One of the reasons writers use pen names is not because of any need for privacy or secrecy, but purely to help readers differentiate between the different types of books they write.
This is a reason close to my own heart, and you’ll soon see why.
I’ve discovered that pen names are an issue occupying a lot of writers’ minds, since my previous Pen Name articles, 3 reasons for using a pen name, and How to choose a pen name continue to generate conversation.
That’s why I thought I’d walk you through the steps I’ve used to decide: Will I use a pen name for different genres? (You’ll have to read to the end to find out my answer! Oh, the suspense.) Maybe one of my discoveries will give you some inspiration, or maybe you can share some of your own discoveries in the comments.
My dilemma
Ever since I first thought about writing a novel, I thought I’d use a pen name. I don’t really know why now, other than It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time. Privacy maybe, and it probably seemed a little glamorous to be distanced from one’s art in that way (yeah, solid thinking I know. 😉 ) I even thought about names I might use, based on parts of my own name and selections from my family tree. And of course, I always assumed there’d be a Publisher there guiding how I did it all, because in the olden days (before about 2007) that’s how it happened.
Well, I finally really do have a novel coming out soon, and I’ve got a problem to solve…
- I’m already known as Belinda Pollard to a niche market as a writer of meditations based on the Bible. I’ve been writing those for a UK publisher for about 15 years. I more or less fell into publishing them under my own name, and didn’t anticipate any future need to reserve my name for anything else!
- I’m writing a clutch of how-to books about writing and publishing, and also a humorous memoir about my crazy dog (a dogoir?).
- My novel Poison Bay is a wilderness mystery/thriller with psychological elements, about a bunch of old friends with a shared secret, who go out into the woods and, well, basically start killing each other. As only old friends can.
When I started blogging and doing social media in 2011, we had just entered the Brave New World of “being yourself” on the internet, after all those shady years when everyone was lurking anonymously in chatrooms. I was very nervous at first, but took my courage in hand, and launched out as myself, not hiding behind a pseudonym or an avatar. So the online platform I’ve created is for Belinda Pollard.
The challenge is how readers might be confused by the different genres appearing under my name. The how-tos and dogoir are not really a problem — I think they could easily combine with any other type of creative writing under the one name. The title and cover is enough to let a reader know what’s in ’em.
It’s the clash between the spiritual stuff and the fiction that bothers me. The titles and blurbs will do their job to a certain extent — no one’s going to pick up a book called Poison Bay and expect suggestions for prayer! But at a subtler level, will readers assume the novel is “religious fiction” and either a. avoid it, because they don’t like religious fiction, or b. get annoyed when it isn’t religious fiction, and give bad reviews?
Let’s represent this clash of concepts visually. I know my readers have come to expect cute puppy photos when they visit smallbluedog, but I’m feelin’ feline today. (Or perhaps it’s just that no dog pic could convey it quite so well. 😉 )
Can Belinda Pollard be both of the above kitties? Or should I create a pen name for my novels? Does the fiction need to appear under a separate identity?
Follow me down the rabbit hole while I try to figure it out.
Practical complications
- Amazon allows self-publishers to enter a pseudonym under “Contributor”, with this caveat: “Note that you are free to use a pen name, as long as it does not impair our customers’ ability to make good buying decisions.” So I think that means I probably wouldn’t be wise to use “Elizabeth George” as my pen name!
- Aussie lawyer Jamie White warns against using a name already known for something else, so that would rule out calling myself Coca Cola 😉 but might also launch me into a lot of research on those “family tree” names I was considering using. How can I be sure they’re not known for something somewhere in the world, without spending a lot of time?
- Jamie also says using a pen name might reduce the length of time that copyright will apply to the work. (A factsheet from the US Copyright Office covers similar issues. Different laws in different countries.) (Of course, you know the drill when it comes to legal stuff: I’m not a lawyer and it’s important to get appropriate advice from a lawyer about your specific situation.)
What about social media accounts in my chosen pen name?
- Facebook says “users provide their real names and information, and we need your help to keep it that way.” It’s against the rules to provide false personal information, so I’d have to have a Page in the pen name.
