Yesterday and today, as the controversy goes on, I have been just sort of sitting here with a bunch of thoughts about it but not saying anything because like, I don't feel well, my thoughts are not organized, and it's not about me so who cares. But mainly my thoughts are along the lines of: this keeps happening, and there is something in the 'system' that allows it to and even rewards it, and maybe people need to think about that. This kind of shit with Freydis Moon or what their name is now happens in fannish circles and it happens here, and it is something bullies and weirdos and the wannabe famous do in this environment because again, something about the environment not just allows them to but encourages it. Helps it thrive (for a while). And there is probably something something identity politics in there. And something something about the inner workings of the groups at the top of this particular food chain (whether people in those groups admit they are at the top or not). And something something also the vulnerabilities of an industry where many people have to write secretly or under different names for security reasons or because romance is one step above sex work as far as many outside the genre are concerned (and we know how those people feel about sex work and sex workers). All of which is to say, this is an individual problem (this person lying, abusing people, being a bully etc) but also a systemic one. And people can get mad at that person but this has happened before, and it will very probably happen again, and there is really nothing (atm) to stop or prevent it.
And also, as a sidenote to all the other weird discourse now happening--pen names are fine. Pen names are not "deception." Pen names are pen names, with a long history of use from all writers throughout time, and much like many stage names, are used for personal reasons, often having to do with security. But even if security is not involved and it's just a matter of separate genres or a writer just wanting a little privacy, or even just the writer's choice for no reason at all, writers get to use pen names. And yeah there is some identity politics in there as well when certain authors are lying about who they are to get like, own voices points or whatever but the names themselves are fucking fine to use.
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Should You Use a Pen Name?🤔
Before diving into the reasons why to consider a pen name, I want to point out that there is absolutely nothing wrong with using your own real name as a writer. Many people dream of seeing their own name printed on the cover of their books, or do not want to bother with having to explain to people in their life why the name on the cover is different from their own. What ever reason you have for wanting to use your real name, you are completely allowed to.
However, if you are curious, here are some common reasons that people decide to use a pen name.
For Privacy
If you have a professional cooperate day job, it might not work for your benefit if people google your name, and the first thing that comes up is a series of silly children’s books. Or perhaps you are a teacher, and you just know that if your students knew what steamy romances you write, you would never hear the end of it in class.
Using a pen name gives you the freedom to follow your writing passions, without having to worry about implications to your daily life.
To Switch Genres
Many writers use pen names to switch genres. For example, Agatha Christie has romance novels under the name “Mary Westmacott,” and Anne Rice (real name Howard Allen Frances O’Brien) has three different pen names for different genres. If you typically write one genre, and suddenly write a new one, someone who recognizes your name at a book shop might pick it up(assuming it to be their usual genre), and be disappointed. This can lead to bad reviews, simply because it ended up in the hands of the wrong genre market.
There are marketing reasons for this, as well. One author I heard on a podcast (6 Figure Authors) talking about using a pen name said that she did it so that her fans could jump over to the new genre she was trying. She feared that well-meaning fans of her fantasy works would leave reviews for her new romance books. You might be wondering why that would be a problem, but the answer is the dreaded Amazon algorithm.
Let’s say you typically read fantasy, and you and a few hundred other fantasy fans review that romance book. Well, the algorithm notices that, and now, instead of the books showing up as recommendations for the intended genre readers, it shows up for fantasy readers. Essentially, that author was worried about losing out on building a new genre fan base (and sales) because of well-meaning fans.
One final reason related to this is for moral reasons. If you typically write children’s fiction, and suddenly write erotica, you will want to use a pen name to protect yourself from the parental outrage that will happen if some of those children fans of yours pick up your newest book.
To Fit the Genre
Dr. Seuss(real name Theodor Seuss Geisel), used a pen name because he wanted to use a name similar to “Mother Goose.” It simply fits the children’s books genre better, and it is also a common reason to switch.
For example, something along the lines of “Elizabeth Potter” just seems to fit with a romance series more than something like “Elysium Crow.” Both are valid, but readers can sometimes judge a lot about a book just because of your name. Is that wrong? Maybe, but I would wager most the time readers who do that do it on a subconscious level, without really knowing why the name made them skip to a different book.
