using a pseudonym

[Ronda]

Opinions, please?

A friend suggested to me that perhaps I should use an alias for my fantasy writing. I live in the Bible Belt in a small community, and I write fantasy and supernatural stories. She is concerned that I might get a lot of flack from fundamentalists because of the supernatural elements, mages, etc.

I can see her point.

But I'm not sure if that's what I should do. I am becoming more and more known in the community because of my massage and my column. It would make sense for me to promote my work in the local libraries, bookstores, etc. I have visions of putting on a wig and a disguise to appear as my alias. :D

What do you think?

[KTC]

Don't do it! Be proud of what you write. Don't let others dictate you. Ever.

[Christine N.]

Hey, it works for Lemony Snicket.
But I'm with KTC. Write what you want, don't let them get to you. The only reason I would use a pen name is if I wrote something out of genre and I didn't want to confuse readers. I write MG fantasy, but I've also penned a crime thriller. I would probably pub the crime thriller under a pen name, so that kids wouldn't pick up the other one thinking it was for them.

Or something like that.

[Roger J Carlson]

Well, I wouldn't, but I can't speak for you or your community.

Do you think you will be threatened in some way? If so, that might be a reasonable precaution. On the other hand, if you're concerned that you might be shunned, ask yourself if you really care what these people think. My guess is for every hardcore detractor, you'll find several admirers.

If you publish and are even moderately successful, your town will be proud of their "published author" regardless of the genre.

[PattiTheWicked]

Opinions, please?

A friend suggested to me that perhaps I should use an alias for my fantasy writing. I live in the Bible Belt in a small community, and I write fantasy and supernatural stories. She is concerned that I might get a lot of flack from fundamentalists because of the supernatural elements, mages, etc.


You are who you are, and really, as long as you're writing things that YOU are ethically and spiritually okay with, it shouldn't matter what others think. Besides, look how many more books JK Rowling sells when the fundies start protesting.

Eventually, you'll run into someone who doesn't like what you write, for a variety of reasons. You can either hide behind a name that isn't yours and be safe, or you can be yourself and be honest.

I've been openly pagan for half my life, spent ten years in the bible belt, and presently live in a very conservative suburb in Ohio. I've never hidden anything about myself, because I'd rather be hated for who I am than liked for something I'm not. Just my nickel's worth.


I can see her point. But I'm not sure if that's what I should do. I am becoming more and more known in the community because of my massage and my column. It would make sense for me to promote my work in the local libraries, bookstores, etc. I have visions of putting on a wig and a disguise to appear as my alias. :D

What do you think?




I can see good reasons for using a pseudonym. Let's say you write sexy vampire fiction on one hand, and chaste Regency romances on the other. Sure, you might want to use different names, to keep the markets separate. Or if you write kids' books as well as adult novels, maybe. Or maybe your real name is Stephen King and you don't want to be confused with some other guy, or maybe your name is hard to pronounce or just plain embarassing and you hate it. All good excuses for changing your name. But I think using a pseudonym just so people won't know who you are when they criticize your book is kind of a cop out reason.

Your mileage may vary.

[scribbler1382]

If I lived in a bible belt, I think I'd be more concerned about rubbing people than telling stories. :o

Seriously, unless you need to use another name because you're saturating the market with your real name, just be you.

[jackie106]

You could try explaining that fantasy is not necessarily anti-Christian. CS Lewis and JRR Tolkein more or less invented the genre and they were both devout Christians. (This may not work if your books has a lot of hot hobbit lovin'.)

Jackie

[JerseyGirl1962]

I considered, briefly, using a pseudonym when I first got serious about getting my writing published (a couple of years ago). It was the privacy thing.

But then I thought...why do I have to hide behind a name that's not mine? What's wrong with my name? Now, my maiden name was 11 letters long and although it was simple to pronounce once I explained it away in a phrase, most people got it (including my hubby). But of course you don't get a pronunciation key for the author's name in a traditional book, so it might be worth coming up with a pseudonym in that instance.

So...I could understand if you feared for your life from someone in the community, if your last name was long and hard to pronounce (as noted above), or for some reason you just hated your name altogether. But if you like your name, you like what you write, and you get published, wouldn't you be jazzed to see your name "in lights," so to speak? I know I did (although I did add in my middle name because it sounds better to me).

