Pondering the Whole Pen Name Thing

My writing friends know that, as a long-time mystery author, I’ve been thinking about stretching my wings to write an urban fantasy. In fact, I’ve been plotting and making notes for some time. I’ve also been contemplating whether to use a pen name. Pros and cons have been tossed around for a while now, but after reading a blog about pseudonyms by Roz Morris, I’m honing in on a final decision.

I understand why some authors prefer to use a pen name. As authors state in Morris’s blog, they work in professions where it might not be all that helpful to be identified as a fiction author. Also, authors who write erotica might not want coworkers, family or friends to know about it.

As Morris pointed out, a pen name doesn’t necessarily keep one’s identity a secret in this day and age. All it takes is a friend snapping a photo of you at your book signing, then posting it on Facebook. The next thing you know, someone’s sharing and outing you by your real name.

The whole social network thing also creates more work. Another author quoted in the blog understandably found it a hassle to keep two Twitter accounts under two different names. Can you imagine doing so for Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Amazon, and all the many other sites? Branding is important, and if you’re working hard at branding your name, then it would feel like starting over.

Here’s another thing I learned from the blog. Amazon’s KDP and CreateSpace allow authors to associate their real account with any pen name they want. Kobo is also pen-name friendly, but Smashwords only allows one account and one name.

So, what am I going to do? I’ve decided to stick with my own name. I’ve seen several successful authors brand themselves, despite writing in multiple genres. In this day and age, it makes sense unless, of course, erotica writing is in my future. After all, my kids can only handle so much embarrassment from their mom.

Debra

Guest blogger April Robins talks about Pen Names

I came across an author on Goodreads.com and invited her to post an article here on The Write Type. I hope you enjoy.
~Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Whale Song

Picking a Pen Name

We had our first book started, “I’ll Tuck You in, Deer.” In fact the writing was going pretty fast. Everyone was committed and the edits were flying between me and the girls. I realized that, when I submitted the book, an Author’s name would show on the front cover. Would it be my every day, common name or something more spectacular that everyone could remember?

We decided for the safety of the children to go with pen names. After all, we are going to be famous someday. Back to reality, the last name for everyone was established. It would be Robins. My husband had named our farm Robin Falls because it has a waterfall that flows when it rains, otherwise it is bone dry. Also, we are blessed with every bird possible for this region, especially robins. So everyone decided that they wanted to be a Robins even our married daughter. I was going to be Elizabeth Rachel Robins. I asked my daughter what was her pen name. Her husband suggested that she go by his grandmother’s name Ruby. My daughter-in-law wanted to be called what her mother had started to name her, Celeste.

There I was surrounded by jewels and the heavens, and I was simply Beth. I did research and found that there was already a writer name Elizabeth Robins. So who would I be? I started thinking that my birthday was in April. I would be April. Then I went on line and picked another name from a listing of baby names. I found Rachelle which is often shortened to Rachel. So I was April Rachelle Robins.

Then my husband started to fill in writing for our daughter who was now the mother of a newborn. He decided to be F. Jay Robins. I asked him what the F stood for, and he told me he was going to keep everyone guessing. Initially we were going to be “Three Robins and a Jay Bird”, so that is where he got the Jay.

Everyone is happy with their alias. There are always pros and cons to every writing decision. My grandson asked me the other day why I used a pen name. He said no one knows that his grandma writes children’s books since Robins is not his last name. How sweet that he wanted to brag about his grandma.

Think about it, what would your pen name be?

April Robins, guest blogger
http://www.robinfalls.com/