Finding Yourself as a Writer

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan amused and impressed me by being the first (and only) person to pose with a sword for entries in my Launch Day Giveaway.  You rock, Sandra!

Because of you, I decided to do the same thing. I mean, who doesn't need a picture of themselves with a sword, amirite??

However, taking this picture brought forth several questions:

1. Why do I own leather pants? Seriously? When did this happen, and why was I able to locate them so quickly?
2. My husband's chain mail is crazy heavy. Just wandering around the house in it was a workout. Medieval dudes must have been buff as hell.
3. I own way too many books. The shelves behind me are just part of a larger Book Wall, and I still have boxes of books in the garage, not to mention a pile by the bed that threatens to crush me in my sleep.  Perhaps it is time to go digital.
4. My "serious business" sword-face is more like a "I want cake" face.

Along with these questions and discoveries, I've been thinking a lot lately about where I want to go as a writer.  Indie publishing has opened up whole new worlds that I've never thought were possible, namely selling short stories and writing across multiple genres.

Lately, I've been working on two more Veronica Grim short stories so I can release Part II of No Rest for the Wicked.  I love these stories.  They are so incredibly fun to write :).  The idea is that fairy tale villains are real, and there are special agents sent to take them out.  One of these agents is Veronica Grim, and she is very good at what she does.  There are shoot outs, dwarves, and snappy one-liners, and I am loving every minute of creating these.

But this is not, how do you say, Serious Business.  This is silly and fun and dark.  Shouldn't I be writing something Meaningful and Important instead?

I was talking about this with my husband last night, and the following conversation took place:

Him:  Well, the way I see it, it's like actors in Hollywood. Some are Tom Hanks, who is great, and then some are, you know..
Me:  Daniel Day Lewis?

Him:  Exactly!  Some only make four movies and are uber dramatic.

Me:  And live in a tent for six months psyching themselves up for their Oscar role.

Him:  Right.  But not everyone has to be Daniel Day Lewis.

Me:  Yeah, or wants to.  I don't want to be Daniel Day Lewis.

Him:  Then don't be.

Me: .....  What if I turn out to be Bruce Campbell (star of Army of Darkness)

Him:  *laughs*  That would be awesome.


So, I suppose what I'm getting at is, indie publishing is allowing me to explore who I am and who I want to be as a writer.  If I want to write campy fairy tale noir, I can do that.  If I want to write horror (which I would like to try), then I can do that, too.  If I want to do a sequel to LEGACY, I can do all of it. 

I can do whatever I want.  I have control over my career. 

I can be Bruce Campbell if I'm meant to be Bruce Campbell :). 

Or maybe I'll be Christopher Walken... I haven't decided yet.


My question to you is, who are you as a writer?  Are you okay with that? 

When are you having the most FUN when you're writing?

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Bonus question! Which hollywood actor is your writing career like?