- The policy at Google+ has loosened up a little, but is still complicated if you want to have a profile under anything other than your real name.
- Twitter says “We reserve the right to reclaim usernames on behalf of businesses or individuals that hold legal claim or trademark on those usernames.” So if the name I’d chosen turned out to be “owned” by someone, it would be a sad discovery after I’d spent a year building a Twitter following for the name!
These are a couple of easy pen name options that might get around some of these problems, by still being versions of my own name:
- My initials and surname… but mine don’t roll off the tongue easily.
- My middle name and surname… but I have a couple of relatives by that name who might not appreciate it!
Rats. It just keeps getting more complicated than I thought. Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens never had to worry about what name he was going to blog under, and how to organise his social media accounts!
Ideas from the publishing blogs
- Thriller author Russell Blake says: “If you want to write different genres, use a pseudonym … stick to one name, one genre, because you’re building your brand, and brand building is a function of clarity – clearly communicating what you do, and what your product is.”
- On the other hand, mystery writer Anne R. Allen wrote an interesting piece about Harry Potter author JK Rowling’s excursions into other genres in both the same and different names. She observes that “Rowling’s success seems to show that brand trumps genre in today’s world” … so she’s using the term “brand” slightly differently than Russell Blake, to denote the writer as a person, rather than a set of books.
- However, to show the opposite perspective Anne also includes an interview with Anne Gallagher / Robynne Rand who has one name for Regency romance, and one for contemporary fiction. Anne/Robynne has Twitter profiles for each author, and a blog in each name.
- Kristine Kathryn Rusch, who could almost be considered the Pen Name Queen, has written an excellent article on the whole topic of pen names. Check out her detailed explanation of why pen names are so important under the bookstore ordering system that affects traditionally-published authors.
- Kristine blogs at the URL kriswrites.com — deftly sidestepping any surname confusion! — with the tagline: “Kristine Kathryn Rusch—Award-winning author of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, women’s fiction, and anywhere else her muse takes her.” Under a menu heading of “Pen Names”, she has separate pages for Kristine Dexter, Kristine Grayson, and Kris Nelscott. Her Twitter and G+ accounts are in the name Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
- Her eye-catching comments in the pen name article include: “Indie writers don’t need pen names. For a while, I thought they did because I’d been raised in traditional publishing with traditional publishing genre expectations.” And most telling of all: “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.” That’s something, coming from someone with her personal experience.
- Kristine also linked to an article by Scott William Carter about why he abandoned a pen name and rebranded a set of novels under his own name. Scott writes: “a reader who enjoyed my quirky young adult book, The Care and Feeding of Rubber Chickens, may also be a fan of dark paranormal mysteries. … And by keeping it all under my own name, I make it easier for that reader … to find all of my books. And there are lots of ways to brand books, from font style to cover image.”
Wow. I’m seeing two separate, CONTRADICTORY streams coming through here:
- Different names for different genres are essential for clear branding.
- Writing under different names will DILUTE an author brand.
Who’s right? Maybe they both are.
Personally, I can see the possibility that if Kristine Kathryn Rusch Dexter Grayson Nelscott was not already a bestselling author under the Old System, and was instead building a new author platform using online-only methods, the number of identities she crams into one blog and one set of social media profiles may well work against her, creating confusion. So if I wanted to use separate names myself, I’d be wise to create distinct blogs and social profiles to go with them.
The decision
After a lot of research and agonising over whether I should use a pen name or not, the clincher for me is a simple matter of pragmatism:
I just don’t have the time or energy to maintain multiple personas on the web.
I barely have time to maintain ONE persona on the web. 😉 And I don’t want to blog in multiple names, it’s too confusing.
The “best case” marketing scenario of separate names for separate genres ceases to be the “best case” if it’s not sustainable for me.
I end up shouting “hear, hear” to Anne R. Allen’s comment: “It takes a crazy amount of work to establish even one brand these days and I’m all about writers keeping their sanity.”
