On Pseudonyms and Branding

[nightdreamer]

I found this article quite interesting:

http://russellblake.com/how-to-sell-loads-of-books/

On the other hand, it left me with some questions. Particularly, point number 1, where he suggests a different pseudonym for each genre. From the aspect of marketing and branding, that makes perfect sense, but less so from the standpoint of logistics.

1. What is a genre? I've never written mundane science fiction, but suppose I had. Would that be the same genre (sci-fi) as space opera? I would have thought so, but his point 12 gets much more specific than that. In the other direction, can SF and fantasy be considered the same genre (speculative fiction)? I've written a crime drama (but it's still weird) and part of what might be identifiable as a historical romance (but it's weird, too). Both are speculative (the latter borders on fantasy) but I wouldn't call them speculative fiction, given my understanding of the term.

2. Let's say I've written four genres. Currently, I have Facebook and Amazon author's pages, a presence at Kindleboards, Goodreads, Library Thing, and Smashwords, plus a web site. Frankly, multiplying that effort by four to maintain different pseudonyms for each is downright prohibitive. I'd never have time to write. Fortunately, I can't foresee needing different personae for the Chrons and Twitter.

What are your thoughts on this matter?

 

[HareBrain]

Personally, I'd be more interested in an author I knew had written in several genres; it would suggest a wide-ranging mind that would probably benefit their writing. That he thinks readers would be otherwise confused I find very patronising, unless it's actually true, in which case I find it deeply worrying. But I guess this desire for clarity above all else is part of the consumption-based world-view that everything has to be absorbed fully in the 0.25 seconds it takes before new input comes along. Ugh.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

But there are people who do cross genre and have no problems with marketing - Iain Banks/Iain M Banks is a case in point, so too is Lois McMaster Bujold. I have no problems with seeing the same author in various genres - like Harebrain I suspect I'd like them more.

But with my booksellers hat on, it does make it more difficult to market - do you put their sub-genre one into their genre shelves? (It was always difficult with King's Dark Tower series). Or do you put them in both places? In which case it's a nightmare keeping track of stock and it wastes shelf space for another potential author. I think if it's two closely linked genres (and let's be honest, a lot of places mix the SFF section anyway) there's potentially no problem, but if it's two different genres, sold on, for the sake of argument, two seperate floors, (or online in two seperate menu pulldowns) then I think it's more problematic.

EDIT: Just seen TJ's - when I started the new book I had two possibilities in mind - one was a magical realism set in the glens of Antrim, one was Galaxy. I went for the sci fi one (despite wanting to write the other one an awful lot) because I'd have had 4 sci fi books and one fantasy to tout against 5 sci fi books, and I thought it'd be easier to stay in one market. (But I'm still looking forward to the magical realism one. )

 

[The Judge]

Re branding and peudonyms, I had exactly the same advice from an industry professional and it caused me exactly the same worries as to keeping up websites and pretending to be two different people. An agent told me it is possible to write both SF and fantasy under the same name, but it has to be done carefully, with proper management of the brand -- I think by that, it means getting a readership in one genre, then trying pieces in the other, not doing both at the same time at the very outset.

 

[Kissmequick]

Just because it's a pseudonym, doesn't mean it has to be secret -- Danial Abraham is also MLN Hanover and James SA Corey. No separate website, they're all on one -- each pseud has a tab, you pick the "author" you want.


I think the thing is with, say Banks. He writes literary and SF. Kate Griffin writes UF and YA as Catherine Webb. If I like one genre and loathe the other, I want to make sure I pick up the right sort of book, and not the one I'm going to hate. The easiest way is to make sure it has the right name on the front. (Also saves nasty surprises. Imagine if you picke up a Terry Prachett expecting satire and fantasy all mixed up, and got a bodice ripper?) Branding is more about making sure the people who will like your book pick it up.

If you're open about the pseud, there doesn't need to be any extra twittering/blogging/anything really. And I think if you are writing broadly in the same genre (or sister genres, such as SF and fantasy) it can be done if, as Judge says, you're careful.

 

[Bowler1]

It's the four book a year that attracted my attention. I'm not saying that's not possible, if your a full time writer, but for anything less than full time this is a big demand. With work etc. I don't have a lot of writing time, so my word count would not be up to four books a year. Not to mention the fact that I'd worry about quality issues with that volume (to be fair, this guy seems to get 5 stars on Amazon).

All this is before I bring Mrs Bowler into the loop. If I told her I now have to do four books a year, no exception - well, it wouldn't be a boring conversation!

 

[nightdreamer]

Bowler: Oh, no, no, no, no! That's not four per year; that's just four genres. Four per year is impossible. I've found it takes as long to proof, reproof, format, design covers, etc., as it does to write the darned thing. Maybe one per year, with a possible speed sprint up front because I have six written, in various stages of polishing.

Overall, the responses have been quite encouraging. Thanks. I never even considered the possibility of different pseudonyms for science fiction and fantasy, and really don't want to do that now. The cover should give a pretty good idea about the genre (unless it's one of the horror stories like these) and if there is any doubt, there's cover copy.

 

[Mouse]

There's also this guy who uses three different names for three different genres. He doesn't hide it, and they're all on the same website.

I expect I'll probably have to do it, if I get the chance. Doesn't bother me.

 

[Glitch]

The point about using pseudonyms for different genres us interesting. Allowing people who don't necessarily like all the genres you write in to pick up the right books. I guess you could try a clever marketing approach. Write your name in red for fantasy and blue for sci-fi etc...