I hope you give this a lot of thought and come down on the side of using your real name. Just my 2 cents, of course. :-)

[PattiTheWicked]

(This may not work if your books has a lot of hot hobbit lovin'.)



I'll probably regret posting this later... Out In The Mountains : Arts - Hobbit Love (http://www.mountainpridemedia.org/oitm/issues/2003/12dec2003/ae03_hobbit.htm)

[JerseyGirl1962]

jackie106 in her post makes a very good point - JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis were both Christian writers and their works are almost universally looked at by fundamentalists and other religious as being good, moral stories.

I love Tolkien's stuff, but I personally found The Chronicles of Narnia a bit boring; but I digress... ;-)

[JerseyGirl1962]

LOL!!! ;-)

[Jamesaritchie]

Opinions, please?

A friend suggested to me that perhaps I should use an alias for my fantasy writing. I live in the Bible Belt in a small community, and I write fantasy and supernatural stories. She is concerned that I might get a lot of flack from fundamentalists because of the supernatural elements, mages, etc.

I can see her point.

But I'm not sure if that's what I should do. I am becoming more and more known in the community because of my massage and my column. It would make sense for me to promote my work in the local libraries, bookstores, etc. I have visions of putting on a wig and a disguise to appear as my alias. :D

What do you think?




That's a perfectly legitimate use of a pseudonym. If you wish, you can even avoid local bookstores and libraries, as long as you visit others.

The thing about a pseudonym is that even when people know it's you, there's still something of a disconnect that happens. That know it's you, but it sort of isn't really you since it isn't your name.

There's never anything wrong with using a pseudonym, it's purely up to the writer, and some awfully famous writers use pseudonyms for all sorts of reasons. A bit more peace and quiet may be the best reason in the bunch.

[Jamesaritchie]

jackie106 in her post makes a very good point - JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis were both Christian writers and their works are almost universally looked at by fundamentalists and other religious as being good, moral stories.

I love Tolkien's stuff, but I personally found The Chronicles of Narnia a bit boring; but I digress... ;-)

That's because both LOTR and Narnia are considered by many to be a sort of retelling of the Bible in the guise of fantasy. Many of the the same fundamentalists who love Tolkien and Lewis are violently o

[azbikergirl]

People always mispronounce my last name, even though it's pronounced *exactly* as it's spelled. (duh) I'm doing a pseudonym partly because my real name is kind of boring, partly because of the privacy thing.

I think I'll also have a supermodel pose as me for my jacket flap photos. :ROFL:

[James D. Macdonald]

I've found right-wing fundamentalist tracts that attempt to prove that C. S. Lewis was a Satanist. There's no pleasing some people.

Write the best book you can ... and let the readers decide if its "good."

[jackie106]

I've found right-wing fundamentalist tracts that attempt to prove that C. S. Lewis was a Satanist. There's no pleasing some people.


Wow. If a person is that ignorant and narrow-minded, do you really want him to like your work?

Jackie

[hpoppink]

I plan to use a pseudonym. People have always had a very hard time remembering, pronouncing, and spelling my married last name. Doesn't seem like very good PR to me.

As such, I will probably use my maiden name. It is both memorable and easy to spell.

[zornhau]

Pseudonyms give you "plausible deniability": you can always say - "Sorry, mate, you must have got the wrong end of the stick."
If you're a parent, they have the big advantage of protecting your kids from having out-of-context bits read out in the playground.

[Nakhlasmoke]

I will be submitting all my work under what should have been my real surname if my father had not been adopted, purely because I do not see my husband's surname as my own (and I don't like it. natch.) and my real maiden name is alliterative and just looks so cheesy because of that.

So maybe that's a stupid reason - *shrug*

[Ronda]

Wow - that generated a lot of comment!
My last name is hard for people. I'm forever spelling it. Del Boccio - easy to "botch up" I always say.
I thought of using Dell as a last name for childrens' books
Then there's Ronda, which almost EVERYONE but me spells with an H - my family apparently had fights about who I should be named after, so I got Ronda from my father, Ron , and Jean from my mother. Her name's Aletha Jean, and I'm forever grateful they didn't call me Aletha, even though Aunt Aletha was a terrific woman.

I work as a massage therapist in a hair salon (owned by fundies) and I have some of the novel available for people to read. So far nobody has accused me of being a satanist or anything (not that I personally care if they did).

I'm sure fundies would come up with a way to "prove" Jesus was a satanist if he wasn't Jesus. ANyway, thanks so much. I enjoyed reading all your responses.