So I’m going to publish fiction as Belinda Pollard. That’s my decision. (This week at least. 😉 )
The denouement
I’ll probably run into some difficulties along the way. I’ll have to be careful to brand very clearly by cover design and blurbs, so that potential readers know exactly what they’re getting themselves into. I may wish at some future time that I HAD created a separate identity for fiction, and I’ll have to live with that, plus the criticism I might get for not doing it that way.
I console myself with this thought… whatever I’m writing, I write it in a way that’s specific to me, and that will have to be my “author brand”, rather than a genre. My spiritual writing is perhaps a little grittier than some, from my days as a journalist seeing the awful side of human life. And my fiction writing contains echoes of my spiritual thoughts.
Despite the genre clash, there is one thing that all my writing has in common: Me. 🙂
Same as cats are really just cats, no matter their size. Which gives me a handy excuse to conclude our cat analogy with a cute video of what big cats do when you give ’em a box. 😉
Also in this series:What about you? Are you using a pen name? Abandoning a pen name? Considering your options?
Images via Bigstock/kadmy, Katyamaxymenko, wingbeats551
Thank you so much! I’ve really been wrestling with this issue for a while now. I currently write under two pen names: one for YA, clean romance of all genres, and fantasy; and one for my not-so-clean stuff. As you said, it’s hard enough to keep up with two, let alone three, four, or more pen names! LOL! You’re the best! Thanks, again!
So glad it’s helpful, Theresa. It’s not an easy decision, is it??
Hi Belinda – great post. I’ve been struggling with whether to write under a pseudonym in my 2d genre. I had always assumed the “conventional wisdom” of different names for different genres was correct. Your post and another helped me to see that I’ve worked hard to build my newsletter list and readership. They enjoy my (mystery) writing and will love my literary fiction as well. I too do not have the energy to be 2 people!
David E. Feldman
Glad the post was useful, David. Perhaps I’d make more money with two names… but I’m still glad that I’m not trying to build two author platforms. Mystery and literary definitely sound like two genres that could have crossover. I guess the key is to market our authorial voice above specific genres?? Let us know how it goes.
I am struggling with this now. I am a POC (person of color) who writes multi-genre diverse romance. The bulk of my current readers are very picky and read based on race and genre. I don’t see race as a genre but it seems the world does. Most of my current readers will not read the paranormal, sci-fi, or books with the main characters outside their preferred race matchings. So, I have a few books that are ignored because I haven’t been able to find an audience. I feel I missed the opportunity to use a pen name for those books and their respective genres…then race is a big issue as well. I started my brand as a multi-genre diverse romance author but I am torn with my next release due to the main character’s sexuality though it is a romance.
Do you think you might re-release the “ignored” books under a different name, Shea? It’s never a simple decision. But I’ve seen other authors rebrand their works under different names…
I’ve thought about it but not long and hard. It would take some revising to do so. I wonder if it would work. I may need to seriously think about this.
Thank you for this post. I have been thinking about a pen name recently, but after reading this article, I think I’ve (again) decided against it. This line in particular really speaks to me: “…whatever I’m writing, I write it in a way that’s specific to me, and that will have to be my “author brand”, rather than a genre.” Hear, hear.
Thank you Dina – glad you have found it useful as you think it through. It’s not an easy decision, is it??
Hi Belinda. Thank you for putting your thoughts together in this article. I’ve been struggling on what to do here for two reasons. Firstly, because I want to dabble in multiple genres. Secondly, because of my last name. I love it and know it possibly means that I wouldn’t have issues being mistaken for someone else, but I know it’s (LONG) and I’m not sure I really want me as a person attached to some genres I’m interested in playing with. But I really don’t want to have to juggle multiple pen names and what goes along with it (website, blog, email list, etc.). I just want to write and reach people, but I don’t want to alienate readers by having too many genres associated with me, either. Ugh…
It’s such a complex decision, isn’t it Lauren? I like your name too, but also see your concerns. I’ve wrestled with this issue again just recently – whether to add my middle initial for some of my writing, so as not to confuse my Amazon algorithms for the “also bought” suggestions it offers to buyers. But I’ve ended up staying just Belinda Pollard. It was a long mental wrestling match (over quite a few months) to get there, though. Hope you can find a solution that sits well with you.
