To Pseudonym or Not to Pseudonym
. . . that is the question.
This week, I got one bizarre-o rambling three-page email with picture attachments. I got one marriage proposal from a soldier in Iraq, including his phone number.
I am grateful none of my kids has my last name.
Erica Orloff is my name. I am not listed in the phone book that way. Way back when, my first editor asked me if I was going to take a pen name. Well, I've been Erica Orloff my whole life and I just really thought my dad would dig seeing my name on a book cover. So I kept it. Over time, I took pen names for YA, and for some darker fiction. I have a different pen name for middle grade.
I have been stalked. I have had presents sent to me by one particularly ardent fan.
I have had a few people in real life admonish me for writing sex scenes and using curse words. I have been "outed" as a writer by virtue of my name and appearances at book stores or what have you. I would mostly prefer people NOT know I write.
So when all is said and done, particularly after a week like this one, had I to do it all over again, I would have had a pseudonym all the way though. I am not a household name. I am a mother of four . . . I cannot IMAGINE the kind of weird mail some people get.
Have you thought about this? Made a decision one way or the other? And why?
31 comments:
I haven't considered a pseudonym. But maybe I should since many can't pronounce my last name. I'm unlisted in the phone directory, but solicitors find five thousand ways to mangle my last name. Maybe I should go with one of their pronunciations?
I don't know...that's a tough one to consider.
Hi Kath:
I consider mine difficult more because it's not common . . . so people tend to pronounce it tentatively.
E
I don't use a pseudonym, but I don't use my married name either -- and my kids last name is not Nathan. I have always written as Amy Nathan, and with locally published essays and articles, it really helped my kids at a safe distance. For books, well, I'm yet to be published. I'm not sure what I will do when the time comes. I have some crazy-ass people who hate me --- but yet after so long working toward a goal --- in a way I want my name on the cover.
The best story is I was at an event at my Temple one day, and it was same day an article of mine was in the Chicago Trib. Someone told me that this woman said to her,
"I read this great thing in the paper today, it was about x, y, z."
"Oh Amy Nathan wrote that."
"Yea, so?"
"You KNOW Amy Nathan."
"I do?"
"She's right over there! It's Amy _______!"
The woman came over and told me the story and how much she liked what I wrote. LOL, that was the best. And now most people here do know both names but it still affords me some anonymity.
So far I write under my name. But I'm about to embark on another genre which will be done under a pen name. I've no doubt I'll be linked to my pen name at some point.
I don't think it's that difficult to find someone, even with aliases, in this day and age. So, I'm not sure a pen name does much good at keeping a determined loonie away, but I do think it really helps with marketing.
Hi Amy:
I do enjoy when someone comes up to me and asks, "Are you really Erica Orloff" and tells me they liked x or y book.
However, the couple of creep episodes have me convinced that having some distance from my real name would have been nice. Also, then if someone wanted to bitch about x or y book or give me a bad review, they would be giving it to Author X and not ME.
E
Sex Scenes:
When I got my wonderful stalker-ish package, the person was very, VERY resourceful, which kind of creeped me out. I agree. Nowadays, it would be difficult to be completely off the grid in that sense.
E
Interestingly, though, I have a very good friend whose no-doubt controversial book is coming out next summer. He writes under his own name and lives in a country with a violent past, and sometimes I throw up a little prayer that his book doesn't anger the wrong people...
I love Amy's story! Erica, I'm sorry you have to deal with that mess, ugh.
I'm premature in even writing this out loud, but I go back and forth on using my maiden name vs. my married name. There are other Melanie Avila's out there - something I never had to deal with before - and my maiden name still feels more like ME. I told myself I'm not allowed to concentrate on this until I have an agent and a book deal on the table, but you did ask... :)
I have to admit, I get creeped out easily, and I don't have any fans. That said, when my web-site first went up I got a weird email from "anonymous" requesting an autographed photo. Talk about a "Play Misty For Me" moment. Eeekkk! :)
Maybe a different name isn't such a bad idea.
hehe, oh yes. Pen name all the way baby. To me, writing is like my secret identity. My closest friends know I write and immediate family. But I don't need the grocery store checkout girl to know I'm a writer. Or the mailman, or really anyone else. Not that this would be a problem yet, lol. Not like people are jumping up and down going: "OMG it's Zoe Winters!" hahaha. okay moving on...
Plus really I "feel" more like a "Zoe" than my real name. Sometimes when my husband calls me by my real first name it just freaks me out. The name I've chosen for myself is really more me, than the name that was chosen for me at birth.
So really I prefer if people aren't going to call me Zoe, that they just not address me at all, or in Tom's case, use a pet name like baby or sweetie, so I don't have to feel so weird and not like me.
Melanie:
I had taken my ex-husband's name. When I got divorced, it took me a year to get MY name back. I swore NEVER again would I take another name. I'm me. :-)
E
Zoe:
I like my given name. And it's not common. So I've always felt like Erica.
E
Increasingly, actually. I'd sort of like to divorce my nonfiction from my fiction sometimes. We submitted one manuscript under a pseudonym, but nothing came of it. Still...
