tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post1566710530025161687..comments2023-09-25T02:24:22.087-07:00Comments on Anne R. Allen's Blog: What if J. K. Rowling had used a Pseudonym? Should Authors Use Different Names for Different Genres?Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-80837525320913925982012-10-24T10:53:51.319-07:002012-10-24T10:53:51.319-07:00I use my real name when I write contemporary roman...I use my real name when I write contemporary romances, erotic romances, mystery/thrillers and non-fiction..it's never been a problem and the readers seem to like them all!Elaine Racohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11605882073602590329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-12060441943253733612012-10-24T05:02:46.028-07:002012-10-24T05:02:46.028-07:00The K in JK Rowling's name comes from her gran...The K in JK Rowling's name comes from her grandmother's name which was Katherine - I read that somewhere. I write my MG fiction under my own name and my sweet Regency romances under a pseudonym because I want to be remembered (er... I mean famous) for those MG adventures, rather than for any romance writing which I began for fun and to entertain my aged mum.<br />I think writers should go for what suits them as creative people, and not worry too much about the pros and cons of pseudoymns. After all, doesn't Shakespeare say something about what's in a name, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet?Fiona Ingramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12858421058191075567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-23155289590991379112012-10-23T18:44:28.709-07:002012-10-23T18:44:28.709-07:00Ellen--Interesting take on it. I wonder if she con...Ellen--Interesting take on it. I wonder if she considered it. (I'm sure her publishers wouldn't have been happy.) I remember Nobel laureate Doris Lessing tried that experiment with one of her novels and couldn't even get a read from an agent. Definitely you're allowed a lot more room for creativity if you have a famous name. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-33208351792279175852012-10-23T15:07:19.000-07:002012-10-23T15:07:19.000-07:00If I were Rowling I would have released The Casual...If I were Rowling I would have released The Casual Vacancy under a pseudonym, but out of pure curiosity.<br /><br />I mean, if I'm her, I'm already a Billionaire. So money isn't an issue. I'd just be curious to see if my newest book can stand on it's own merits, how it would be received as a stand-alone novel, instead of as a book "by the Author of Harry Potter"<br /><br />Yeah, somebody probably would have spilled the beans eventually. But I wouldn't care - my editors would be plotting it as a publicity stunt, most likely! - so long as it didn't happen until after I had seen how the book fared on its own.Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16358764822076496036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-90622817581210356272012-10-23T09:40:46.662-07:002012-10-23T09:40:46.662-07:00Ryan--You make two very good points that I didn...Ryan--You make two very good points that I didn't touch on: <br /><br />1) Religion and politics are probably up there with sex as far as genres that require pen names. If you're writing strong opinions in either field and you want a more universal audience for other genres, a pen name is a good idea. <br /><br />2) If you have a hard to pronounce or complicated birth name, it's a very good idea to change it to something people can remember and can figure out how to Google.<br /><br />Claude--You're so right that the digital age has changed the playing field. The competition increases exponentially by the minute. As I said to one Google + friend yesterday, building one platform is taking all the hammers and nails I've got. No way could I do two of them in this world of FB, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Goodreads, Kindleboards, blogging and the rest. I admire the hell out of any author who can do it all for more than one brand name. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-56694645403179379952012-10-23T09:27:39.367-07:002012-10-23T09:27:39.367-07:00Marilyn Meredith sent this comment by email:
I s...Marilyn Meredith sent this comment by email: <br /><br />I started with F. M. Meredith for my Rocky Bluff P.D. series because I thought men might be more apt to buy it—ha ha—the publisher put my picture on the back and ruined the whole idea. It does make it confusing at time.<br /> <br />Marilyn--Too funny. I think a lot of writers used to do that. In fact I think J.K. Rowling used the initials (one of which was fake) so publishers wouldn't know she was a lowly female. But I think things have advanced enough that most readers know writing isn't done with sexual organs. :-)Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-15767210964613137762012-10-23T08:41:37.338-07:002012-10-23T08:41:37.338-07:00Anne, that's an excellent question and post (e...Anne, that's an excellent question and post (enjoyed the interview!)Building a brand is so contemporary, isn't it? Back in the 1960s, authors did pick different names for different genres. Let me take one example from French literature: famous author Romain Gary did that when he wrote a bizarre story set in an Arab immigrant home in a Parisian suburb that was totally unlike the rest of his work. Yet it was a huge success and only AFTER it became a success did people discover it was him!<br /><br />But that was before the digital age. I tend to agree with you: branding is more important than tailoring your name to a genre. With one exception it seems: if you write erotica (I have at least 2 friends who do and both are successful at it under a different pen name). Erotica doesn't mix with anything else, it seems. Though I'm not so sure...As for myself, I certainly use a pen name, it was part of my branding build-up, and though I like to write in different genres, I certainly won't go back and redo all the branding exercise over again, too much work!