Hi, Belinda.
You’re right — it’s still an important topic.
I anguished about what to do, as well. Writing for kids AND writing Christian thrillers for adults threw me into a puddle, wondering if ‘Debora’ sounded too formal for a children’s picture book writer. I think I’ll drop the idea of my adult books being published under ‘Deene Hudson’ (although I love that old family name!) and just publish my pic books as ‘Deb’.
You’re right – who has time for all that marketing!
Thanks again,
Deb
Sounds like a good solution – just different variations of your own name. Hope it goes well!
is it a good idea to start a career in writing with a pen name?
Hi Tejjie, it’s a personal choice, but you might find this article useful as you think about it. https://smallbluedog.com/3-reasons-for-using-a-pen-name.html
In my opinion, for whatever reason, the books that tend to do well and make a pretty penny generally have very generic author names. Patterson, Christie, Steel, Rowling, Lewis, Brown, Jeffers, Robbins, Fleming, King, Potter, Sparks, Rice, Williams, Johnson, the list goes on. These are all very generic surnames. Very rarely do you see something a slightly more left field name like a McCalister, an Ingleson, Slattery, Joyce, or a Bunworth or something. When you think about all the friends in your life that you know, most of them don’t have generic surnames. At least mine don’t. I’ve often wondered why most of the best selling books are written by authors with ordinary surnames. You may disagree of course. Either way, would love your thoughts.
It’s an interesting question, Justin, and one I’ve pondered at times. Are these names you mention successful because of their names, do we remember their success because their name is easier to remember/pronounce, or do their names seem easy simply because we’ve heard them a lot due to their success? Number 5 on the Amazon charts this week is The Cipher by Isabella Maldonado. (And Number 1 is John Grisham.. a name that possibly would have seemed unusual at first.) There are no easy answers.
I have done the different names for different genres thing and it got tiring trying to maintain more than one persona. The books I had published under those names are now out of print, and although I’ve put them online, still under those old pen names, for free. I think, with future projects I’m just going to use one pen name and differentiate via cover design etc as you said it n your article.
I want to keep time available for the important task.of creating, and multiple online presences don’t facilitate that.
Great article!
Thanks for your thoughts. I’ve ended up continuing with one name, too, even though I’ve considered the issue again multiple times since I wrote this article. I did think about using my initials for one type of writing so that it didn’t confuse my Amazon algorithms… but it meant too much work, and eventually I’ve decided to stay with just one name.
A very insightful article I needed to read.
I am with you. I have neither the time nor the energy to spend on multiple webpages and social media sites for different pen names.
I have just released my first fantasy novel with Leza O’Dowd. When I release my romances I will use L.A. O’Dowd and when I get around to writing and illustrating children’s stories I will use Leza Anne O’Dowd.
I will use the same website but have a different page for each name/genre. I hope it will reduce reader confusion and impatience being able to find me in the one spot.
I guess it’s down to personal abilities, circumstances and experience how a writer does different genres. I do agree though that it’s important to become established in at least one genre before writing in another mostly just to focus on one thing and become well known first.
Thanks for raising a very important issue.
Leza. 🙂
Thanks Leza. It sounds like you’ve given it a lot of thought. I hope your plan of action works out really well. Keep us posted. 🙂
I see this was from a few years ago, but apparently the same question is still being asked!
Great article! Love your style and was very educational.
Thanks Megan! Yes, this one still seems to be of interest to lots of people. 🙂
Hi, I just stumbled across your blog, and you have excellent advice! I just wrote a novel and am getting ready to query (or self publish! still debating). I want to start building an author’s platform but I have a very common name, apparently. There is even another Lisa Sims who has written several books. Every form of my name from initials, to middle names, etc have all been used and taken. This would be my ONLY reason for using a pen name but would prefer to use my real name if this were not the case. What would you recommend in this situation?
Hi Lisa, welcome to my place. 🙂
Having a common name can make it very difficult, but it’s not necessarily a barrier to keeping your own name.