Another reason you may have to switch for a genre is that you have a name that is already famous by someone else, and so now people associate that name with that genre. For example, if your name happens to also be Stephen King and you want to publish cozy and romantic mysteries, it might be in your best interest to take on a pen name.
Making Your Name Easier To Remember
If you have a rather typical name, that can also mean forgettable. Instead, if your name is more unique(Lemony Snicket) it sticks in peoples minds.
For Safety
Sometimes, the choice of using a pen name is made with their own safety in mind. Using a name different than your own can create an extra wall between yourself and people who might want to find you.
It could be that you do not want well-meaning fans knocking at your door every day (assuming you are talented enough to get that popular), but it could also be that you are afraid of stalkers and other creepy types.
Another reason is that some people write fiction that their family or other people in their life might not approve of. For example, imagine telling your “traditional values” ultra-religious family members that you write LGBT+ erotica’s. Yikes.
Because Gender Stereotypes (Sadly) Still Exist
When Mary Shelley(author of Frankenstein) did not use a pen name, she faced things like less pay and cut advances, so it is no wonder that most women authors of those times took on pen names. As an example of this, the sisters Currer(Charlotte, author of Jane Eyre), Emily (Ellis, author of Wuthering Heights), and Acton (Anne, more known for poetry), all picked male names until they had already secured publishers.
Things have drastically improved since then, but not completely. If I tell people I am a writer, it is often assumed I am writing romance. Occasionally, I am even asked if I am trying to be the next Stephanie Meyer. Although romance books are not my personal taste, there is nothing wrong with either romance or Meyer. The real problem is that it proves that gendered stereotypes still exist even today. It is worth noting that I do live in a small farming town with often old-fashioned standards, but a quick look online will show that my problems are not alone. So, if that is the reaction from people looking at my face, what about a name on the spine of a book that is typically considered for women?
Well, some people point out that men are still more likely to get published, and according to studies, men are more likely to not read a book if they know it is written by a woman.
Alternatively, women are more open to reading books by men, but not in the romance genre. Because of that, male romance writers typically pick names that are traditionally associated with women.
Things are changing, and quickly, so hopefully when the kids of today are adults, this will not be a reason to consider a pen name. At the moment, however, it is still a reason many authors consider not using their own name.
To Build A Persona
There is something to be said about building a persona; it creates the feeling that you are as interesting as the characters you create, while also allowing you to show sides of yourself that you might typically hide.
One famous example of this is Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler), author of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Not only did he use a name that stands out, but he also crafted a complex backstory for this narrator that made people as interested in this “Lemony Snicket” as they were for the main characters in his books.
This might sound quite odd for people, but if you are a naturally shy or reserved person, taking on a persona can help make marketing less daunting.
Freedom
Let’s say you do actually want to publish books under your real name someday, but do not want your “practice” works tarnishing that name as you learn. Well, using a pen name gives you the freedom to write without fear.
Alternatively, some authors (example: O. Henry) have a frowned upon past that people do not want associated with their new career. Similarly, George Orwell(Eric Blair) wrote under a pen name so he could talk about a life of poverty without fear of embarrassing his family.
A pen name can give people a chance at starting over.
For Branding
If you can dive souly into a single genre, then you can make that genre your whole brand. For example, if you write fantasy, you can review fantasy media, share dragon artwork, and even take author pictures with swords. Overtime, people may associate your pen name with that specific genre so much so that you come to mind almost immediately with that genre.
A modern example of this (though to my knowledge, it is not a pen name) is Daniel Greene, who has a Youtube channel dedicated to reporting fantasy news, and now has books in the genre himself. Even before he published, he had cemented himself as being the face of a whole genre to his fans, simply from reporting genre specific news.
On the other side, let’s say Daniel Green suddenly decides he wants to write books on how to grow sunflowers….well, his brand is built around his genre, so it would be easier for him to pick a pen name, and build on that instead. That way, he can post about gardening tips and new gardening science break throughs, and build a brand specific to that.
Other Reasons
For example, Stephen King took up a pen name because his publishers did not want him publishing more than one book a year under his real name.
Others (like Bell Hooks) use a name to honor their ancestors.
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