they finally spark. These are great when the story involves a transformation, healing from past wounds, or when external stakes (family, careers, secrets) play a big role in the journey.
Both forms are valid and powerful. Some stories beg to be long and messy; others are short, sweet, and utterly satisfying. I don’t try to force a format. I listen to the characters, and they usually let me know.
Planning (Without Killing the Magic)
I’m a plotter at heart, but not a rigid one. I start with a basic roadmap: who these women are, what gets in their way, and how they’ll grow together. I write emotional beats more than scenes at first—moments where one character sees the other in a new light, confesses something vulnerable, or misreads a signal that leads to heartache or hilarity.
In lesbian romance, there’s also a unique intimacy in how women fall for each other—a blend of friendship, emotional mirroring, and deep empathy. I take my time to build that trust on the page.
But even with all that planning, the characters surprise me. That’s the best part.
Why Lesbian Romance?
Because we need more stories where queer women get to be messy, funny, angry, soft, ambitious, and madly in love. I write lesbian romance because I didn’t see enough of myself in the books I grew up with—and I want my stories to be a mirror and a celebration.
If you’ve read any of my books, you’ll know I adore writing slow-burn tension, awkward flirting, and emotionally layered payoffs. I love writing stories where two women truly see each other—and choose love anyway.
Thanks for reading—and if you’re a fellow lesbian romance writer (or reader!), I’d love to hear about your favorite tropes or what draws you to this genre. Let’s celebrate sapphic stories together.
– Jess Harley Instagram / TikTok @JessHarleyx
Best Lesbian Reality Shows to Binge in 2025 (Plus a Sapphic Romance You'll Love)
Looking for the best lesbian reality shows to binge in 2025? Whether you're here for real-life chemistry, queer joy, or pure sapphic drama, these series are serving everything from slow-burn tension to laugh-out-loud moments — and they're all WLW-friendly.
We’ve rounded up the hottest lesbian and Girls’ Love reality shows streaming now or coming soon, perfect for fans who crave queer authenticity, emotional depth, and a little romantic chaos.
🌈 1. The Ultimatum: Queer Love (Netflix)
If you missed it in 2023, catch up now. This spinoff of The Ultimatum features an all-queer, all-female-identifying cast. It's messy. It's emotional. It’s exactly the kind of reality chaos lesbians thrive on.
Why binge it? Unfiltered relationship drama, raw emotional honesty, and serious queer visibility on a global stage.
🎤 2. Coming Out Colton (Renewed Sapphic Edition Rumored for 2025)
While the original featured a gay male lead, insiders are hinting at a sapphic reboot that explores the coming-out journey of a queer woman in the public eye.
Why it’s exciting: Emotional storytelling, real-world pressure, and a chance to watch representation unfold on a mainstream platform.
🇹🇭 3. GAP: The Series Behind the Scenes & Cast Vlogs (YouTube)
If you’re a Thai GL fan, the drama continues off-screen. Follow the cast’s vlogs and behind-the-scenes lives — it’s basically real-life reality TV with slow-burn chemistry.
Why watch? Because GAP is the blueprint for girls’ love fans, and these off-camera moments are just as flirty and chaotic as the show.
📚 Love Sapphic Reality Shows? You’ll Fall for Unwritten by Jess Harley (available on Amazon and Kindle)
While reality shows capture love unscripted, Unwritten delivers all that same energy — plus the emotional depth you crave in a romance novel.
🔥 A scorching second-chance lesbian romance between a queer pop star and the Hollywood actress who broke her heart.
Think: fame, betrayal, emotional surrender, and very steamy tension (yes, including power dynamics and a little kink).
UNWRITTEN is perfect for fans of:
Closeted celebrity angst
Girls’ Love energy with raw emotion
WLW stories that burn slow but scorch hot
📖 Read Unwritten on Amazon
Or go back to the beginning with Second Takes, book one in the Second Chances: A Lesbian Romance series — where two actresses with history are cast in a Girls’ Love film and forced to face the past (and each other).
💡 Final Thoughts
In 2025, lesbian reality shows aren’t just trending — they’re transforming the way queer women see themselves in media. Whether you’re streaming WLW shows or diving into emotionally raw sapphic fiction, this year is all about loving loud, loving real, and loving again.
