a pen name for each genre?

I think it depends on how far apart the genres are, and how distinct you keep the pseudonyms.

Nora Roberts/JD Robb is a good example of an author who's chosen to use a pen name, but not keep them very distinct. She writes Romance under one name, Mystery under the other, so fans don't get confused, but the first many JD Robb (her 2nd identity) books were billed as "Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb". So she's got the clarity, but also the convenience of only needing one website, etc.

I don't think this would work as well if she were writing, like, Christian Inspirationals and Hardcore Erotica.

One thing to keep in mind is that it's good to build a name in a genre through fairly frequent publications; if you're not prolific, you may struggle with a book-a-year minimum in two or more different genres.

The first example that came to mind is an author acquaintance of mine who writes adult and YA urban fantasy under one name, and she also writes erotic fiction under another. Some authors choose to cop to those pseudonyms in order to help fans find other writings of theirs; others choose to keep the identities separate. It really does depend on the genres you write and how different they are, as well as whether or not the genres will appeal to crossover audiences.

the purest art form is writing that doesn't dive into the depths of unreal

I don't even know what this means. But I also discount pretty much any writing, or anything else, that's called "art".

But, yes, I use pseudonyms. For most prolific writers, it's just good business.

I know an author who writes SF, Fantasy, Inspirational Romance and Paranormal Romance, as well as work-for-hire (which isn't under her name at all). She's had many pen names over the years, depending on what sales numbers connect with what name. She generally does use a different pen name for the different types of Romance, but similar names for the SF/F works. If you go to her website, she acknowledges all of her pen names and has only one website.

It makes sense, given the diversity of what she writes. Like Nora Roberts, she is very proficient and could easily flood the bookstores with 10-12 books a year. That kind of thing can get overwhelming for readers trying to keep track of what they've read, etc.

There are many arguments for and against. I'm on the side of just using one name as long as you aren't writing a combination of kidlit and erotica. Your name is something recognizable in the social media world, and whether you like social media or not, it can help people find out about your books. I can't imagine trying to maintain different twitter names, etc. for various pen names

goldmund said:

Do you really think it's obligatory to publish a book a year under each pen name? That could be a problem.

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I don't think it's obligatory, but I think it's beneficial, especially when you're just starting out. If you want to build a following, you should make it as easy as possible for people to remember that they like you and want to pick up your next book, and that gets harder the longer they're expected to wait.

Maybe it would make sense to establish yourself in one genre, and then branch out later if inspiration strikes. Again, I think Nora Roberts would be a good example of that strategy working well.

goldmund said:

...
As for having to tweet twice, I don't intend to ever tweet, or spend too much time on internet PR anyway -- it's the real life that makes the writer, not the amount of time spent at his hypno-box.

Sorry for rambling, I'm just torn inside ;-)

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Well good for you. Come back six months after your first book is out and let us know how you got people to find your book.

I do it. Have published short work under two pseudonyms and my real name. Had no issues. Not sure about novels.

PN1: Sci-Fi
PN2: Literary Fiction
Real Name: narrative non-fiction, poetry

Actually it's funny because I had an editor once who required me to explain why I used a pen name because he/she distrusted the idea of a pseudonym. I gave this exact reason. My genres are widely varied. Not that I actually think one aught to justify using a pseudonym. I found it a little bizarre, but I didn't mind as the editor was willing to publish my work

I thought about doing this at some point in the future. My reason was because I write dark fiction with a fair amount of sex and/or violence in it. It's not something I want to advertise as being for younger audiences. Sometime in the future though, I can see myself doing a few sci-fi or lighter fantasy pieces that I would want to market to a larger audience. The seperate pen names would be more for my readers than myself, so they can pick up a book and know how graphic it's going to be before hand. It gives them the option to stick to the lighter stuff, or (for the good parents) be sure their underage children do.

Though I've got to get published under one name before I ever think about another.

If I ever write children's or YA fiction, I'll consider a pen-name for that. At the moment, and after long consideration, my sf&f and my erotic fiction are all being submitted under a variation of my real name. For two reasons:

1) Many of the stories are linked into the same universe, so it would be confusing to have two different names attached to the work.

