Multiple genres for short fic

[EFCollins]

Yes, I know it has come up before. Yes, I searched. Yes, I read the results. No, I did not find the answer I needed.

Mostly, from what I've read on here, if a writer wants to work in multiple genres, they need multiple pseudonyms.

Would the same apply to someone who really only writes short stories? I ask because, well... that would be me. :D I have some short works in other genres I think are publishable. Everything I've pubbed as "Effie Collins" so far has been horror or poetry, and is usually a mix of the two. What purpose would multiple pen names have for a writer of short fiction? Is there really any need for it with short works? I figure if I ever write and sell a novel, it'll be a fluke. I'm a short storyist at heart, it's my love. I prefer short fiction format, am better at short fiction. So, do I really need to come up with x amount of pen names for how many ever genres I write in?

Thanks in advance.
~Effie

[pdr]

I think there might be agents who would want you to separate your different genre short stories from you, the novelist by using a pen name.

But you are not writing novels and prefer short stories so stick to being XYZ the short story writer. I cannot see any advantage or disadvantage to having multiple pen names.

[LaurieD]

Idk, Effie. I read a thingy somewhere about Dean Koontz - that he'd initially marketed himself as SF/F, but when his sales were limited or something similar, he changed his genre to "fiction" and the rest, as they say, is history.

I use a pen name for my erotic dark fiction and my own name for my other dark fiction simply because erotica is touchy for a lot of people. Having my filth under my pen name isn't a secret, more of a code for "psst! Filth inside!" If/when I sell any of my children's stories, they'll go under another pen name. (I mean, how many people would buy a children's picture book with the name of an adult level dark fiction/erotica author on the front?) I had been saying "horror" and "erotic horror" but then not all my stories are actually horror. They're just dark.

Depending on your genre jump, you might not need one.

Barbara Michaels uses a couple different pseudonyms to separate her ghost/horror/dark from the couple other genres she writes - so readers can know what to expect from each name.

[EFCollins]

Idk, Effie. I read a thingy somewhere about Dean Koontz - that he'd initially marketed himself as SF/F, but when his sales were limited or something similar, he changed his genre to "fiction" and the rest, as they say, is history.

I use a pen name for my erotic dark fiction and my own name for my other dark fiction simply because erotica is touchy for a lot of people. Having my filth under my pen name isn't a secret, more of a code for "psst! Filth inside!" If/when I sell any of my children's stories, they'll go under another pen name. (I mean, how many people would buy a children's picture book with the name of an adult level dark fiction/erotica author on the front?)

Depending on your genre jump, you might not need one.

Barbara Michaels uses a couple different pseudonyms to separate her ghost/horror/dark from the couple other genres she writes - so readers can know what to expect from each name.

See, this genre jump is what gets me. Everything I've had published (which isn't much, I admit) has been strictly horror. I wouldn't want a little kid to find something I'd written for the kids market, see a link with "Effie" on it, and end up at SNM horror magazine, which is soooo not a kids place to read. Nor would I want people who read my romance to follow a link and end up reading some of my cannibal stories.

This is why I asked... and why I'm confused and hesitant to try and sub out anything other than horror.

[EFCollins]

I think there might be agents who would want you to separate your different genre short stories from you, the novelist by using a pen name.

But you are not writing novels and prefer short stories so stick to being XYZ the short story writer. I cannot see any advantage or disadvantage to having multiple pen names.

Well, I mean, I do write novels. They are just very crappy novels. I doubt any will ever see a publisher. However, I have kids' stories that I want to publish and some romance and suspense stories I'd like to send out. The real problem is the kids stories. I would hate for a kid to click on an Effie story thinking it is okay... and them end up reading very vivid cannibals or rampant slutting (not that erotica is all about slutting... it's just my name for it LOL!). Because yes, I have some erotica that could be sent out. I don't read much erotica though, so I'm in uncharted waters there.

