ISBW #89 - Pseudonyms
We talk about why you’d want a name other than your own. And I get over the plague.
- Promos: Eyewitness, Max Quick 2.
- I get an agent rejection during the podcast!
- New Pages - good place to find literary contests
- Novel in 100 Days
About the Author: I am a writer and podcast producer, writing for magazines and RPGs. I am a wanna-be fiction writer with several short fiction, comic scripts, and one novel sale. Playing For Keeps will be out August, '08.
Sheena Bandy | May 1, 2008 | Reply
Another reason to get a pseudonym would be to keep people who are fans of your other works from picking up works that are completely different. If someone were to write an amazing young adult fiction and get fans, they wouldn’t want their young adult fans to pick up their steamy romance novel a year later. *shrug* Also works when someone writes erotica. Not many people like to write erotica under their own name.
Matt from Canada | May 5, 2008 | Reply
A reason for using a pseudonym is to track your work in different genres using an inventory systems. I met an author of epic fantasy who has done very well in that genre, but wanted to write a techno-thriller. His publisher was not thrilled since if the thriller did not sell well, it would be hard to place his next book — regardless of genre — on store shelves and he might alienate his core audience. So, he went from “John R. Smith” for fantasy to “J. Robert Smith” for his stand-alone thriller (not his real name, BTW). That way, if the thriller doesn’t sell well, his sales numbers under “John R. Smith” are not affected if he returns to fantasy.
Scott Parker | May 8, 2008 | Reply
I have written 1.5 books (am writing my second). Both are different styles (historical thriller vs. contemporary crime ) and I recently submitted both to a local novel contest. Each won a share of third place. The best news was that the judges could not tell I had written both. I know a few wanna-be writers who want Their Name on the book. I want the career so I don’t care. My second novel has a female hero so I’m giving serious thoughts to using a pen name. Also, another reason I will be using pen names is b/c I want to write many different types of stories. Thus, pen names. And I’d be okay with the Nora Roberts or Donald Westlake variety where both the real name and the pen name are on the cover. Works for me. Enjoyed the podcast. I’ll be back.
Scooter | May 13, 2008 | Reply
Are there legal implications? I know that Mur is a nickname an not a pseudonym, but is it a problem with it not being your ‘legal’ name. What happens if you have a check written to ‘Mur Lafferty’ and your bank says “I’m sorry, but your account is in your legal name of “Mur the mighty grande damme of podcasting Lafferty” and we can’t deposit it? Or does it cause problems with copyright registration, since that’s what indicates that you “own” the work?