2) At this stage in my life, it's unlikely that I'll be working in any industry or social group that would be put off by my writing. The arts are a lot more forgiving than education or finance.

I'll just echo the general sentiment here--not for every genre, but for genres that are divergent enough that they'll attract a completely different readership. Well, in theory anyway. Like YA versus erotica, or even horror.

I've decided to leave it up to my agent/publisher, once I acquire one. I write mostly horror and YA, and if they feel like I should use a penname for one or the other, I'm good with it. If not, I'm good with that too. Other people besides me are the experts on what will make it marketable, so I'm not bothered by them (again, theoretically) having the final say in something like this.

Captcha said:

I don't think it's obligatory, but I think it's beneficial, especially when you're just starting out. If you want to build a following, you should make it as easy as possible for people to remember that they like you and want to pick up your next book, and that gets harder the longer they're expected to wait.

Maybe it would make sense to establish yourself in one genre, and then branch out later if inspiration strikes. Again, I think Nora Roberts would be a good example of that strategy working well.

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It can be obligatory. If you have a name contracted with one publisher, the name may have restrictions written into the contract, should you want to write for a different publisher.

Of course. Pen names can be publisher-vetted, as much as titles. I'm working on getting a publisher first, then we can hammer out details.

Captcha said:

I think it depends on how far apart the genres are, and how distinct you keep the pseudonyms.

Nora Roberts/JD Robb is a good example of an author who's chosen to use a pen name, but not keep them very distinct. She writes Romance under one name, Mystery under the other, so fans don't get confused, but the first many JD Robb (her 2nd identity) books were billed as "Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb". So she's got the clarity, but also the convenience of only needing one website, etc.

I don't think this would work as well if she were writing, like, Christian Inspirationals and Hardcore Erotica.

One thing to keep in mind is that it's good to build a name in a genre through fairly frequent publications; if you're not prolific, you may struggle with a book-a-year minimum in two or more different genres.

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Agreed. I maintain two pen names (one for romance, one for gay romance) for the same reason Nora Roberts does -- just to keep readers from getting confused. Joint website, no attempts to keep them separate/secret, etc.

Even then, maintaining two pseudonyms is not without its challenges. You have to build two names AND keep both of those names visible, both in terms of publication and promotion. I'm fairly prolific, so haven't had too much trouble keeping up with the publication demands, but the double promotion can be a bit of a headache when I'm trying to keep up with deadlines, edits, etc.

It certainly can be done, and if I had it to do over, I'd still have done it this way, but it definitely creates some additional -- if relatively minor -- challenges.

thethinker42 said:

Agreed. I maintain two pen names (one for romance, one for gay romance) for the same reason Nora Roberts does -- just to keep readers from getting confused. Joint website, no attempts to keep them separate/secret, etc.

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I see why it's a necessary evil given the literary market's segregation of non-straight sex literature, but I have to say it's a sad world we live in that a reader has expectations of sexual orientation, either in literature or life.

For romance it's obviously a bit different if only because the reason people read romances may vary from those reading, say, sci-fi or fantasy. It would be hard to provoke the sexual desires of a homosexual male via a straight sex scene or visa versa, it seems (if that is in fact the scene's goal--not implying romance is all smut or anything). Your decision makes sense because it may depend on the reader's enjoyment of romance since love and sex are directly tied to sexual orientation.

But you just got me thinking, would someone do this in a genre other than romance?

Does the market preclude gay literature so heavily that someone writing so-called "straight" books would need multiple pen names to write about a gay character?

To think this makes my moral compass throw up in my mouth a little bit. Though I would never blame the author for stipulations placed upon them by the market place. Of course it's better to get the "gay" book published and on the shelf than to argue over a pen name.

Anyone know about this particular facet of using multiple pen names?

The reason I ask is that, if I wrote a gay MC into a sci-fi story, for instance, I would probably want to keep the same pen name.

Rhoda Nightingale said:

I'll just echo the general sentiment here--not for every genre, but for genres that are divergent enough that they'll attract a completely different readership. Well, in theory anyway. Like YA versus erotica, or even horror.

