Chapter Five... I get a lot of questions about pen names and if writers should
use pen names in this modern world of publishing.
Of course, it also used to be that publisher forced you to
use a pen name if you wanted to publish more than a book a year, regardless of genre.
Once before when I asked them
about using a pen name they said I couldn't create a separate author page, that everything had to go under my main page.
It may be that a person does not want other people to know that they're writing genre fiction, and so would
use a pen name when publishing their works.
Questions range
from using pen names to building an author platform — and almost everything you can think of in between.
Given today's publishing and selling environment, would you
still use pen names for different genres?
I
started using a pen name for blogging because like a million people share my real name with probably 100 of them being authors.
I use put «authors» in quotes because these are the same folks that
use pen names similar to the names of the author of the title they are «adjusting».
My opinion is that if you're going to write in different genres, you should
use a pen name for reasons of clarity with your readers — different genre, different name.
, why authors use pseudonyms, how to
use a pen name on amazon, how to use a pseudonym, book authors who have a page on facebook
A lesser known use is Romance writer Nora Roberts
who uses the pen name J.D. Robb when writing suspense novels.
Sometimes Elizabeth may branch out into other genres — likely
using a pen name as she does, to make sure it's not confusing to her cozy mystery readers.
If I were just getting started in the publishing business and I was going indie, I wouldn't
use a pen name at all — unless I personally felt I needed one.
In a blog post titled «My Nom De Plume Exposed,» he explained that he and a friend created and
used the pen name up until a few years ago, after which he said it was used by others.
Written by Nora Roberts (
using the pen name J.D. Robb), these futuristic stories of a cop in New York are addicting.
Helen Sedwick, another attorney, has written a useful post on whether you should be
using a pen name with some pointers on how to do it.
In 1991, with sci - fi writer Pat Murphy, she created the James Tiptree Jr Memorial Award which, to quote Fowler, «is presented annually to a short story or novel that explores or expands our understanding of gender... both to honor Alice Sheldon [the science fiction author who
used the pen name James Tiptree] and to remind the field of its own importance in the continual struggle to re-imagine more livable sexual roles for ourselves.»
If you're well known in your community, your book's subject is potentially controversial, or you have other reasons for wanting to distance your author life and personal or professional life,
using a pen name helps you do that.
You might suspect that Booker Prize - winning writer John Banville used a bit of author's alchemy when he wrote a series of acclaimed, atmospheric crime novels set in 1950s Dublin,
using the pen name Benjamin Black.
Using the pen name Parker Francis, Vic wrote three novels in the Quint Mitchell Mystery series, and the short story collection Ghostly Whispers, Secret Voices.
The step - by - step legal guide to: setting up your self - publishing business · hiring freelancers protecting your copyright · reading contracts spotting scams · collaborating with
partners using a pen name · avoiding defamation and infringement
When Denise made the decision to do something she always loved... she started to write her first book, The Celtic Curse: Banshee,
using her pen name D.J. Doyle.
Once you make the decision to
use a pen name instead of your actual name, there are a few restrictions you'll have to deal with as a publisher on Amazon's platform.
On the other hand, by not publishing at least one title on the platform, you may be missing out on significant marketing potential (don't worry, you can
always use a pen name).
I plan to
use my pen name Sieran Lane instead because it fits my personality (and nonbinary gender identity) more!
Filed Under: Publishing Tags: amazon author central book authors, amyharrop com, how to publish under a pen name on amazon, book authors on author central,
using a pen name on amazon, how do i upload a new book with a pen name in my amazon kdp account?
Personally, from what I've read of Ms. Rice's works, were I she I would
use a pen name as well so as to not sully my good name with the crap that goes out under her name.
Steve and Barrie also discuss the pros and cons
of using pen names and the factors you need to consider in choosing one.