Warmly,
Ronda

[Kiva Wolfe]

Hi Ronda:

Great question. Fundamentalists, jeepers, I would first worry about your parents finding out. All kidding aside, I think it is who and what you are on the inside that counts. You are writer, no matter under what name you choose to write. If it is important for your entire high school graduating class to know you have written a book, use your real name. If you are writing in more than one genre, if privacy is an issue because you are under witness protection, or if your birth name would actually hurt book sales, consider using a pseudonym. It is harder to use one when you are writing non-fiction, then publishers typically insist on the real name. When my husband published his memoirs, a guy he didn’t know, who happened to be a realtor, looked him up on the county property tax registry and showed up at our front door. Talk about a bad day at Black Rock...

Whatever you write, if it is under a pseudonym, I am of the opinion that it is as much you as you are. I do not differentiate between Stephen King and Richard Bachman. It is all Stephen King to me. You own it so use it, and take pride in what you have accomplished.

Jersey Girl, nice Malamute!

[JerseyGirl1962]

I like yours, too. ;)

BTW, Kiva, do you actually have a Mal as a pet? The avatar reminds me of our first Mal, Misty, and our young, goofy boy, Sam. Our other dog is part Mal, part Siberian Husky, and part...Ingredient X (for any Power Puff Girls fans out there). His name is Frodo, and is the sweetest dog I've ever known.

So you know how nutty hubby & I are about Tolkien. :tongue

~Nancy

[Kiva Wolfe]

Hey Nancy, yes, I do live with a Malamute-mix, or maybe it is the other way around. I rescued him from a home-based puppymill. He's two years old and we call him Bogie, because he wouldn't answer to Khufu, and besides, our other dog is called Baby. Being a film fanatic, it suits me. Half the time, he still won't come when called and has a penchant for used Kleanex, but he sits very well, though not very long, and we love him. I've learned sooo much about the breed. It's aged me, for sure.

[MadScientistMatt]

I'm not sure there is really any need to worry about it. Just because many of your neighbors are fundementalists doesn't make them extremists. There's a big difference there. A fundementalist believes that the Bible is the Inerrant Word of God, but can still look through the Bible, note that there is no commandment against letting bookstores sell obviously fictitious stories about gods that the author clearly intends to be fictitious, and let the matter drop. An extremist, on finding no such commandment, concludes that there ought to be one anyway.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. The sort of religious types who really do believe the Bible cover to cover are already constrained by commandments against violence and lying, so the most they might do is a little bit of criticism. Whereas with extremists, they can be set off by just about anything that they happen to disagree with - not necessarily fantasy. You can irritate them with any genre you choose - the one that really gets their goats, of course, is Christian writing.

Just a few comments from a sort of fundementalist. Who really likes reading fantasy novels.

[Richard White]

Personally, being from Southern Mo originally AND a practicing Baptist (who also writes Fantasy), I could be a tad offended at being stereotyped by the original poster. However, I don't know the town she lives in, so she knows her situation better than I do. But, just because someone's from the Ozarks and goes to church doesn't make them an extremist any more than someone from X means they're Y.

There's all kinds of weirdos out there. I live in Maryland now and find myself surrounded by very intolerant people all the time, and it has nothing to do with them being religious fundamentalists, but being secular fundamentalists. (If you don't agree with their current beliefs, then you must be put down and laughed at). They're easily as annoying as religious fundamentalists.

Personally, write what you believe in and stand up for what you believe in.

The heck with the rest of them.

[PattiTheWicked]

Personally, write what you believe in and stand up for what you believe in.

The heck with the rest of them.

Words to live by.

[goldenquince]

I think there's more to consider than being brave and taking responsibility for what you write. Say you teach kindergarten by day and write erotica by night...technically, if a co-worker found out and reported you to the school board, they couldn't fire you on grounds of non-discrimination. But I've known some who've been "let go" for bogus reasons after a private matter became public.

I'm considering using a pseudonym for those purposes. And although I do think it's important for you to be proud of your work (and rightly so!), it's also important for others to be somewhat anonymous.