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Bolding mine.

That would be my take on the matter. I've notice that some writers, mostly the epublished, seem to use a different pen name for every subgenre. I.e., they have a pen name for UF, another for paranormal romance, another for erotic romance, another for their interracial books, and so on. This being accompanied by a legion of FB author pages, Twitter accounts, websites, etc. If the books are similar in tone--e.g. sexy--I really don't see the point of multiple pen names. As a reader, I think this approach makes it hard to find more of an author's books.

The Lonely One said:

For romance it's obviously a bit different if only because the reason people read romances may vary from those reading, say, sci-fi or fantasy. It would be hard to provoke the sexual desires of a homosexual male via a straight sex scene or visa versa, it seems (if that is in fact the scene's goal--not implying romance is all smut or anything). Your decision makes sense because it may depend on the reader's enjoyment of romance since love and sex are directly tied to sexual orientation.

But you just got me thinking, would someone do this in a genre other than romance?

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I guess my question is, how do readers choose what to buy? Most of my books come from the library, so I don't have a strong basis of comparison. But, when I pick up a book at the bookstore (or library), it's usually because the title, cover or author name caught my eye. Even if the author is a favorite of mine, I still read the backcover blurb. I also glance at the cover. Since romance novels--hetero or gay--usually feature the protagonists on the cover, that and the blurb would be enough to decided that this book isn't for me. Not that I don't read M/M romance. My point is, if that's not your thing, wouldn't you be clued in by the blurb and cover? I mean, if you don't like reading romance between two men, wouldn't the picture of two sexy guys be a clue "not to buy this book."

Or do people just grab a book by an author without even looking at those things? The so-called auto-buy?

The Lonely One said:

I see why it's a necessary evil given the literary market's segregation of non-straight sex literature, but I have to say it's a sad world we live in that a reader has expectations of sexual orientation, either in literature or life.

For romance it's obviously a bit different if only because the reason people read romances may vary from those reading, say, sci-fi or fantasy. It would be hard to provoke the sexual desires of a homosexual male via a straight sex scene or visa versa, it seems (if that is in fact the scene's goal--not implying romance is all smut or anything). Your decision makes sense because it may depend on the reader's enjoyment of romance since love and sex are directly tied to sexual orientation.

But you just got me thinking, would someone do this in a genre other than romance?

Does the market preclude gay literature so heavily that someone writing so-called "straight" books would need multiple pen names to write about a gay character?

To think this makes my moral compass throw up in my mouth a little bit. Though I would never blame the author for stipulations placed upon them by the market place. Of course it's better to get the "gay" book published and on the shelf than to argue over a pen name.

Anyone know about this particular facet of using multiple pen names?

The reason I ask is that, if I wrote a gay MC into a sci-fi story, for instance, I would probably want to keep the same pen name.

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At least where my work is concerned, it's mostly a matter of personal taste on the part of the readers. Some like gay romance, some prefer straight, and many readers on EITHER side absolutely WILL NOT read the other. There are plenty of authors who write both under the same name and have no problem, and you can usually tell the orientation of the characters from the cover art.

Using two names was a decision I made so my readers wouldn't say "Oh! Another release! Cool! Wait...oh, it's [whichever side they don't prefer]. Dammit." I have many readers who read both, and many who only read one, but at least this way they know when they see a Lauren Gallagher book, it's hetero, and when they see an L. A. Witt book, it's M/M. Same principle as Nora Roberts/JD Robb. (The challenge right now is which pseudonym to put on the book I'm pitching now that has bisexual characters...)

How would this play out in non-romance genres? No idea.

Adobedragon said:

I guess my question is, how do readers choose what to buy? Most of my books come from the library, so I don't have a strong basis of comparison. But, when I pick up a book at the bookstore (or library), it's usually because the title, cover or author name caught my eye. Even if the author is a favorite of mine, I still read the backcover blurb. I also glance at the cover. Since romance novels--hetero or gay--usually feature the protagonists on the cover, that and the blurb would be enough to decided that this book isn't for me. Not that I don't read M/M romance. My point is, if that's not your thing, wouldn't you be clued in by the blurb and cover? I mean, if you don't like reading romance between two men, wouldn't the picture of two sexy guys be a clue "not to buy this book."

