Hmmm. I'm undecided. I've really liked when I've seen authors write several books in one genre, then turn and take a completely different direction/genre. It's a reminder to me that we are free to change (I hope that's not too cheesy :). I don't have any quibble with pen names, other than they always seem to be deliberately revealed at some point, so then I struggle to see the point of them.
I like that idea of 'free to change' as well, Margaret Ann! (And it's not cheesy. Although I'm always here for some cheesyness. 😉) I definitely wouldn't be hiding my real name, just using a pen name as a way of branding the genres differently. But I'm honestly fifty/fifty right now. It feels like a big decision and I really appreciate all of the shared thoughts and opinions here in the comments. :)
As a reader, I don‘t mind if a writer writes different genres under one name - I like to read across multiple genres. As a writer, I‘m a genre-bending rebel anyway, and the idea of having to manage multiple „brands“ of me sounds like a nightmare. One is tricky enough! 🫣
I agree, Diana! Managing multiple brands is the one, very big reason I haven't already committed to a pen name. And I read across multiple genres as well. So I'm fifty/fifty. Love that you're a genre-bending writer, too! :)
As a reader I don't mind my favorite authors writing across multiple genres. But I can see how using a pen name might free up your creativity, but also help in terms of marketing and finding new readers. It makes sense that people do come to associate certain names with certain genres. I like Tara's point about John Banville too. Plus pen names are cool.
I haven't watched Survivor in years, but when I was first married, it was one of the first shows my husband and I watched together. I remember we were watching an episode of Survivor when my water broke-- and then we went to the hospital to have our oldest daughter. And it must have been a recorded episode because I'm pretty sure we watched the season finale while I was still in the hospital. Or maybe I'm confusing that with the birth of our second daughter and the season finale was when I was in the hospital with her. Either way, Survivor is a huge part of my early married life. But at some point we stopped watching. I'm impressed the show is still going. Maybe I should watch the most recent season since you say it's so good?
I love the story about you wading through manure and doing it with aplomb.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on names, Melanie! Love that you read across genres! I do, too. I'm honestly fifty/fifty on a pen name right now so it's great hearing how other readers respond. :)
And yes, if you're at all a survivor fan, I'd say hop back in! The show has definitely changed over time, and the first few episodes always take me a while to get into because I don't know the players well enough to root for anyone. But I've got a few favorites now, so I'm committed. And so cool that you have those memories of watching it and having your kids! :)
I think pen names are great. I suspect they do as much for the author as the reader, tho. I'm thinking of John Banville writing mystery novels under the name Benjamin Black. I mean, he's JOHN BANVILLE, for crying out loud! That name must be heavy with all the bazillion awards he has won, and the expectations of his uber-literary readers. But maybe he likes a good mystery and wants to try his hand at writing one, or two, or three. I would think that donning a pen name would be a bit like wearing a disguise. It frees up your inhibitions. Maybe John Banville is too fancy to write a whodunnit, but Benjamin Black is totally down for that. Even once readers know you are the same person, it still allows you to do something new with a sense of freshness and freedom, to draw a line between to very different projects and let you readers know to expect something different. I'm all for it!
Thanks for responding, Tara! I really enjoy hearing people's opinions on this topic. :) I've never heard of John Banville, but Benjamin Black is a great name! I can see why he'd brand his mystery with that. :) My inhibitions are pretty free ;) but I'm definitely all for making sure readers know the difference between my story projects. :) I'm honestly fifty/fifty right now. So hearing everyone's thoughts is great!
Hmmm. I'm undecided. I've really liked when I've seen authors write several books in one genre, then turn and take a completely different direction/genre. It's a reminder to me that we are free to change (I hope that's not too cheesy :). I don't have any quibble with pen names, other than they always seem to be deliberately revealed at some point, so then I struggle to see the point of them.
I like that idea of 'free to change' as well, Margaret Ann! (And it's not cheesy. Although I'm always here for some cheesyness. 😉) I definitely wouldn't be hiding my real name, just using a pen name as a way of branding the genres differently. But I'm honestly fifty/fifty right now. It feels like a big decision and I really appreciate all of the shared thoughts and opinions here in the comments. :)
As a reader, I don‘t mind if a writer writes different genres under one name - I like to read across multiple genres. As a writer, I‘m a genre-bending rebel anyway, and the idea of having to manage multiple „brands“ of me sounds like a nightmare. One is tricky enough! 🫣
I agree, Diana! Managing multiple brands is the one, very big reason I haven't already committed to a pen name. And I read across multiple genres as well. So I'm fifty/fifty. Love that you're a genre-bending writer, too! :)
As a reader I don't mind my favorite authors writing across multiple genres. But I can see how using a pen name might free up your creativity, but also help in terms of marketing and finding new readers. It makes sense that people do come to associate certain names with certain genres. I like Tara's point about John Banville too. Plus pen names are cool.
I haven't watched Survivor in years, but when I was first married, it was one of the first shows my husband and I watched together. I remember we were watching an episode of Survivor when my water broke-- and then we went to the hospital to have our oldest daughter. And it must have been a recorded episode because I'm pretty sure we watched the season finale while I was still in the hospital. Or maybe I'm confusing that with the birth of our second daughter and the season finale was when I was in the hospital with her. Either way, Survivor is a huge part of my early married life. But at some point we stopped watching. I'm impressed the show is still going. Maybe I should watch the most recent season since you say it's so good?
I love the story about you wading through manure and doing it with aplomb.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on names, Melanie! Love that you read across genres! I do, too. I'm honestly fifty/fifty on a pen name right now so it's great hearing how other readers respond. :)
And yes, if you're at all a survivor fan, I'd say hop back in! The show has definitely changed over time, and the first few episodes always take me a while to get into because I don't know the players well enough to root for anyone. But I've got a few favorites now, so I'm committed. And so cool that you have those memories of watching it and having your kids! :)
I think pen names are great. I suspect they do as much for the author as the reader, tho. I'm thinking of John Banville writing mystery novels under the name Benjamin Black. I mean, he's JOHN BANVILLE, for crying out loud! That name must be heavy with all the bazillion awards he has won, and the expectations of his uber-literary readers. But maybe he likes a good mystery and wants to try his hand at writing one, or two, or three. I would think that donning a pen name would be a bit like wearing a disguise. It frees up your inhibitions. Maybe John Banville is too fancy to write a whodunnit, but Benjamin Black is totally down for that. Even once readers know you are the same person, it still allows you to do something new with a sense of freshness and freedom, to draw a line between to very different projects and let you readers know to expect something different. I'm all for it!
Thanks for responding, Tara! I really enjoy hearing people's opinions on this topic. :) I've never heard of John Banville, but Benjamin Black is a great name! I can see why he'd brand his mystery with that. :) My inhibitions are pretty free ;) but I'm definitely all for making sure readers know the difference between my story projects. :) I'm honestly fifty/fifty right now. So hearing everyone's thoughts is great!