[ORION]

I have a hyphenated name so my agent and publisher suggested which one to stick with so it didn't confuse people.
Um...I hate to burst your bubble but even in my small state there are MANY people who have NO IDEA I write or am published. It's really a non-issue- a person who is religious will most likely NOT be reading your erotica or even find out that you write it.
There seems to be so much concern about people finding out an author writes but I tell ya- even when you make People or USA today it STILL doesn't register with most people.
I have RELATIVES who are clueless I've done anything like this! And I'm not particularly high profile-
I say choose the name that fits and that your agent suggests rather than worry about who's going to find out. Also- it's nothing you need to worry about until you get an agent and your book sells. I use my "real" name with my publishers and agents.

[ClaudiaGray]

I use a pseudonym - for "branding" purposes more than any other reason -- so I take exception to the idea that using a pseudonym is somehow inauthentic or cowardly. It's a choice; that's all. And honestly, at times I think it is somewhat healthier to have some division between your public author self and you; it lets you see more clearly how people's praise and their criticism is about your work and not you as an individual.

That said, you shouldn't let anyone intimidate you into using a pseud, or not using a pseud. Your community is unlikely to get up in arms about a book, any book, anywhere -- mass protests/lashing out are unlikely to occur. Do what you feel most comfortable doing and never mind the rest.

[Reilly616]

I wouldn't. What's the worst that could happen?

[ideagirl]

It's really a non-issue- a person who is religious will most likely NOT be reading your erotica or even find out that you write it.

:D Excellent point!

[pretticute80]

I plan to use a pen name when I am publish (when, not if) due to my occupation as a clinical social worker and I write in more than one genre. I have no problem taking responsibility for my writing and would not deny anything I published but until it can pay as much as my salary job does, I have to take precautions.:scared:
Of course, I would love one day to see my real name on a book cover.

[Shadow_Ferret]

A friend suggested to me that perhaps I should use an alias for my fantasy writing. I live in the Bible Belt in a small community, and I write fantasy and supernatural stories. She is concerned that I might get a lot of flack from fundamentalists because of the supernatural elements, mages, etc.

This is pretty much why I'm going to use a pseudonym. It's just easier to write using one than using my real name and having to put up with any issues that might come from my writing similar stories of fantasy and supernatural. My kids go to a Lutheran school, we're pretty well-known and active in our church, and I'd just not rather take the chance that things might change if someone were to pick up my book.

It would just make life a tad less complicated.

[Barb D]

I thought of using Dell as a last name for childrens' books


My last name IS Dell, and I'm throwing my maiden name into the mix just so that I'll be distinguished from the publisher (no relation).

[Gray Rose]

I write fiction and poetry under a pseudonym because I don't want to self-censor, and I participate in all kinds of communities, including an orthodox Jewish shul and academia, and I am also a parent.

Some of my stuff is pretty out there, but a lot of my stuff is quite tame and is, moreover, in tune with what I am doing academically and would be well received at least in that community, but I don't want to mix my apples and oranges.

However, I was not pressured into this decision. It was my own decision, before I even started submitting.

[Sean D. Schaffer]

Wow, this thread's been around a while. Two pages in three years? Man..

Well, I guess I can weigh in on the subject. :)

Using a pseudonym in the circumstances given by the OP is fine, I think. But like KTC pointed out, you ought not to do it just because that's what you think people want of you. Do it for your own reasons.

In my case, I use my own real name, though I have toyed with using a pen name for some time. I have considered writing in genres other than Fantasy or SF, and so to lessen reader confusion, I would gladly write other genres using a pseudonym.

Whatever works for you, is fine. :)

[JeanneTGC]

I'm with Claudia in not agreeing with the insinuations that by using a pen name you're being cowardly. There are excellent business reasons to use pen names -- being prolific and writing in a variety of genres are two easy examples -- and, like every other choice related to what to do once the book is finished, it should be looked at from a business perspective.

It's a choice. Make the one you feel most comfortable with and think you can live with best, based on your personal situation, writing output, etc. Also, your agent will be able to help with that decision as well and you should plan to discuss with him/her and have your reasons for or against in place.

[deborahlea]

I will be submitting all my work under what should have been my real surname if my father had not been adopted, purely because I do not see my husband's surname as my own (and I don't like it. natch.) and my real maiden name is alliterative and just looks so cheesy because of that.

So maybe that's a stupid reason - *shrug*

It doesn't sound stupid to me. I will, when it is time, absolutely publish under a pen name. My last name is the name of someone of whom I have few fond memories, and, while I've toyed with changing it legally, I've never quite found another name that "felt" right. Even my mother's name didn't seem the right way to go, much as I tried to accustom myself to it.

