Creative Writing with the Crimson League

The Blog of Fantasy Author Victoria Grefer

November 11, 2023

A new, forced rhythm to the week

Lately, with multiple Church programs, this blog, and a day job during the week, I’ve been forced more than usual to set aside Friday night through Sunday for my writing (at the moment, revising book two of my trilogy), without much writing at all the rest of the week. In one way that’s not a…
November 10, 2023

What I love about being bilingual

I’m so grateful to be fluent in Spanish. Here are some of my favorite things about being bilingual access to new cultures, literature, and art I’ve been blessed to be able to spend quite a bit of time in Spain, and Madrid is my happy place I happen to LOVE linguistics, and Spanish is my…
November 9, 2023

Thankful Thursday: Thankful that I had a real childhood

I’m grateful that I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, when it was MUCH easier to have a real childhood–out playing in the yard or in the pool, reading books, or playing dolls, house, or school with my sisters. No social media. No smart phones. I cannot imagine being a kid with all that…
November 8, 2023

The truth of fiction is deeper than “fact”

Fiction uses stories that aren’t factually or historically true to teach us deep, eternal, lasting truths about the world and human nature. This is why fiction is so powerful, so meaningful, and so necessary to human life. History and historical fact are also, of course, critical, and must be recognized for what they are. History,…
November 7, 2023

What a GREAT first person narrator (in fiction) always has . . .

What does a great first person narrator in fiction always have? There may be a small number of exceptions to this, but in general, the answer is: AN AGENDA. The great first person narrators have an agenda. They have a good reason to be telling their story, that agenda will influence what they tell and…
November 6, 2023

Tempted to put down book two for now

This post is a bit of an update. I’m exhausted in general these days. My editor can’t take book two until December 1, and it’s already in good shape. I’m tempted to let it sit until she can take it, but I know it’s worth it to get it in as good shape as possible…
November 5, 2023

Sunday Reflection: on humility

The psalm at Mass today is one of my favorites. I have the Grail translation of it memorized thanks to the Divine Office: O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor haughty my eyes. I have not gone after things too great, nor marvels beyond me. Truly I have set my soul in silence in…
November 4, 2023

My authorpreneur/ small business goals for November

Big goals for November here! We’ll see how they go. I’m hoping to: get manuscript of book two in shape for my editor, who can take it for December 1. That shouldn’t be a big problem. contact two local bookshops about getting book one in stock (even just a few copies) contact those stores or…
November 3, 2023

Flashback Friday-the awful soap opera of my first novel

I’m thinking today of my first book, which is so bad I have never even considered publishing it after writing my Herezoth trilogy. It’s a complete melodrama, which, granted, was the point. It’s basically a clean soap opera–not much of an audience for that, and that’s the best way to describe it. It’s also poorly…
November 2, 2023

Thankful Thursday: thankful for my new editor

There are so many reasons I am grateful for my new editor, after my old editor was unable to take on further projects. she has been so personable, and a delight to correspond with she has mentioned she is a big fan of my genre, so she’s a great choice for my work as she’ll…