It's been a strange morning. Looking out my window this morning I saw the hen turkey that's been lurking about the yard and the field just beyond my window this past week. She fluffed her feathers in the dirt around the bottom of the pine tree then walked along the side of the road picking stones until she disappeared from sight. I think she may be preparing to nest in the field. I look forward to future sightings and maybe a glimpse of the babies when they hatch. And, believe it or not, it's snowing! Snow on Mother's Day, in May, who'd of thunk it? And with the lilacs in full bloom nearly three weeks early.
I have some links that I'll probably post up tomorrow, but there's been a question on my mind for some time so I thought I'd toss it out on the ether sea and see what floats back.
The question is about pen names. I know there are many reasons to use one. The more prolific writers of decades past used them so they wouldn't be referred to as hacks. David Cranmer and others use one name for Westerns and another for Crime stories and Michael Bracken uses a variety names for his confession stories. Many women use their initials or a male pen name because they feel their work will considered better or more salable if written by a man. And there are many gentlemen who use female pen names for romance novels and cozy mysteries for the same reasons. And yet, writers like Robert Randisi and Ed Gorman seem to do all right writing in various genres under their own names.
My questions? Is it better to use a pen name if you're writing in a variety of genres or does it just confuse readers who are looking for your work? The big thing now is to brand yourself, so if you're branding, do you have to set up a platform for each pen name? And something I haven't figured out yet, is why an author uses a pen name then has something like Amelia Loving writing as JD Mysterious put on the cover. Why bother with the pen name if its not a secret? Feel free to wonder or answer along with me on this Sunday morning.
And Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there and the Dad's who are taking on that responsibility for one reason or another. Mothering is a tough job and you're all loved mightily for doing it!
13 comments:
Happy Mother's Day, Sandra. (It was March 14th over here.)
I do understand why people use pen names, and for a variety of reasons other than what genre they write in. Each to their own. I'd love to be in a position of contemplating using one. :-)
Thanks, David! I've been dabbling in other genres and wondered about using a pen name.
Pick a byline and stick with it unless there's a compelling reason to use an alternate byline.
What might be a compelling reason?
You teach Sunday School to preschoolers and write BDSM erotica.
And note: An alternate byline isn't necessarily a pseudonym. William Robert Smith might write as William Robert Smith, William Smith, William R. Smith, W. R. Smith, W. Robert Smith, Will Smith, Bill Smith, Rob Smith, Bob Smith, Billy Bob Smith, and so on. But for that BDSM stuff he might use an actual pseudonym: Gloria Goodenough.
I always wanted to use a pen name, simple because I felt a little uncomfortable using my real name.
So when I started blogging, I used my chat room name (Georgie B) for the better part of several months. Even though I switched to an initial, I will stick with the pen name, simply because it matches up with sometimes flakey personality.
Plus, my friends and family have a problem reconciling me the writer with me the person, so as long as I can keep those two distinct personalities separate, the better off I'll be.
Some very good answers above.
My neice said to me, Grainger (I use for the westerns) is NOT a very cool pen name. I explained it was out of respect for my grandfather who was a big inspiration in my becoming a writer. But I have decided to limit Grainger to just the oaters and Cranmer for everything else. Unless, I go into erotica and then, of course, David Love. :)
I hadn't thought of using initials or nicknames to change the byline, Michael. And I don't plan on writing any erotic, my Aunt Marie was be scandalized and she's my biggest fan! Plus she's the one who teaches Sunday School.
That's a good reason, G. My husband hated that I wrote for the local paper and would have prefered that I used another name.
I like that you use your pen name to honor your grandfather, David! That makes the name cool in my book.
Darn it. Niece! I should have remembered, I before E except after C, or when sounded as A as in neighbor and weigh...
Is there anybody who doesn't know that rhyme? Every time I write a word with the ie combination, I start saying it! God bless the old time English teachers and their poem prompts for spelling and grammar!
There is a great way to find your pen name. It's the name of your first ever pet and then your mother's maiden name.......oh, sorry, that's your porn star name. :-)
I heard it was your first pet and the name of the first street you lived on. Which would have made mine Spot Poe - Not a good name either way! :)
I would be Sandy Kirkman. Not that good either.
Damn! I guess we just weren't meant to be porn stars, David :-) We'll have to stick with writing.
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