Or do people just grab a book by an author without even looking at those things? The so-called auto-buy?

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My understanding is most people go by blurb and cover art, as well as author recognition, series recognition, publisher recognition (especially with small pubs), etc. My decision to use two names was just to give readers one more quick reference to flag the content of the book. It's certainly not the only thing to differentiate the two, but I figured it wouldn't hurt. I have some readers who are downright disgusted by the idea of even LOOKING at hetero romance (yes, hetero), so the names just let them know "stop and look at this one!" or "move along, you probably don't want to read this one."

It's certainly not a requirement in romance, and many authors do just fine using one name for both gay and straight. With the polarization between some (not all) readers of either subgenre, I figured a little extra to distinguish between the two wouldn't hurt.

I just want to tell a great story. It really doesn't matter to me whether the protagonists are straight or gay, and in most of my books I have both straight and gay romantic relationships. If someone's shallow enough that they won't read one or the other, that's their choice.

I know the erotic romance e-pubs work off a different strategy, but in more mainstream SF&F, my favorite writers have never differentiated between the two. Instead, they've built interesting worlds where both gender preferences can exist as equally-valid choices.

Hence, my one pen-name.

The Lonely One said:

I see why it's a necessary evil given the literary market's segregation of non-straight sex literature, but I have to say it's a sad world we live in that a reader has expectations of sexual orientation, either in literature or life.

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I don't know about expectations of sexual orientation, but I damned sure don't want to get home with a romance novel before discovering that it's about a homosexual romance.

Something, jacket copy, etc., needs to give it away before I buy. If it does, I don't care whether the two types are segregated or not.

But like every other genre separation, having a section for each makes it a heck of a lot easier for readers to find exactly what they want, and that's what it's all about.

Sorry for the threadjack...I'll try to keep this somewhat short...

Filigree said:

I just want to tell a great story. It really doesn't matter to me whether the protagonists are straight or gay, and in most of my books I have both straight and gay romantic relationships. If someone's shallow enough that they won't read one or the other, that's their choice.

I know the erotic romance e-pubs work off a different strategy, but in more mainstream SF&F, my favorite writers have never differentiated between the two. Instead, they've built interesting worlds where both gender preferences can exist as equally-valid choices.

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For romance, differentiating between gay and straight is pretty necessary, given that the relationship (and depending on the heat level, sexual encounters) is the focal point of the story. Just as a reader who prefers sweet romances might not be interested in a kinky erotic romance, someone who prefers M/M romances may very well have zero interest in a hetero one. I don't think that's shallow, it's just people reading stories according to their own personal tastes.

Now, mainstream fiction where characters happen to be gay or straight? I agree, that shouldn't be segregated. Erotic romances, where characters are repeatedly engaging in graphic sex? Let's put it this way: I have readers who won't touch BDSM fiction with a ten-foot pole, and others who won't pick up a book unless it promises at least a certain level of kink. Neither preference invalidates the other, people just have different tastes, different turn-ons, different characters they can relate to (i.e., I have readers who just cannot relate to someone who's a Dom or submissive, while others crave characters like that because that's who they do relate to). Same with gay vs straight erotic romances.

I mean, passing over or turning up one's nose at a SFF book because one character happens to be gay or because there is a romantic pairing between two characters of the same gender isn't quite the same (to me) as passing over an erotic romance because it contains significant amounts of graphic sex of a variety that doesn't interest you.

(Hopefully I'm articulating this somewhat clearly...if I'm not, I'm going to blame the lack of coffee...)

Jamesaritchie said:

Something, jacket copy, etc., needs to give it away before I buy. If it does, I don't care whether the two types are segregated or not.

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Agreed. Some romance readers want to read about gay pairings, some want to read about straight pairings, and some want to read both. I don't have a problem giving them as much information as I can up front about what they can expect in each book, including having different pen names to cut down on confusion.