Genre, Pen Names, and Profession

virtue_summer · Oct 28, 2007

I have a question and I wanted to get an opinion on it. Up to this point everything I've submitted has been under my real name but I'm currently studying to get my credential in elementary education and the fiction I'm now writing leans toward horror. I'm wondering if this could affect my job possibilities when I get my credential. Are school districts going to have a problem hiring a horror writer to teach first grade? I know people act strange when it comes to writers sometimes, especially to writers of speculative fiction (I've heard enough comments made about Stephen King.) So what do you think? Stick with my real name or start using a pen name?

CheshireCat · Oct 28, 2007

If you want your work to be under your real name, then by all means use that. Unless you become as famous as Stephen King, I doubt it would be a problem -- and if you become as famous as he is I doubt you'll be teaching first grade.

Danger Jane · Oct 28, 2007

Well, parents might google your name to find a teacher website or something that has homework, or something on it, and see that there is a horror writer of the same name...and then find out it's you...

If you're concerned about teaching and writing causing conflict, then go ahead and use a pseudonym.

bethany · Oct 28, 2007

Hmm. This is totally up to you. I write under my maiden name and teach under my married name. However, I just changed my name like a year ago so all the kids know my maiden name and many of them call me that, and they all know EVERYTHING about my book. But I didn't want any parents to think I was trying to sell my edgy YA to their kids. Hence the name change.

KTC · Oct 28, 2007

I wouldn't care if my child's teacher wrote horror novels. I would be perplexed if they tried to hide this fact, though.

Soccer Mom · Oct 28, 2007

I use a pseudonym for my dark writing because of my profession. I just don't care for the two paths to cross.

ETA: I write for children under my own name. I don't want kids googling my name (as if) and turning up stories that I don't want them to read.

KTC · Oct 28, 2007

Soccer Mom said:
I use a pseudonym for my dark writing because of my profession. I just don't care for the two paths to cross.

DER...they cross at the point where it's the same person doing both.

JohnDavidPaxton · Oct 28, 2007

I remember, a few years back, that a teacher was kicked out of either middle or high school level teaching for having erotic witch fiction. Maybe it wasn't witch, but it sounded like a paranormal thing and it was erotica. Also, she was smoking hot.

Anyway, I don't know if that's going to help or hurt your decision. I don't have any other advice other than people seem to be shocked, SHOCKED, to find out that teachers may be people.

I'd also offer the personal advice that I write my romance/erotica under a female name. But that's not so much for protection as acceptance.

Soccer Mom · Oct 28, 2007

KTC said:
DER...they cross at the point where it's the same person doing both.

But nobody has to know that. I work for someone else. If I worked for myself, I wouldn't care. But my boss is very particular about things that might reflect on his office. (He is an elected official. I'm a peon in his office.)

Gray Rose · Oct 28, 2007

I teach and I use a pseudonym. My writing is pretty dark, and I do not want students and colleagues to look at me weirdly in the hallways. I think there is no reason to mix the two realms.

veinglory · Oct 28, 2007

I don't think using a pen name is seen as 'hiding' it. I tend to keep my job and writing separate. I just prefer it that way.

KTC · Oct 28, 2007

Soccer Mom said:
But nobody has to know that. I work for someone else. If I worked for myself, I wouldn't care. But my boss is very particular about things that might reflect on his office. (He is an elected official. I'm a peon in his office.)

There's your problem right there. You allow yourself to be a peon.

veinglory · Oct 28, 2007

peonage pays better than writing.

KTC · Oct 28, 2007

veinglory said:
peonage pays better than writing.

so very true. But I can't go a day without giving SoccerMom a hard time. I don't know what it is?

Tymolee · Oct 28, 2007

I'm in a similar situation to yours... I'm studying for my cert. in elementary school psych. I was really worried about parents googling me at some point and freaking out about horror stories I've written. Or, alternately, if I happen to write a professional publication and have a colleague or a school district attempt to look that up and find something they're not expecting pop up.

I think if you're concerned enough to consider using a pen name, you probably have a good reason to do so.