<br /><br />Which gets me to my last point: branding in the digital age takes way too much time away from writing, what with all the sites you're supposed to have a presence in. Visibility is the name of the game and when the Kindle Store has over one million fiction titles, that's a very tough game to play!Claude Forthommehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871790739257823515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-78881692051851343472012-10-23T03:08:40.381-07:002012-10-23T03:08:40.381-07:00Interesting post. Thank you! I agree with a lot of...Interesting post. Thank you! I agree with a lot of your points on taking pen names and considered it quite heavily before I took one myself. <br /><br />I had already published two books under my real name but it was religious fiction and I was moving away from that ... my last name was also impossible for people to remember or spell ... it hurt sales so badly on my first two novels that I was advised, by a NYT Bestseller that it was time to make the change, especially with switching genres. <br /><br />I haven't regretted it. <br /><br />I'm very open about who I am and what can be expected under each name. It's definitely something to consider from all angles before jumping into.Robyn Heirtzlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145359191918162139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-7678170369886076362012-10-22T21:58:57.038-07:002012-10-22T21:58:57.038-07:00Cathryn, I do remember your pen name decision-maki...Cathryn, I do remember your pen name decision-making. I think you did well. I think it can be wise for many reasons to write under a pen name--but more than one is just so much more work. Which I like to avoid at all costs. Come to think of it, maybe DWS is right and I AM lazy...<br /><br />Fois--Love this "What's in a name? Our blood, sweat and soul. I think I'll keep it :)" <br /><br />Donna--I think those are pretty good role models. You're right about the therapy. :-)<br /><br />Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-63393350450942727032012-10-22T20:24:42.156-07:002012-10-22T20:24:42.156-07:00I'll be writing under my own name for all my ...I'll be writing under my own name for all my writings; unless a Big Six agent/publisher states otherwise. Although I write in fantasy, womens fiction, erotica and thriller, all my stories have a basic theme. Which might be considered My Brand. Everything has a gritty, dark twist, and I have a fondness for the bad boy who isn't all bad; or all good.<br /><br />Not to mention I have enough troubles keeping my day-job self separate from author me, so having more than one author me could result in all of us needing therapy :) Stephen King, Gaiman, Patterson; they all write in multiple genre's with the same basic plot themes. I'll keep them as my role models.<br /><br />......dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-75920571816301554272012-10-22T19:27:21.813-07:002012-10-22T19:27:21.813-07:00Anne, this is a great post and a reminder to anyon...Anne, this is a great post and a reminder to anyone who doubts that the brand is our name ... not our genre. I fiddle with the idea ... some days I am convinced I need to use two names ... one for the mysteries and one for everything else ... other days I feel that I love my name and people will follow it and me (once I get out there :) ...<br /><br />What's in a name? Our blood, sweat and soul. I think I'll keep it :)<br /><br />About Rowlings ... I have the opposite reaction of many. I think no matter what she wrote the next time around, she'd get bashed by some. Not because the world expects her to reproduce the incredible results of Harry Potter, but because too many have been waiting to tear her down.fOIS In The Cityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06347958777030988677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-7618125852430372732012-10-22T12:49:26.301-07:002012-10-22T12:49:26.301-07:00He he, this post made me do a leep back in time to...He he, this post made me do a leep back in time to when I was playing with pen names. (Also strangely inspired by Passive Voice and your how to blog series.) <br /><br />Anyway, I think I'll stick with one name. I don't seem myself ever going into erotica in a way that would require a pen name. And while my Sci-fi may be more sexy than my Fantasy, it's kind of expected in my brain (go figure).<br /><br />Thanks once more for for such an informative post. When I do start going cross genre's you can be sure the covers will reflect their flavors. After all cover art does matter (unless you already happen to be a super star lol).<br /><br />:} CathrynCathryn Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14816869021658935999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-72145472815120180102012-10-22T12:26:41.644-07:002012-10-22T12:26:41.644-07:00Veronika--You're right. I can see that was pro...Veronika--You're right. I can see that was probably part of the problem. <br /><br />C. E. Great post. Thanks for sharing the link. I'm mostly in the one blog/one name camp because I don't want to double my marketing work. But I LOVE the pen name generator. It named me Our Lady Bonbons. Or I could use the formula of pet/street/fav author and be Chuck Henrietta Vonnegut. That wouldn't be easily forgotten. :-)<br /><br />Anthea Lawson left this comment on the PV blog: Hi Anne, count me as another one who would have left a comment on your blog, but can't because of the WP issues...<br /><br />Since I write steamy historical romance and YA fantasy appropriate for ages 11+, I use two different pen names. Plus I have a pretty active volunteer presence and am a teacher, so *both* of those author names are pen-names. I'm fairly open about my writing life, but it's important to have at least some kind of barrier between the hot stuff and the YA.