So, at first I thought I'd go with the names that always feel like my own: My first and middle. But now I'm kinda toying with another name. For purposes of "deniability" (as someone else wrote) and privacy, this is the approach that feels most comfortable to me... now.

I do have a tendency to change my mind as often as I breathe, though!

[DarkDesireX]

jackie106 in her post makes a very good point - JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis were both Christian writers and their works are almost universally looked at by fundamentalists and other religious as being good, moral stories.

I love Tolkien's stuff, but I personally found The Chronicles of Narnia a bit boring; but I digress... ;-)


Le GASP! The Chronicles were SPECTACULAR, it was Tolkiens stuff that was a snooze fest....then again, when I read both I was in the fourth grade...

Anyway, as for using an alias, I actually had planned to use a clever (or what I thought would be clever) anagram for mine (Diane G. Noon) but after reading these posts I'd have to agree with most of you. Use your own name, be proud of your work!

[JeanneTGC]

Anyway, as for using an alias, I actually had planned to use a clever (or what I thought would be clever) anagram for mine (Diane G. Noon) but after reading these posts I'd have to agree with most of you. Use your own name, be proud of your work!
Again, I have to point out that "pride" has little to do with the choice to use a pen name. There are distinct business reasons, some of which being the more prolific you are and/or the more genres you write in, the more wise it is to use pen names.

I know a wide variety of published authors, many of whom use pen names. None of whom are ashamed of their work -- it just made business sense to use a different name for a different series.

This is a business, and the name (or names) you use is a part of that business. Whether or not you're using your own name or a pen name, I feel you should have pride in your work, but using a pen name doesn't denote shame.

[Disa]

This very subject has been weighing heavily on my mind for many of the reasons listed. I, too, write paranormal related fiction and live in the bible belt, though it's a very large city. The responses (or lack of responses in some cases) from various friends when my first short story was published in a Tarot magazine really threw me for a loop. The news of the publication led to further questioning of my spiritual beleifs, etc...

It's quite easy to weed out those people who will hold my beliefs against me, but when I have a daughter to consider, it's a little more difficult. If religious parents get wind of things, they may not let their child hang out with mine.

I have a hard time understanding why many of you are given a lot of flack for something you write as opposed to say, something you practice. People can easily be appeased by saying, I just write about tarot cards I don't read them, I just write about murder I don't commit them- but if you really are involved in the spiritual beliefs or supernatural things in your stories what then?

I like what someone wrote earlier, I'd rather be hated for who I am than liked for who I'm not. That was pretty much my mantra all throughout highschool.

As it stands, I write under my first name and maiden name. I write about what I love, it's who I am, and that's the name that goes with it.

If the time comes that I'm ever to be published in another genre, I'll do whatever makes sense business wise.

[superman skivvies]

I am becoming more and more known in the community because of my massage and my column.


I'll take one of those massages.

[mamboitaliano17]

I'm still toying with the idea of using a psuedonym, because my last name is ridiculously Germanic. The name, however, shortens to Bach, which sounds nice. I could live with writing as a Bach.

I've had three short stories published, all under my real name, so I don't know if I'll ever get around to changing. I'm getting used to my ridiculously Germanic name already!

In the OP's situation, I would use the psuedonym if it's the only way I felt comfortable with publishing. Personally, I wouldn't change my name to keep people from knowing what I write. But it's a personal choice, and you should go with whatever feels right.

[ideagirl]

Again, I have to point out that "pride" has little to do with the choice to use a pen name. There are distinct business reasons, some of which being the more prolific you are and/or the more genres you write in, the more wise it is to use pen names.

I know a wide variety of published authors, many of whom use pen names. None of whom are ashamed of their work -- it just made business sense to use a different name for a different series.

I agree. Look at Ruth Rendell, a.k.a. Barbara Vine. One is her real name, the other's a pseud, and she publishes under both. She publishes in two slightly different genres, and everyone knows both names are the same writer, but having two names is basically a branding thing--one name is X genre, the other name is Y slightly different genre.

[Albedo]

No-one in Australia can pronounce my surname, so I'd consider adopting a pseudonym just to avoid the scenario where someone might go into a bookstore and say "Do you have the new book by that guy Buh... Byuh... Bhu... aw, just give me something by that King feller instead."

