How about pseudonyms?

lihra · Post by **lihra** » 13 Jan 2014, 11:56

I personally think as long as its a well written good book the writers name doesn't bother me in any way

JRicouard · Post by **JRicouard** » 15 Jan 2014, 14:49

If the book is good, then that is all that matters. Although if they call themselves "Joe Buttkiss" or something silly then I don't think I would be inclined right away.

4everyoung · Post by **4everyoung** » 16 Jan 2014, 16:04

L_Therese wrote:Personally, I don't care if an author uses a real name or a fake one. Even in fiction, the author is self-revealing quite a lot, and it is his/her right to whatever privacy he/she desires. Additionally, a pseudonym may allow an author a fresh start after an initial failure or a fresh entry into a new genre. After all, who would read romance by Agatha Christie? When she tried out that genre, she used a pseudonym. In the case of J.K. Rowling, I assumed she was trying to reach a new audience and fell a little flat until her pseudonym was compromised. It happens more frequently than we the unpublished imagine, I expect.

I was in the same boat, except I published a book under the other name, however it did not do well which told me one thing - That's not me. That's not who I am deep down or what I want to be known for writing. So I was and still am considering whether to un-publish the book or just let it wear itself out since no one known its me. And just continue on writing what I truly want to write and focus on.

MRosalina · Post by **MRosalina** » 21 Jan 2014, 07:09

I think it could be quite fun - you could reinvent yourself. It is another way of paying tribute to people, or a simpler way of representing an author team (i.e. Ilona Andrews). It could also be a privacy consideration - maybe not everyone wants the public scrutiny of Rowling, Meyer etc. and using a pseudonym could help them avoid that. Or people who have a different day job and want to keep the two careers separate.

H0LD0Nthere · Post by **H0LD0Nthere** » 21 Jan 2014, 23:36

An authors' pseudonym can be part of their brand. Just like many Hollywood stars would change their names in the early years, usually to make themselves sound more Anglo. Or like John Denver changing his last name to Denver to express his idea of himself. So, when an author has a name that's part of his or her brand, that tells you the person is perhaps somewhat theatrical. They are building an image. That's not necessarily evil, some people are just that way.

If you want to be a wildly popular British fantasy author, you must of course have a name consisting of two or three initials and then a last name. (C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, G.K. Chesterton). Then, when people find out what the initials stand for, they are dismayed: "Clive Staples? WHAT?"

C.S. Lewis first published A Grief Observed under a pseudonym because the topic was so difficult and private.

honeybunny · Post by **honeybunny** » 24 Jan 2014, 11:50

I don't really care whether it's a pseudonym or not. I remember in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, I actually really liked the fact that it was a pseudonym. 'It added a real layer to the entire story.

SheldrakeWriter · Post by **SheldrakeWriter** » 25 Jan 2014, 14:41

I've always liked "Sue Denym", used by a novelist character in Evelyn Waugh's Vile Bodies. Geddit?!

JenniferSnowBooks · Post by **JenniferSnowBooks** » 28 Jan 2014, 14:30

As an author, I can definitely understand the need for them, especially if an author is trying to switch genres. I always caution authors not to confuse their fans by dabbling in too many different sub-genres, so in this case, I think they work well.

FNAWrite · Post by **FNAWrite** » 28 Jan 2014, 14:42

4everyoung says: "that told me one thing - That's not me. That's not who I am deep down or what I want to be known for writing"

You mean the book that you wrote? If not you, who was it?

Bfrisco · Post by **Bfrisco** » 28 Jan 2014, 18:07

I don't see why that would be an issue. I wouldn't mind at all finding out an author I was reading was using a pseudonym. If I ever try to write and publish a novel, I'd almost certainly use one!

thegiltyone · Post by **thegiltyone** » 02 Feb 2014, 07:57

I love the idea of them. What if, like Rowling, you want to release a book and see how well it sells without a billion dollar name? Or if you dislike your name and want one that sounds more catchy? Also, pseudonyms can be easier to spell and say. I've already chosen my pseudonym. Just in case.

GliddenBooks · Post by **GliddenBooks** » 12 Feb 2014, 10:13

Pseudonyms are a great tool for artistic expression = allow writers to market various brands, without pigeon holing oneself into a particular genre. It's like creating multiple personalities and artistic outlets.

zifranka · Post by **zifranka** » 24 Mar 2014, 01:03

I don't think it matters, under what name a work is published. Sometimes it's part of the creative output. Like with Lemony Snicket and A Series of Unfortunate Events. As for the older authors, like the Bronte sisters, if I remember correctly, or even Georg Elliot, the reason behind having to use a pseudonym could have been a defense mechanism in response to unpopular opinion about female writers. It's also possible that some authors would find the need to hide their identity so as to protect themselves from possible threats to their lives, if the subject they've written about was particularly controversial. It would be a shame to lose a brilliant writer to reckless exposure.

krismags · Post by **krismags** » 28 Mar 2014, 09:25

I think it's fiee to use a pseudonym- some authors have other careers, and it would be awkward if people started asking them about their books, etc. While at another job. They also have a right to their privacy. However, it drives me crazy when people openly write under multiple names or change the spelling. For example, Lilith Saintcrow also publishes as Lili Stcrow, which makes searching for her books annoying, despite the fact that I like her writing