Personally, a secondary reason I chose a pen name is because I write primarily sci-fi/horror or speculative fiction but I also write creative non-fiction parenting essays. Talk about two different markets..!

Billingsgate · Oct 29, 2007

I have to agree about the need for a pen name in certain cases. It's a fact of life that people become pigeonholed by whatever their primary career is. I write frivolous humor for a living. I also dabble in serious historical non-fiction essays and moody short stories. Like Tymolee says, two very different markets! When I've submitted my essays or stories to editors I know, I figured the fact they know me, at least by reputation, would help my chances of being considered for publication. Instead I usually get the opposite reaction: "You're a gagwriter, not a historian or a literary writer." When I point out that John Grisham can be considered a "lawyer not a writer" or that Woody Allen was also a "gag writer not a movie director", they don't get the point. Much easier to forego the personal connections and use a pseudonym. When I had two pieces published under the pseudonym, it was an especially satisfying experience, since it was based on the apparent quality of the writing, not on the personal connections. And I never let those editors know that was me. Payments were made to my company, so I have never been found out. It's kind of fun living a double life.

On the other hand, it seems that so many people here are teachers who write horror and smut. That says something about you teachers! Hell if I'd let you anywhere near my kids (just kidding...I think). There is a solution to the problem, exclusive to teachers. It's called "tenure". Get that, and you can write all the gory sex novels you want, and they can't fire you.

Shadow_Ferret · Oct 29, 2007

I understand the need for a pen name. I'm seriously considering one since I write urban fantasy and I feel that my "theories" on religion might be frowned upon by some of the members of my church. Considering its also my kids school and I am a Den Leader, too, its probably just best that I avoid the whole issue.

But then on the other hand I also think, "Aw f--- em!"

MidnightMuse · Oct 29, 2007

You know, there's absolutely nothing wrong with writing under a pen name. It's not like you'd be selling out, or cheating, or taking some sort of "easy way out." Not all of us do that, but it doesn't mean those who do are any different.

I'd say if you're at all worried about it, then go ahead and use a pen name.

J. R. Tomlin · Oct 29, 2007

I huge number of writers use a pen name for one reason or another. Nothing wrong with it.

ORION · Oct 29, 2007

If I may interject--- My real name is hyphenated and too long. My agent and editor decided on my "author name" -- sometimes it's not a matter of hiding what you do- BUT it is not at all something you need to obsess about now. Use your real name for querying and submissions- Don't bring it up until after you are offered representation or are submitting articles and stories published in other markets-

virtue_summer · Oct 29, 2007

What About This?

Thanks for the responses. I think I will use a pen name. What do you guys think about Katherine Ray? I'm considering it because I don't think it sounds like a pen name, the first name is my real name, and the last name is simple and has family significance. I also searched Amazon and didn't see any other writers by that name.

Tymolee · Oct 29, 2007

Try googling the name, too - it's a good way to see who else "shares" that name.

WendyNYC · Oct 29, 2007

I absolutely think that people make judgements about you based on your writing, or any art for that matter. Just ask Fred Thompson, an actor who dared to portray a Nazi and it was all over the papers when he announced his candidacy. Unreal.

I think many employers use Google when interviewing. Stick to the pen name for the dark stuff. Ya' never know.

Sarita · Oct 29, 2007

There was(is?) an author/translator named Catherine Ray. I have a really good friend named Cathy Ray.

mhughes · Oct 29, 2007

I work at a college, but since I'm not in the teaching part, I don't think I'd need a pen name. I believe when I get published, I'm still going to have to use one though, probably M. Arnold Hughes or M.A. Hughes. Why?

There is a Canadian author who writes sci-fi under Matthew Hughes, crime fiction under Matt Hughes, and other stuff under Hugh Matthews. I've been told there is a German historian who writes under Matthew A Hughes and another person who writes under Matt A Hughes. There's an artist Matt Hughes and a mixed martial artist Matt Hughes.

It's kind of funny

I can legitimately say I have some Matt Hughes books on my shelves.

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