[~grace~]

I've been wavering on this question too. My last name is a) for some reason incredibly difficult to pronounce tho it seems simple to me and b) totally unique. Ellis Island screwed up my great-grandfather's name in a completely unique fashion, he had two sons, and my grandfather and his brother each had a very small number of children. so I'm pretty sure everyone with my name is related to me.

So I don't know what I want to do. Like, I love my name but it's so so unique that it kind of scares me...

[scheherazade]

I've thought a lot about using my real last name but then taking a pseudonymous or extended version of my real first name, which is maybe a little weird. I love my last name, so I doubt I'd think up anything better. But I've always felt like my first name belongs to someone with a more bubbly, ditzy personality. Growing up, I usually heard my name in conjunction with sort of cheerleader/sorority girl characters. Now that I'm older I'm starting to see a lot more inventive people with my name (I made a list of celebs with my first name, and ironically the majority of them are NOT cheerleader types), but I still feel some resistance to using my first name just from a branding perspective. I could even see myself using a male pseudonym for marketing reasons. Also, my current name could use a little poetic enhancement. :)

I'm also a huge fan of privacy. If I could, I'd hire an actor to do any sort of promotional/marketing activities associated with my writing. So having a modified pen name can help with that.

[James D. Macdonald]

There are lots of reasons for using a pseudonym.

The three rules are:

1) The pseud must easy to spell (Reousotouin).
2) The pseud must not be embarrassing to say out loud (John Phuquer).
3) The pseud must not be the same as some other, better-known writer (you can't call yourself J. K. Rowling).

[HConn]

But I think the original poster was missing the gravy train. She should publish her fantasy under her own name and then, when the book comes out, mail it to the people she's most worried about.

Write fake letters to the paper! Plant the idea of a book-burning and then invite the TV media! The free publicity alone would be worth 50,000 extra sales.

[Cato]

My real name, Jordan Lionel Gagné is kinda meh. The English first name and French last name just isn't very appealing when you first hear it. I'm kind of anti-pseudonym, but I always thought J.G. Lion would be a cool one to use, and a nice play on words as well.

[mamboitaliano17]

My real name, Jordan Lionel Gagné is kinda meh. The English first name and French last name just isn't very appealing when you first hear it. I'm kind of anti-pseudonym, but I always thought J.G. Lion would be a cool one to use, and a nice play on words as well.

Your initials would go well with Lion, or Gagné. I wish my last name was half as interesting as yours. :)

[cletus]

As pointed out, most pseudonyms are business decisions. It's hard to get good word of mouth going when nobody can pronounce your name. Also hard to sell well on Amazon if nobody can spell it.

David Baldacci publishes under the pseudonym David Ford in Italy because his Italain publishers think his name is "too Italain", and Italians are more likely to buy a book from an American author.

[Mark Van Spall]

If they give you grief, remind them of a couple of their own rules...

Though shalt not kill
Love thy neighbour

Seriously though, if someone gave me flack because my books are not christian, I don't think I could take them seriously. I can only speak for myself though, so it could be totally different for you.
One of the books I've part written is practically guaranteed to offend a few fundamentalist christians, but I'm not going to let that stop me writing it. If they don't like something, they shouldn't read it.
Afterall, it's one of the reasons books have a synopsis on the back.

[Bookworm0o0]

Do you feel you'll rock the boat with your work? If so, are you one who could care less what others think, charging ahead with no concern for others? Are you brash, brusque, and belligerent?

Or are you diplomatic? Do you find you can demonstrate backbone and be yourself without the teenager's need of raising hackles? [Guess I've made my stance clear ;-)]

Being an immature, in-your-face jerk is very popular today. Gone is respect and graciousness. It's your call.

[job]

Use a pseudonym. Separate your writing life from your personal life. You don't need an excuse to do so.

That said, the lack of interest with which books are greeted in the local community may surprise you.

[PsychicToaster]

I am considering a pseudonym only because my last name is clunky as hell, and from a graphic design perspective, is really awful to try and balance on a page. I would never use it to hide my actual identity, though.

[Aerial]

If I ever manage to publish a novel, I will probably need to use a pseudonym because I publish academic papers and journal articles under my real name. But that's something I'll let my agent (or whoever is appropriate) worry about.

Aerial

[kittyhoward]

I used to have a pseudonym picked out because I was so concerned that I would publish a novel and it would tank and the people I knew would think low of me or something. But then I realized that even if my novel doesn't become a bestseller or whatever, I've still published a novel and they haven't!