There are at least two Molly Greenes on Amazon: one writes mysteries, and the other writes history. There are also two Elizabeth Georges: one writes Christian books and the other writes mysteries. Is the other Lisa Sims writing the same genre as you?
Personally, I’d be avoiding having a pen name if you really didn’t want to use one, as it does create a lot more work! It seems that no one can stop you using a writing name that is your real name, even if others also have it. However, you might like to doublecheck that with an arts law specialist — and do be aware that these laws tend to vary from country to country. There are other Belinda Pollards in the world, and one of them is even a journalist (I was a journalist, too) who lives in my state of Australia. People have complimented me on my radio reports and I’ve had to say, “Um, well, thank you, but that actually wasn’t me.” I’m just lucky that I jumped in first and got belindapollard.com. 😉
Thank you so much! Thank you in particular for your quick response. She is in a very different genre than I am, so I would prefer to keep my name! I’m looking forward to enjoying your site in more depth.
You’re very welcome, Lisa. At a quick web search, that other Lisa Sims has not done sufficient marketing to be on the first page of results for her/your name, so you have a good chance of getting yourself to the top of the search for it. Best wishes for your adventures!
Thanks again! That’s encouraging.
Hey. I just read your article. The thing is that I don’t wanna use a pen name for my novels, I have in plan to just use my initials to hide my genre(sex). But I’m not english at origins so my surname it’s a bit complicated : R.J. Györfi. So what I should do? I’m kind of forced to use a different surname that appears ‘normal’ to an english speaking reader? for ex: R.J. Smith/R.J. Sparks.
Hi Roby, you have an interesting looking name, and while it’s hard for a lot of English speaking readers to spell, because it’s short that might not be such a problem. Personally, I wouldn’t change it for something “normal”. It would be interesting to hear what other commenters might have to say about it. I hope you find a good solution for your own purposes.
The pen name issue has been a big one for me! I’m beginning my venture into self-publishing a non-fiction book and I’m very torn about my author name. My surname gets slaughtered constantly by anyone not from my area (and even sometimes by those IN my area!) but I am already somewhat well-known by my full name in my particular niche. Decisions, decisions! Thanks for a great article. Loving the blog – very informative!
Ooh, I love the look of your name, KC. Personally, I wouldn’t worry about the name-slaughtering. Even JK Rowling has a name no one can pronounce (is it an oh or an ow??) even though it looks simple. 😉 But you know best what the complications are for you, and I’m sure you’ll figure out a good path that fits for you and your dreams.
Great food for thought here! I am right at the precipice, trying to decide when I dive off the cliff, whether to use one name or many. If I do, all will be variations of my own name (including initials, etc.).
My issue is I have MANY genres that I want to write in (various fiction categories, creative/crafty nonfiction, cooking & home-making nonfiction, coloring books & journals, etc.) — would SUCH a vast spread of genres be more of a confusion than not?
But I am REALLLLLLY leaning toward the simplicity of a single author name… DECISIONS, DECISIONS!!!
Jessica, I think the link above about Anne Gallagher/Robynne Rand might be illuminating: she believes she needs to differentiate because women’s fiction and romance are similar-but-different genres. Perhaps if our various genres are quite clearly different, it becomes unnecessary to change names. The reader can easily figure it out.
But I wish you well in making your decision. I’m glad I finally made my decision. It was occupying too much headspace, and it’s pretty crowded up there already. 😉
I’m dealing with the same issues right now. I really want to write fiction in the future, but right now non-fiction seems to come easier so I am working on a few non-fiction books with hopes of completing that fiction manuscript sometime in the future. I debated using a different name on my non-fiction books (pen or initials) and “reserving” my real name for my someday fiction. In the end, I think I’m just going to publish everything under my full name. I think you can make these things more complicated than they have to be. Good luck to you with your new novel! I am a hiker myself and stumbled upon your blog, followed it to Amazon, and then read this in your author bio:
“and turns on the air-conditioning so she can dream of snow…”
Living in frozen Michigan at the moment, I think you are nuts… so of course I had to download your book. Looking forward to reading it.