We’ve rounded up the hottest lesbian and Girls’ Love reality shows streaming now or coming soon, perfect for fans who crave queer authenticity, emotional depth, and a little romantic chaos.
🌈 1. The Ultimatum: Queer Love (Netflix)
If you missed it in 2023, catch up now. This spinoff of The Ultimatum features an all-queer, all-female-identifying cast. It's messy. It's emotional. It’s exactly the kind of reality chaos lesbians thrive on.
Why binge it? Unfiltered relationship drama, raw emotional honesty, and serious queer visibility on a global stage.
🎤 2. Coming Out Colton (Renewed Sapphic Edition Rumored for 2025)
While the original featured a gay male lead, insiders are hinting at a sapphic reboot that explores the coming-out journey of a queer woman in the public eye.
Why it’s exciting: Emotional storytelling, real-world pressure, and a chance to watch representation unfold on a mainstream platform.
🇹🇭 3. GAP: The Series Behind the Scenes & Cast Vlogs (YouTube)
If you’re a Thai GL fan, the drama continues off-screen. Follow the cast’s vlogs and behind-the-scenes lives — it’s basically real-life reality TV with slow-burn chemistry.
Why watch? Because GAP is the blueprint for girls’ love fans, and these off-camera moments are just as flirty and chaotic as the show.
📚 Love Sapphic Reality Shows? You’ll Fall for Unwritten by Jess Harley (available on Amazon and Kindle)
While reality shows capture love unscripted, Unwritten delivers all that same energy — plus the emotional depth you crave in a romance novel.
🔥 A scorching second-chance lesbian romance between a queer pop star and the Hollywood actress who broke her heart.
Think: fame, betrayal, emotional surrender, and very steamy tension (yes, including power dynamics and a little kink).
UNWRITTEN is perfect for fans of:
Closeted celebrity angst
Girls’ Love energy with raw emotion
WLW stories that burn slow but scorch hot
📖 Read Unwritten on Amazon
Or go back to the beginning with Second Takes, book one in the Second Chances: A Lesbian Romance series — where two actresses with history are cast in a Girls’ Love film and forced to face the past (and each other).
💡 Final Thoughts
In 2025, lesbian reality shows aren’t just trending — they’re transforming the way queer women see themselves in media. Whether you’re streaming WLW shows or diving into emotionally raw sapphic fiction, this year is all about loving loud, loving real, and loving again.
Thai GL News: A Bridgerton-Style Gossip Sheet on the Rise of Thai GL Romance
Thai GL News spreads faster than a scandal in Mayfair, my dear reader—and what an enchanting scandal it is. The rise of Thai GL (Girls’ Love) dramas has transformed this once-whispered genre into the talk of every glittering salon. In true Bridgerton fashion, it is not enough to simply admire these series from afar; one must observe, adore, and perhaps even ship one’s favorite couples with all the zeal of high society matchmaking.
Thai GL News: The Season’s Most Eligible Debuts
The trailers alone have become social sensations, watched millions of times and igniting a shipping mania worthy of Lady Whistledown’s quill.
Only You — Lingling Kwong and Orm Kornaphat (LingOrm) dazzle as a bodyguard and an idol whose hearts refuse to behave.
Harmony Secret — Heiresses collide in love and rivalry while chasing a coveted Duty-Free contract.
Whale Store XOXO — Cozy, honey-sweet romance between a grocery heir and a loyal customer.
4 Elements Series (Fire • Air • Water • Earth) — Freen Sarocha, Becky Armstrong, Engfa Waraha, Charlotte Austin, and more bring elemental power to love stories.
Player The Series — Romantic comedy sparkle featuring Ice Amana, Memi Muanfun, Grace Harper, and NingNing Marika.
Girl Rules — GMMTV’s sweeping anthology, weaving friendships and romances with Namtan Tipnaree, Film Rachanun, Milk Pansa, Love Pattranite, and more.
Cranium — FreenBecky return with a fresh series already stirring fervent speculation and international attention.