Mark:
Since I still ghostwrite and edit, I often think of having a website dedicated to that (particularly in this economy where I want to balance the novels with some supplementary work). A pseudonym for only fiction would have made that easier.
E
The only reason why I use a pseudonym is to protect the innocent. Namely, me.
Having been the victim of a stalking, I don't wish that horrific nightmare on anyone. I was so terrified that I brought a gun home and kept it between the mattress and boxspring. All I remember about that day is sitting on the edge of my bed in tears and asking myself, "Is this the way I want to live my life? In fear?" The answer was a firm hell no.
Since then, I've moved across several states and I don't list my number in the phone book. While I'd like to say I'm over that episode in my life, there's always a part of me that says, "Just to be on the safe side, maybe you should..."
So far so good. No psychos, thank goodness. ;-)
I don't know if I'll ever use my real name. I'd like to, but that damn doubt is always creeping up and convincing me otherwise.
I have a stage name for my musical side. There was a time in my life when some people knew me as Jamie and some as Debbie and some knew both. I felt quite schizophrenic and never really got used to that aspect of it. I haven't even considered a pseudonym for my writing and I don't plan to. I lived next door to a mafia hit man when I was a kid. If things get weird, I'll look him up.;-)
When I get an agent, I figure I'll talk to him/her about it. In the meantime, I'm keeping my name...and my Rottweiller, alarm system, black belt, kick-ass husband and sword.
I think Anita has it right, when I get an agent, I'll figure it out.
I guess my question is, when you use a pseudonym do you pretend you didn't write the book if someone happens to mention it to you? Do you tell people close to you you've written under a pseudonym or is it secret all around? Just curious. In a way I want "credit" for what I write. Maybe that's immature. I do already have people who give me problems.
Marcia:
You have my great empathy. I was stalked years ago . . . and it is terrifying.
E
Debra:
Oh, were we neighbors? ;-)
E
Anita:
Gotta love a woman with a sword!
I just have Demon Baby to protect me.
E
Amy:
I usually pretend I am not a writer. So if someone mentions books or reading or whatever . . . I say nothing, or I mention other authors I like or whatever.
I've never been around people who were actually discussing MY book and didn't know it was me. But I would likely just walk away from the conversation.
E
I checked in late.
Try commenting on a religious blog sometime and see how many kooks you attract.
I suspect if someone wants to be a well-known writer (which I am not), it is probably impossible to hide behind a pseudonym. Or if your novels have a religious slant (as all mine do). Or if you write about mental illness . . .
I guess I admire you for doing this blog to help aspiring writers. I doubt it does much to expand the sales of your books, but it sure gives another opportunity to attract the kooks.
In a few ways, it sounds as if it hasn't been the best of weeks. Take care!
I've always known that I'll use my maiden name. I used my legal name for freelance writing, but since I haven't been actively pursuing assignments, I don't use it on blog or online anymore... it'd still be relatively easy to figure out by google search and some of my blogging buddies knew me when I used the legal one...
I'm not that concerned about it, the married name is the equivalent of 'Smith' in czech... I can't tell you how many times cashiers have looked up at me and either spoken polish (I really don't look either czech or polish) or asked if I'm related to so and so.
Today, if someone really wanted to stalk me, I know it wouldn't be all that difficult... and my maiden name, my name, it's mine... I'm working damn hard to get published, I don't see why my husband's family should have the kudos... I also think my name's pretty cool, so I'll stick.
But I do see why you would use a pseudonym to cross genres... if I get there, it might be something to think about.
This is scary. I write MG, and don't think I'd mind the kids, but stalkers that were adult? This is a very scary thing (IMO).
This is a very instructional read! Thanks Erica!
Joe:
The blog's my morning coffee . . . it really is about gathering with the "gang." If I occasionally get a marriage proposal from across the world . . . . {shrugs}.
E
Merry:
My children have the Hispanic equivalent of "Smith." LOL!
E
JKB:
What I have found is that the men who wrote me seemed to think my characters were brilliant AND sexy (not moms of four with spit-up on their blouses) and confuse ME with the characters.
E
I missed all the fun!!! LOL! I've done a lot of thinking on this subject. :-)
First, it hasn't done Nora Roberts much good. Just last year, someone randomly showed up at her house.
For a pseudonym to have protective power, you have to keep it secret. Keeping a secret is very draining. Who to tell? Who to offend by not telling?
I have two people who read my sort of thing and also read my blog, and they made the connection right away. My pseudonym was not quite so obvious when everyone called me "Tasha," LOL. Or maybe they recognize the writing. I don't know.
I've made the decision that I'll never publicize my pseudonym. There are a few people out there who, for whatever bizarre reason, look up to me, and I fear they would interpret my fantasies in the worst way for feminism, LOL. That's just not acceptable to me.
But I have made my peace with people knowing. Let's say I'd rather grow up and be Stephanie Meyers or Stephen King some day than keep it a secret, LOL!
Spy:
You rasie great points. Funny, last night on Anthony Bourdain, he was in Russia and went to eat with the former head of the KGB's spy unit. The guy talked about leading a double life and so on . . . the drain.
E
Erica is a cool name, and it fits you!
Post a Comment