 

[Bowler1]

Bowler: Oh, no, no, no, no! That's not four per year; that's just four genres. Four per year is impossible. I've found it takes as long to proof, reproof, format, design covers, etc., as it does to write the darned thing. Maybe one per year, with a possible speed sprint up front because I have six written, in various stages of polishing.

I've re-checked, this Russel guy is quite clear on that, point three on the link. I agree with you, that's a tall order, yet he states this is key to maintaining success. I don't have time to do that, and I agree with you, I don't know how he does it.

As for switching genres, as a reader that's never bothered me as it's always been the authors voice that I like. Mr Bank's makes it clear when he switches genre by I or Iain, something similiar and I wouldn't have a problem if I saw your books on a shelf for sale somewhere. I generally find people who like to read books have some intelligence (it's a general rule, not absolute - see 50 shades of crap!), so they can figure these things out easily enough.

 

[Kissmequick]

The point about using pseudonyms for different genres us interesting. Allowing people who don't necessarily like all the genres you write in to pick up the right books.

If you write erotica and kid's books, it's going to be very necessary

I can write three books in a year, and I work (not quite full time, admittedly). But then I don't have to design covers/format etc. Just write. If you're doing all the rest yourself, I suspect it's very time consuming (along with the promo). I couldn't write as many books if I had to do that too. One reason several prominent self pubbers went with trade deals in the end, I think -- so they could have some time to actually write the books!

And I agree with this: the best way to sell your last book is to release your next book. The more books you have out and available, the more name recognition you're going to get, and that's gold.

 

[Gumboot]

I found this article quite interesting:

http://russellblake.com/how-to-sell-loads-of-books/

On the other hand, it left me with some questions. Particularly, point number 1, where he suggests a different pseudonym for each genre. From the aspect of marketing and branding, that makes perfect sense, but less so from the standpoint of logistics.

1. What is a genre? I've never written mundane science fiction, but suppose I had. Would that be the same genre (sci-fi) as space opera? I would have thought so, but his point 12 gets much more specific than that. In the other direction, can SF and fantasy be considered the same genre (speculative fiction)? I've written a crime drama (but it's still weird) and part of what might be identifiable as a historical romance (but it's weird, too). Both are speculative (the latter borders on fantasy) but I wouldn't call them speculative fiction, given my understanding of the term.

2. Let's say I've written four genres. Currently, I have Facebook and Amazon author's pages, a presence at Kindleboards, Goodreads, Library Thing, and Smashwords, plus a web site. Frankly, multiplying that effort by four to maintain different pseudonyms for each is downright prohibitive. I'd never have time to write. Fortunately, I can't foresee needing different personae for the Chrons and Twitter.

What are your thoughts on this matter?

My understanding of genre is very much based on film, which has pretty clear methods for identification. A genre of film can best be seen as a film that adheres to a specific set of tropes; characters, story elements, narrative structure, aesthetic style, themes and so on.

However, in practise pure genre films are actually exceptionally rare, particularly in this day and age; what's more common is genre hybrids that combine elements of two or more genres.

The other complication is that genre is evolutionary. Over time you get subsets of genres that develop their own set of tropes. For example the Saw films represent a recently emerged sub-genre of horror.

I think the same applies in literature.

And like film, I'd personally keep the one name for all my writing. Some filmmakers create works in multiple genres, and some adhere to only one genre.

While I can understand the logic of branding, I think if anything that's problematic of genre fiction and something we should be against, as it pigeon-holes a writer into one type of work. If anything it could lose you readers because people may enjoy some of your work, but not realise you writer under a different name in different genres.

 

[Gumboot]

I've re-checked, this Russel guy is quite clear on that, point three on the link. I agree with you, that's a tall order, yet he states this is key to maintaining success. I don't have time to do that, and I agree with you, I don't know how he does it.

I think that probably depends a lot on the genre. If you're writing 90K contemporary fiction, four a year might be achievable. If you're penning 300K fantasy epics, it's not. Although I think in that regard his argument would be that you're better off releasing your 300K epic in three installments. One of the interesting things about the eBook phenomenon is it really changes our expectations as far as book length.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I get one finished about every six months and I have a job- about 25 hours a week though it is seasonal. But I am not sure how sustainable it is forever. Although my latest one is the quickest yet, so maybe we get more honed? Wouldn't fancy being tied to it, though.

 

[prizzley]

Just because it's a pseudonym, doesn't mean it has to be secret -- Danial Abraham is also MLN Hanover and James SA Corey. No separate website, they're all on one -- each pseud has a tab, you pick the "author" you want.

It's an issue I'll have to confront at some point, because I write non-fantasy too. This solution appeals.

 

[nightdreamer]

If you're writing 90K contemporary fiction, four a year might be achievable. If you're penning 300K fantasy epics, it's not.

Maybe. Last year I started a drama and tried to write as much as I could in "real time," i.e., I wrote each day what took place on that day. I kept that up for a month or so before other necessities threw me off schedule. Then, as Kissmequick pointed out, there are all the marketing tasks, too. I can do a decent cover on my own, but it doesn't come quickly, and then I might make four of them before I decide what I like best. Formatting, trailers that I'm not sure are worth it.

Asimov wrote hundreds of books, didn't he? I don't know how he did it.

 

[Gumboot]

Asimov wrote hundreds of books, didn't he? I don't know how he did it.

Well... he did have a 50+ year writing career, and the vast majority of his work wasn't novels but non-fiction - much of which he only edited.

He only wrote 40 novels, 12 of which were co-written with other people.