I have two books out with small publishers, but my writing has improved a lot since then, and those two books aren't selling at all.
I also write horror and comedy, in very distinct voices and styles, where the audience might not overlap very much (except that they're all "weird fiction").
Now I'm pitching a new horror novel to publishers and they all want my publishing history, which kind of looks bad. I'm also working on a new comedy novel, and I'm wondering about how publishers and agents will view my scattered publishing history when I start pitching that book.
I like my name and I'd like to stick with it, but I also wish I could un-publish those mediocre novels.
I'm thinking of making up two pen-names, one for horror and the other for comedy. The problem then becomes, what if I want to do a totally different style? Do I need another new pen-name? What if I mix the genres?
This is a nervous time! I don't know anybody personally who I can talk to about this stuff.
So, if there are agents and publishers out here, how does my described landscape appear to you? Would a pen-name appear more attractive to you?
I also write horror and comedy, in very distinct voices and styles, where the audience might not overlap very much (except that they're all "weird fiction").
Now I'm pitching a new horror novel to publishers and they all want my publishing history, which kind of looks bad. I'm also working on a new comedy novel, and I'm wondering about how publishers and agents will view my scattered publishing history when I start pitching that book.
I like my name and I'd like to stick with it, but I also wish I could un-publish those mediocre novels.
I'm thinking of making up two pen-names, one for horror and the other for comedy. The problem then becomes, what if I want to do a totally different style? Do I need another new pen-name? What if I mix the genres?
This is a nervous time! I don't know anybody personally who I can talk to about this stuff.
So, if there are agents and publishers out here, how does my described landscape appear to you? Would a pen-name appear more attractive to you?