Denied Love, Remain, Roller Coaster, Love Design, Somewhere Somehow, Queendom — From rivalries to body-swap hijinks to heartfelt drama, there’s a Thai GL for every mood.
Why 2025 Is Thai GL’s Grand Regency Season
Production houses such as Channel 3, GMMTV, Idol Factory, COPY A BANGKOK, and WeTV are investing in richer scripts, sumptuous visuals, and leading ladies with undeniable chemistry. The result? Thai GL now stands not in the corner of the ballroom, but in the very center—commanding every gaze. Fans on Reddit even declare: “Thailand is throwing GLs at us from every direction—and we are here for it.”
A Final Note from Your Devoted Blog-mistress
Dearest gentle readers, the Thai GL News of 2025 is clear: this is the season of sapphic splendor. Whether you prefer enemies-to-lovers tension, tender slow-burns, or cozy slice-of-life charm, there is a Thai GL debut to sweep you off your feet.
And should your taste extend to fictional lesbian romance and romantic comedy in book form, may I introduce Jess Harley, author of The Soft Kind (a five-star lesbian rom-com delight), Second Takes (a romantic drama about ex's on a GL set), Unwritten (a romance about rock-stars, actresses and betrayal) and Accidentally Yours (a sparkling fake-dating romp out soon). All are available on Amazon globally and Kindle of course. Just search book name and Jess Harley. If you adore witty banter, emotional swoons, and happily-ever-afters, get my books post-haste—they are the perfect companion to your next Thai GL binge.
Yours ever in love and literature,
Jess Harley
Thai GL News: The Season’s Most Eligible Debuts
The trailers alone have become social sensations, watched millions of times and igniting a shipping mania worthy of Lady Whistledown’s quill.
Only You — Lingling Kwong and Orm Kornaphat (LingOrm) dazzle as a bodyguard and an idol whose hearts refuse to behave.
Harmony Secret — Heiresses collide in love and rivalry while chasing a coveted Duty-Free contract.
Whale Store XOXO — Cozy, honey-sweet romance between a grocery heir and a loyal customer.
4 Elements Series (Fire • Air • Water • Earth) — Freen Sarocha, Becky Armstrong, Engfa Waraha, Charlotte Austin, and more bring elemental power to love stories.
Player The Series — Romantic comedy sparkle featuring Ice Amana, Memi Muanfun, Grace Harper, and NingNing Marika.
Girl Rules — GMMTV’s sweeping anthology, weaving friendships and romances with Namtan Tipnaree, Film Rachanun, Milk Pansa, Love Pattranite, and more.
Cranium — FreenBecky return with a fresh series already stirring fervent speculation and international attention.
Denied Love, Remain, Roller Coaster, Love Design, Somewhere Somehow, Queendom — From rivalries to body-swap hijinks to heartfelt drama, there’s a Thai GL for every mood.
Why 2025 Is Thai GL’s Grand Regency Season
Production houses such as Channel 3, GMMTV, Idol Factory, COPY A BANGKOK, and WeTV are investing in richer scripts, sumptuous visuals, and leading ladies with undeniable chemistry. The result? Thai GL now stands not in the corner of the ballroom, but in the very center—commanding every gaze. Fans on Reddit even declare: “Thailand is throwing GLs at us from every direction—and we are here for it.”
A Final Note from Your Devoted Blog-mistress
Dearest gentle readers, the Thai GL News of 2025 is clear: this is the season of sapphic splendor. Whether you prefer enemies-to-lovers tension, tender slow-burns, or cozy slice-of-life charm, there is a Thai GL debut to sweep you off your feet.
And should your taste extend to fictional lesbian romance and romantic comedy in book form, may I introduce Jess Harley, author of The Soft Kind (a five-star lesbian rom-com delight), Second Takes (a romantic drama about ex's on a GL set), Unwritten (a romance about rock-stars, actresses and betrayal) and Accidentally Yours (a sparkling fake-dating romp out soon). All are available on Amazon globally and Kindle of course. Just search book name and Jess Harley. If you adore witty banter, emotional swoons, and happily-ever-afters, get my books post-haste—they are the perfect companion to your next Thai GL binge.
Yours ever in love and literature,
Jess Harley
