MOTIVATION
Writing under a pseudonym
NAme gAmes
When novelist sheila Norton started a new series aimed at a younger readership,
her publisher asked her to adopt a more youthful name and so she became
olivia ryan. Here she asks fellow writers about the perils of picking a pen name
W
hen my first novel was accepted for Creating a different persona: Writers Rosemary Laurey, who writes romance under
publication in 2002, I was often asked often wish to present readers with a differ- her own name, took on the name of Madeleine
whether I’d be using a pseudonym. It struck ent persona from their real self. For instance, Oh to write erotica, and a further pseudonym
me as an odd idea. I’d spent years writing short if you’re writing for a distinctly youthful mar- of Georgia Evans to market a fantasy trilogy.
stories and struggling to complete, and sell, ket, your name may give you away as someone Another triple-named author is Louise
a novel. I was so proud that I’d finally have a rather older than your readership. Of course, Allen, who now writes Regency romance for
book in the shops – why should I hide behind we writers know that maturity is no handicap Harlequin M&B. Previously she was part of a
a pen name? But five years later, with five to writing a good book for any age group (quite writing partnership, writing historical fiction as
novels published under my own name of Sheila the reverse, in my opinion!) but some readers Francesca Shaw. This itself was used to estab-
Norton, I found myself adopting the nom de think differently and – importantly for us – so lish a separate identity from Guilia Grey, under
plume of Olivia Ryan. And I’m still somewhat do some editors. which they’d written romance.
bemused about it myself! ‘I wanted to write something completely Louise also pointed out another reason for
different for a line aimed at young women, and using pseudonyms: some writers simply prefer
Why use a pseudonym at all? I didn’t want the publisher to connect Kate to keep separate identities for their writing and
My own publisher suggested using a pseudo- Lace with Catherine Jones – middle-aged and their private lives – which is why Louise Allen
nym to market my new ‘Tales From’ series, as it a bit frumpy!’ says Catherine. (I’m sure the isn’t her real name, either!
was sufficiently different to merit a ‘break away’
from my existing name; they wanted to create Choosing a name
fresh interest – and to reach out to new young
female readers with a ‘younger’ name.
Pick a name that
Picking a name from the phone book with a pin
isn’t a great idea for something so important
But until I started asking around fellow mem-
bers of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, I
will be shelved
– and nor is the tongue-in-cheek suggestion
I’ve heard, of using the name of your first pet,
had no idea how many writers use a pseudo-
near a bestselling
together with the town of your birth. This
nym – or for how many different reasons! would give me the very unappealing ‘Honey
author in the
Romford’!
A switch in genre: Very often, authors who
start to write something different from their
same genre!
Using family names and middle names can
be good, if they’re suitable. Elizabeth Chadwick
previous work want to distinguish the two is the combination of Susan Hicks’ middle and
forms by using different names. maiden names, and Lace was Catherine Jones’
Kate Hardy writes Medical and Modern ‘frumpy’ bit isn’t true, Catherine!) rather fortunate maiden name. Madeleine
Heat romances for Harlequin Mills & Boon, In some cases, the different persona is even is Rosemary Laurey’s middle name, and she
but before adopting that name she was writ- further removed from your own – as with chose Oh ‘because it was easy to spell and
ing non-fiction articles under her own name, Hugh C Rae, who writes under the name of remember’!
Pamela Brooks – and still does. And Catherine Jessica Stirling. The name originally covered a Pam Brooks was asked by M&B to choose
Jones, who writes romantic fiction under her partnership, which switched from crime fiction ‘something classic and English’.
own name, chose a new name – Kate Lace – to women’s fiction. ‘I sat down with a bottle of wine and my two
for her funny contemporary stories published ‘There was never any question of not using best friends from university. We chose Kate as
by Little Black Dress. a female pseudonym appropriate to the target it was the most popular name in our school
market,’ says Hugh. ‘When my (female) writing year, and Hardy because Thomas Hardy was my
Avoiding a clash with another writer: partner retired, I inherited the pseudonym and third-year specialist subject.’
It’s sensible to use a pen name if your name’s have published about 30 titles solo under the Hugh chose the surname Stirling from the
the same as another writer’s – although it Stirling name.’ town where he and his writing partner were
doesn’t always work. It’s ironic that in times past, female writers drinking coffee at the time.
Historical author Elizabeth Chadwick often felt compelled to write under a male Louise Allen says her editor asked her to
explains: ‘There was already a cookery writer pseudonym in order to be published. Now, the choose a first name that was ‘short, approach-
out there with my name – Susan Hicks – and reverse can happen, and has obviously worked able and not anachronistic.’
she was even with the same agent. However, it well for Hugh. ‘I could work out short,’ she says. ‘And I
was out of the frying pan into the fire because realised Chardonnay or Tracey were not good
I then discovered there was another writer of Multiple pen names names for an historical writer, but what the
historical romance in the US called Elizabeth I’ve been surprised to discover how many heck was “approachable”?’
Chadwick – and hers was a pseudonym too! It writers use more than one pseudonym. Hugh Advice can be conflicting. My editor told
still causes confusion on Amazon.’ had three previous male pseudonyms and me to steer clear of surnames close to the
44 Writers
null
forum #99
WF99JAN44.indd 1 24/11/2009 10:14:14
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68