[dgrintalis]

Well, I mean, I do write novels. They are just very crappy novels.

I take offense to that comment, my dear. They are not crappy novels. Do I have to smack you?

However, I have kids' stories that I want to publish and some romance and suspense stories I'd like to send out. The real problem is the kids stories.

I would go with a pen name for the kids' stuff and your real name for everything else, unless you want to come up with something fancy for the romance stories. :)

[EFCollins]

Hehe... well, they are crappy novels now. Maybe not after some reworkage. Does that suit better, my dear red-headed friend? :) (Effie does not want to be smacked.)

I think just another name for the kiddie books might be what I end up doing. Everything except the romances and kid stories have my signature darkish feel. (I lurve my darkish stuffs. Can't help it.) So maybe just for those. I could swing my sci-fi and dark erotica as Effie stories. The others are very... not Effie. If you know what I mean.

[LaurieD]

Idk, Effie. I read a thingy somewhere about Dean Koontz - that he'd initially marketed himself as SF/F, but when his sales were limited or something similar, he changed his genre to "fiction" and the rest, as they say, is history.

I use a pen name for my erotic dark fiction and my own name for my other dark fiction simply because erotica is touchy for a lot of people. Having my filth under my pen name isn't a secret, more of a code for "psst! Filth inside!" If/when I sell any of my children's stories, they'll go under another pen name. (I mean, how many people would buy a children's picture book with the name of an adult level dark fiction/erotica author on the front?) I had been saying "horror" and "erotic horror" but then not all my stories are actually horror. They're just dark.

Depending on your genre jump, you might not need one.

Barbara Michaels uses a couple different pseudonyms to separate her ghost/horror/dark from the couple other genres she writes - so readers can know what to expect from each name.

See, this genre jump is what gets me. Everything I've had published (which isn't much, I admit) has been strictly horror. I wouldn't want a little kid to find something I'd written for the kids market, see a link with "Effie" on it, and end up at SNM horror magazine, which is soooo not a kids place to read. Nor would I want people who read my romance to follow a link and end up reading some of my cannibal stories.

This is why I asked... and why I'm confused and hesitant to try and sub out anything other than horror.

SEND. IT. OUT.

:Hug2::whip::e2poke::e2bike2::e2cheer:

[MJRevell]

There is nothing limiting you with short stories, just keep on kicking them out of the nest and see if they fly.

The more publications you get, in any genre, will help future stories snowball.

[Kate Thornton]

I write primarily in mystery & science fiction genres - but have also published in romance, horror and non-fiction. I do it all under my real name. I've never had a problem with it.

That said - I do not write childrens' stuff or erotica, if I did I might think about a pen name just for those (different for each)

[EFCollins]

*nodding* Thanks Kate. :) I think that may be what I do... because I do have childrens' stories and have some erotica I might try and send out.

All right. Thanks everyone. Appreciate the answers very much.

[Jamesaritchie]

I use pseudonyms for some genres of short stories to avoid confusion, but it certainly isn't necessay. Short story salkes can actuallyhelp novel sales greatly, so there's no reason at all to use a different name simply because you sell novels.

[Jamesaritchie]

Idk, Effie. I read a thingy somewhere about Dean Koontz - that he'd initially marketed himself as SF/F, but when his sales were limited or something similar, he changed his genre to "fiction" and the rest, as they say, is history.



Dean Koontz simply stopped writing science fiction, bought up the rights to the SF he had written and published, and pulled it from the market.

He didn't switch to "fiction". Fiction isn't a genre. He started writing horror, and ultimately settled on suspense, which is what he primarily writes today.

[johnnysannie]

I use pseudonyms for some genres of short stories to avoid confusion, but it certainly isn't necessay. Short story salkes can actuallyhelp novel sales greatly, so there's no reason at all to use a different name simply because you sell novels.

Right!

[johnnysannie]

He didn't switch to "fiction". Fiction isn't a genre. .

Thank you!