<br /><br />Your hypothetical Steampunk Erotica and Space Westerns would totally both fit under the same pen name/genre - and probably the Techno-thriller too. It all falls under the wider umbrella of SFF. ;)<br /><br />That said, I'm branching out into some SF myself, and will probably keep the YA fantasy pen name (since it's not steamy stuff). The points about an author being a brand are well taken, not to mention that it's all a new frontier out here in publishing these days. Fun times!<br /><br />Anthea--I guess I may have to go back to letting the 2000 Anonymous posts a day get into my inbox. Arrggh. I wish they'd give us more of a choice. <br /><br />I do agree that steam trumps the one-brand rule. You do NOT want your YA readers to pick up the erotica thinking it's a kid's adventure book. (I'll remember your advice if I ever write that erotic steampunk space western thriller.)<br />Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-15893984863801000062012-10-22T11:41:47.925-07:002012-10-22T11:41:47.925-07:00I was thinking the same things when I posted a few...I was thinking the same things when I posted a few Sundays ago: <b>http://ceschwilk.blogspot.com/2012/10/exposed-sunday-trouble-with-pen-names.html</b><br /><br />I think it is more about her brand than the writing. I like the HP books/world - but I can't say that the writing is all that brilliant. I think she would have had a harder time if she used a pen-name and her brand did help sell her latest creation, never mind it being a good/bad book on its own merits.<br /><br />Another friend and I talked about HP5 - that it was far too long and could have been edited. Who wants to edit JKR, indeed. I think her "star power" was reason for such things as her using her name - by herself as well as her publishers/editors/the machine that cranks out this stuff. I still plan to read the book, eventually - despite the bad reviews I've been reading on it!C.E. Schwilkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-83416505663694348512012-10-22T11:26:26.707-07:002012-10-22T11:26:26.707-07:00Haha, Christine might have a point there...who wan...Haha, Christine might have a point there...who wants to be responsible for editing JK (and, apparently, telling her it was mush)? :) <br /><br />Anne, thanks for the encouragement. I've never really understood Dean Wesley Smith (and wife's) reasons for publishing under SO many names...one, of course, two, sure...but five, six? However many he's got? That doesn't seem to be a brand to me; that seems to be chaos.Veronika Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12657030887849786555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-52750254451244243262012-10-22T10:31:33.810-07:002012-10-22T10:31:33.810-07:00Anne—I remember when you were making the decision,...Anne—I remember when you were making the decision, and I argued against it, but I finally understood you had to do it because of the type of readership you have. Thanks so much for taking the time to contribute to the post!<br /><br />Veronika—I think you've hit on something. If you're experimenting, then you could really make a mess of things by writing each book under a different name. Instead it's best to brand yourself as "Veronika Walker: eclectic author" But if you know you want two different careers, then two different names will work better, the way they do for Anne/Robynne<br /><br />J. M.—J.K. Rowling has never been accused of being stupid about money. Yeah, I think money probably had a lot to do with her decision.<br /> <br />Tamara—Thanks for the detailed review! Wow. That does sound like inferior writing. Without the emotional connection, no story is going to hold a reader for long. Hmm. And thanks for the translation from Brit of things like "shurrup". I didn't learn that stuff until I lived in England for a while. <br /><br />I've turned off the Anon function for comments because Blogger started sending me every single Anon spam comment into my email box—no idea why. They never used to send me the blocked ones. But I was literally injuring my wrist hand-deleting over 2000 a day. I didn't realize that also disabled the "comment with a URL" function at the same time. If more people complain, I guess I'll have to turn it back on—after my wrist heals… Thanks for jumping through the hoops to comment in spite of it.<br /><br />Mr. Lonely—That's suspiciously spammy. But I'm leaving it up because of the picture of cheesecake . But next time read the post if you are going to comment on it, OK? <br /><br />Ben—Maybe if TCV had more mass appeal it could have sold on its own, but from what people are saying, it sounds as if people would never have bought it with Jo(e) Nobody's name on it. If I had to choose between a million dollars and bad reviews and no dollars and bad reviews, I think I know which way I'd go.<br /><br />Saffi—You're a perfect example of how the new publishing paradigm makes it possible to genre hop. You have a bestselling thriller series, but recently you came out with a heartfelt literary Holocaust story, and it's reached #1. So you're living proof that genre hopping by an author using the same name can work!<br /><br />Christine—Since you're a bookseller and an editor, I respect your opinion. It sounds as if Jo(e) Nobody wouldn't have even got this book published. So the pseudonym thing would really not have worked for her.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-76992049295000653602012-10-22T09:05:19.208-07:002012-10-22T09:05:19.208-07:00I think this book would have not been published wi...I think this book would have not been published with out J.K. Rowling's name on it. I picked it up at my store, read the first chapter and found it in need of editing. I admire her for having the courage to write in a different genre after having SO much success. I wonder if the bigger problem might have been that there was not an editor at her publishing company who had the courage to do the editing.Christine Ahernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18332152375980196208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-55968855243074810742012-10-22T08:02:30.014-07:002012-10-22T08:02:30.014-07:00Another great post Anne.