[Starry eyed]

I do know how you feel.

The novel which I am editing now is definately my best work, but it is very violent and the launguage is very graphic. I feel a bit embarassed by it to be honest and its definately something that I wouldn't want my mother in law to ever read.

[jallenecs]

I am using a pseudonym, and for the exact same reasons the OP mentioned. I live in a tiny community in the Bible Belt, and I don't want my neighbors to come knocking at my door, telling me I'm going to Hell because I wrote a novel about demons and Fallen Angels. I don't want my children to go to school, and have their friends tease them because their mama "wrote something dirty" in one of her books.

Then again, I don't want my neighbors to come knocking at my door at all. I'm a bit obsessive about my privacy. OK, more than a bit obsessive. All right, all right! I'm completely bugsh** about it. A pseudonym lets me maintain the illusion that I am still behind the door and invisible.

If using a pseudonym gives you a little peace of mind, then do it. If you don't want to, don't. You're the one that has to live in your community, and live with your decision, not the other posters.

[Fame<Infamy]

Personally, being from Southern Mo originally AND a practicing Baptist (who also writes Fantasy), I could be a tad offended at being stereotyped by the original poster. However, I don't know the town she lives in, so she knows her situation better than I do. But, just because someone's from the Ozarks and goes to church doesn't make them an extremist any more than someone from X means they're Y.

There's all kinds of weirdos out there. I live in Maryland now and find myself surrounded by very intolerant people all the time, and it has nothing to do with them being religious fundamentalists, but being secular fundamentalists. (If you don't agree with their current beliefs, then you must be put down and laughed at). They're easily as annoying as religious fundamentalists.

Personally, write what you believe in and stand up for what you believe in.

The heck with the rest of them.

Truthfully, there are people intolerant who have no religious calling and all of that, so there are all types. I just think that she was worried about the kind of people who gave J K flack over Harry Potter being Satanic and the like, which is understandable because a lot of complaints were raised.

I doubt she meant to single anyone out though. Also bad-ass Doctor Who picture.

As for me, I live in Houston, while its a more liberal city, I also write things that might be a little bit out there for some and the idea crossed my mind. I don't plan to stay here forever no do I really care what people thing, my family will probably find out that I've written about some things they don't agree with but I know I won't care then either. If you want the use a cover, that's your thing, but I'd say don't.

[dangerousbill]

She is concerned that I might get a lot of flack from fundamentalists because of the supernatural elements, mages, etc.

I can see her point.


Depends on your courage and an assessment of what you can lose in terms of friendships, standing in the community, etc. You might want to play it safe to begin, and let yourself get 'outed' if it looks like it's in your interest. The 'outing' can be parlayed into a news item if done right.

In one of my critique groups, I have a friend who wrote mild erotica in her own name. A fellow employee, a self righteous born-again, Googled her and found the published work. The BA publicly outed her in the office and she had to quit her job or be fired.

Dangerous Bill

[Albannach]

Good heavens, I never thought I would see so many people (not all, of course) here act as though there is something wrong with using a pseudonym.

I would say that the OP probably knows her own community best. If it would cause a problem, there is no reason on earth not to use a pseudonym. Many, many authors have done it for a variety of reasons, from James Tiptree, Jr. to Robert Heinlein to Robert Jordan.

Do what you will be happiest with.

[John Marlow]

Interesting question. I think you answer it by asking another: if everyone around you knows you wrote it, and the book fails--will you wind up living in a hostile environment because of what you wrote? If so, use a pseudonym and tell NO ONE, because word will get out. You might even have your book-related correspondence sent to a P.O. box in the next town. Checks might go to a bank there as well. There are few secrets in small towns.

Now, if the book succeeds wildly, you don't have to care because you can pull up stakes and move somewhere more friendly.

Unless you live in a large metro area, the number of potential readers in your vicinity is unlikely to be significant to overall sales, so you can likely skip the place when marketing. Maybe use a publicity shot that's not instantly recognizable, in case you wind up in a nearby big-city paper.

On the other hand, if it's NOT going to be a problem with the community, then your friendliest media reception--at least initially--may be local.

On the third hand, if the community is violently opposed (figuratively speaking, usually), it could make for excellent publicity and get you a lot of larger media attention.

Decisions, decisions....