Dan, if I had to live through months of snow every year, I might think differently. But oh, it’s a beautiful mirage after sweltering through another summer night in Brisbane with the humidity sliding down the walls. I’m very glad that my particular brand of insanity tempted you to try my book — hope you enjoy it! 🙂
I’ve really enjoyed going into fiction, and I hope that dream comes to pass for you too one day.
Hi Belinda, Just to let you know that I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award – http://fcmalby.wordpress.com/2014/07/17/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Fiona x
Thanks Fiona, it’s an honour. 🙂
Traditional publishers have long been uncomfortable with having the same author name used across different genres, particularly when they’re publishing within a narrow niche. They worry that it will confuse their stockists as well as their readers. But actually I think readers don’t have those qualms. If they like a writer, they’ll read anything that writer produces. And when a writer has built up a big following and lots of goodwill via a blog and social media, as you have done, I think you owe it to yourself to capitalise on it by publishing under your own name. Any of your followers who don’t fancy the cover or the blurb won’t buy it – but I’m sure there’ll be plenty who will, even if it’s not their usual reading matter, or if it’s entirely different from your other writing. And if they only found out later that they had missed the opportunity to read a book by you, because it was published under a pseudonym, they’d be disappointed.
The fact that it feels right to you to use your own name also counts for a lot – I’d always choose instinct over reason, anyway!
I think you’ve hit on something important there, Debbie: pen names are more for the benefit of publishers and stockists than they are for readers.
I’m with you on instinct. Thanks for affirming my choice. 🙂
A fantastic, comprehensive article!
MM Jaye is a pen name. My Greek name is not bad: Maria Messini, but I go by instinct a lot, and it didn’t feel right for an author of contemporary romance. Another reason is that my (upcoming) books have sensuality, and I’d rather not have colleagues (my colleagues are weird people) read what I write. That’s another reason for using a pen name: most erotica authors write under a pen name and never use a selfie as a profile picture. Unlike horror writers who have a very dark imagination but no qualms showing the world what their twisted mind comes up with, when it comes to sensuality, you don’t want your next of kin or maybe even your friends delve into your vivid imagination 🙂 Enter the pen name.
Maria, I know exactly what you mean. If I were writing sensuality, I’d definitely go for a pen name to keep colleagues and clients at arm’s length from the writing. You don’t want them thinking things while you’re talking business with them. 😉
For a writer in spirituality, people killing each other can almost have a similar sense of “push back” — from readers rather than the people you work with. That’s one of the reasons I’ve agonised, but in the end, it’s just not practical for me to be two people. Being one whole person is often hard enough. 😉
Hi Belinda. Fab article. I went through this dilemma myself when I began publishing. And like most things in life, there will always be 2 sides to a coin. I began blogging before my first book came out under my name. I used my blog to introduce my pen name and by the time my book came out, I have readers both, referring to me as Debby and D.G. I made the mistake of forgetting to make a new twitter handle when I started writing and before I realized it I already had over one thousand followers and didn’t want to jeopardize my following so I left it as is. I created my pen name from my initials and Kaye was expanded from the ‘K’ that began with my maiden surname. You are already established as a writer so I wouldn’t worry about who you want to publish as, they will catch on quickly! Also, I read many books by trad author, eg: Erica Jong, who write in fiction and nonfiction. They don’t change their name for genre and in their listing page of their works, they use 2 headings to list their books, each in the genre. So I say, do what you feel. 🙂
Debby, it’s been such a roller coaster for me, figuring this one out. I hope your pen name continues to work out well for you. Thanks for your kind words, and let’s look forward to the day when we both have the name recognition of Erica Jong. 😀
From the word go, I’d decided to use my real name. I have published one fantasy and one paranormal romance so far and intend to move on to other genres in future as I have so many diverse ideas (including chick-lit and sci-fi) but I feel that I should use a pen name for a couple of children’s stories I have in mind to do. I feel this is important and a must in order to differentiate readers between adults and minors.
Glad you’ve worked out a process, Effrosyni. It’s complicated, and we all need to find our own path! 🙂