This is something we (as...Another great post Anne.<br /><br />This is something we (as in Mark and I) have almost come to virtual blows about on many occasion.<br /><br />Like you rightly state, I guess it depends on who you are and what you are writing, but in this digital age, unless you are a world-renowned best seller, then you automatically reduce SEO and your chances of your book being discovered by writing under another name, not to mention onward sales.<br /><br />We have finally taken the stance, that if we are CLEAR about what we are writing and who it is aimed at, we're going to make use of our brand and the blood, sweat and tears we have spent building a platform. Hell, we're even starting to go one step further and allow are characters to cross genres and books!<br /><br />Why waste all that hard work? ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-5473433524626225642012-10-22T07:49:53.773-07:002012-10-22T07:49:53.773-07:00I think Rowling SHOULD'VE used a pen name. You...I think Rowling SHOULD'VE used a pen name. You're the first person to raise the possibility, Anne and I think this is kind of a no brainer, now that I think about it. King did it with the Bachman books and now they are revered. But yeah, it was so different. She could've pulled out as 45 degree turn but not the 180 degrees she just did. You can't turn a tanker boat that fast. Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483490020980574428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-61089074199213053502012-10-22T05:52:43.874-07:002012-10-22T05:52:43.874-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Tamara Marnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10684310618617404985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-75698708473866288842012-10-22T05:44:46.979-07:002012-10-22T05:44:46.979-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Tamara Marnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10684310618617404985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-20372025297094844202012-10-21T20:00:32.368-07:002012-10-21T20:00:32.368-07:00A million sales is why Rowling didn't use a pe...A million sales is why Rowling didn't use a pen name. Good, bad, or indifferent, she wouldn't get that many sales with a pen name. Gotta keep the other $200+ million happy and give them some company. It's gets boring in the vault with no new dollars -- or pounds. Jacklyn Cornwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07703031152094274587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-56710821338855900372012-10-21T19:31:12.598-07:002012-10-21T19:31:12.598-07:00I give props to JK. She was tired of writing YA, s...I give props to JK. She was tired of writing YA, so she didn't. And she and her publishers knew her brand was enough to sell the book, no matter what genre it was (except erotica, I'm sure. :)). She's venturing out into new territory, and she probably expected some backlash for it. It usually happens whenever authors switch genres. But...if they ride it out, eventually the authors will have multiple books in multiple genres, and, in Rowling's case, it won't just about Potter anymore...<br /><br />I don't think pen names are helpful across genres unless you are *certain* you are going to write in those genres permanently, like Robb...she writes in two genres, period. Someone like me, I have multiple genres I'm interested in, and my tastes range all over the place, more like Asimov. THAT will probably become a factor in my brand as my writing and career develop (similar to Gaiman...though I will never claim his genius :)). <br /><br />Just some thoughts...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-88993916427182107732012-10-21T17:25:48.659-07:002012-10-21T17:25:48.659-07:00Core audience. You said it Anne. That's the bi...Core audience. You said it Anne. That's the big reason why I did it. And I understand why JK Rowling used her real name.<br /><br />It is a hard choice to make. It tooke me quite a few months to come to that decision. And I feel it was the right one for me. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing my view.Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-89113224657984351132012-10-21T15:18:44.896-07:002012-10-21T15:18:44.896-07:00Helen Walker sent this comment:
"Actually, ...Helen Walker sent this comment: <br /><br />"Actually, JK Rowling is a pen name. Joanne Rowling has no middle name and the JK portion was created to entice the male readership who might be less inclined to read a book series penned by a woman." <br /><br />Helen--I had read that the "K" was invented, but I'd forgotten. So thanks much for the clarification!<br /><br />Charlie--I'm with you. I'd rather try to keep everything under one name the way Mary Stewart did. <br /><br />L. Diane/Spunk LOL. I think that's wise.<br /><br />Laura--I'm waiting for the library, too. Or the paperback, whichever is available sooner. No way am I spending $20 for an ebook. <br /><br />I think the decision may depend on how easily offended your core audience is. And that's probably dependent on genre. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.com