Linking pen names and all that goes with it

s.j.l

Registered
Joined
Aug 10, 2014
Messages
21
Reaction score
1
After reading Generalbrock's thread on pen names (which was really helpful!) I decided on separating my erotica into two pen names - one for the really smutty shorts, and one for the no less smutty but more plotty longer ones, though for the time they won't be longer than a novella.

My question is this and I hope someone can help: for those who have more than one pseudonym in the genre and have done so, when did you start linking the two names?

I should be getting out the first of my shorts soon after I finish up with the editing and getting the cover done, but I'm still a while away from getting anything out under the plotty pen name. However, I prefer to use that name for my blog and all the other necessary evils needed in the name of "getting my brand out there". The other name (my porn name, I'll call it) suits my shorts and I want to keep them under that pseudonym.

So comes my next question, I've started up a blog under the non-porn name, should I just have the two names across the banner and blog under the (non-porn) name or should I just wait until I've published something under that name and then link them together. And have nothing for the other name as I'm not going to get myself all confused trying to maintain two blogs.

Does this even matter?

All thoughts would be awesome at this point XD
 

Maryn

Sees All
Staff member
Super Moderator
Moderator
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
55,437
Reaction score
25,455
Location
Snow Cave
I'm not sure I'd separate for that reason, since those works may well appeal to the same readership.

I use one pen name for fetish material, and do not link it to any other pen names. I've adopted two over time, and mostly use Maryn Blackburn these days, since I "ruined" my first one. (Like an idiot, answering writing questions at Yahoo Answers, which were then copied by hundreds or even thousands of websites, so hits on that pen name didn't turn up anything I'd written for publication, just my answers to teenagers who wanted to write.)

thethinker42 will no doubt chime in; she manages her pen names in erotica based on intended readership, as do several others, separating erotica from YA or other genres.

Maryn, chatty but not especially helpful
 

thethinker42

Abnormal Romance Author
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 30, 2006
Messages
20,733
Reaction score
2,669
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Website
www.gallagherwitt.com
I've been 100% open from the beginning about my two names, and I'll continue to be open about it now that I'm adding two more names. I have a name for gay male romance, hetero/lesbian/bisexual romance, mainstream scifi/fantasy, and sweet romances. There's no way I can maintain more than one website, the two blogs I already have (pro and personal), and one Twitter account. The other names will get their own Facebook pages, though, since those are easy to maintain.

It really depends on your reason for the separate names. If it's a case of not wanting readers of one to know about the other (say, if you wrote children's books as one name and erotica under the other), then you'd want to keep them completely separate. If it's just a branding thing, which is what it sounds like you're doing, then I'd be open from the get-go, since you may very well get some cross-readership.

Incidentally, I recently did an informal poll on Facebook about whether I should use a new pen name for my sweet Christian romance, since my existing names are known for smutty romances. The overwhelming response from my readers was to use a new name, but to be open about the fact that it's me. Quite a few suggested "L.A. Witt writing as [new name]." So, readers are absolutely on board with pseudonyms as brands, and I've never gotten any negative feedback from them about openly having multiple names.
 

SierraLee

Boldly Nervous
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 14, 2014
Messages
267
Reaction score
6
I've been 100% open from the beginning about my two names, and I'll continue to be open about it now that I'm adding two more names. I have a name for gay male romance, hetero/lesbian/bisexual romance, mainstream scifi/fantasy, and sweet romances. There's no way I can maintain more than one website, the two blogs I already have (pro and personal), and one Twitter account. The other names will get their own Facebook pages, though, since those are easy to maintain.

It really depends on your reason for the separate names. If it's a case of not wanting readers of one to know about the other (say, if you wrote children's books as one name and erotica under the other), then you'd want to keep them completely separate. If it's just a branding thing, which is what it sounds like you're doing, then I'd be open from the get-go, since you may very well get some cross-readership.

Incidentally, I recently did an informal poll on Facebook about whether I should use a new pen name for my sweet Christian romance, since my existing names are known for smutty romances. The overwhelming response from my readers was to use a new name, but to be open about the fact that it's me. Quite a few suggested "L.A. Witt writing as [new name]." So, readers are absolutely on board with pseudonyms as brands, and I've never gotten any negative feedback from them about openly having multiple names.
Thanks for sharing this! I don't know if I'll ever write things in such different categories, but I've always wondered about this.
 

s.j.l

Registered
Joined
Aug 10, 2014
Messages
21
Reaction score
1
Wow, thanks everyone for the detailed responses *huge grin*

Ive decided (so far) that I'll just maintain that one blog for now and just wait and see how things go. I don't think I can, nor want, to try and do more at this time while I'm still starting out, and while my mind can be a crazy hive, I don't think I'll have that much to write if I separate it into two places. I may just start up a blog under the porn name later and just post snippets of my work there and leave it at that.

I like the idea of people knowing that I'm writing under both names too, so I will be linking them eventually if not right away, because I'm the type of reader who enjoys the voices as much as the story so sometimes I'll read something that may not seem up my alley just because I love the way the author writes.
 

malamute

Registered
Joined
Aug 3, 2014
Messages
45
Reaction score
3
I've got two pen names writing erotic romance the one Ellen March is contemporary, the other HD March is paranormal/fantasy, the reason I've two names is so the readers will know what they're getting. Each one a brand. Both names are linked on my web site interacting with each other for the moment. I'm seeing how it goes I was published in June this year for HD March so early days yet.

Hope that helps, but as Ellen March I published just over a year ago so I'm pretty new to all this. I'm sure someone else will come along with better advice. :)
 

Kimber

Kimber Vale
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
195
Reaction score
6
Location
USA
Website
www.kimbervale.com
I've got two pen names (as well as my real name under which I've written some horror shorts, but that's completely separate). My Kimber Vale stuff is het. Oh, and there was an FFM short--so I guess anything with a vag goes under the Kimber umbrella. It's both erotic romance and erotica. My K. Vale is MM romance (and erotica). I have one site and have tried to merge the two names on sale sites and social networks as much as possible because it's all one brand. I only have the slight variation in names so that readers who don't cross the sexual streams know what they're getting in case the cover art doesn't spell it out. When I first started writing smut, I wrote straight up erotica shorts for various anthologies and even a bit of Bizarro all under Kimber Vale. I didn't see the need to change it when I began writing longer more romantic stuff. I think it's pretty clear from blurbs and covers what each book is about and I wanted a backlist just to get my name out there. I also think many people will read both. My recommendation to you would be to use one name to make your branding easier, otherwise you'll be doing double duty (and probably neglecting one or the other--cough, cough, my horror name). I don't get the feeling your work will be so drastically different so as to warrant the two names and extra effort to maintain them. Just my two cents. Take it or leave it. :)
 
Last edited:

Hunter S Johnson

It's writing. How hard can this be?
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
66
Reaction score
4
I should be getting out the first of my shorts soon after I finish up with the editing and getting the cover done, but I'm still a while away from getting anything out under the plotty pen name. However, I prefer to use that name for my blog and all the other necessary evils needed in the name of "getting my brand out there". The other name (my porn name, I'll call it) suits my shorts and I want to keep them under that pseudonym.

I come from a marketing/advertising background, and I am a big believer in branding. I am writing an erotic novel under a pen name, as training to write a memoir and future novels under my own name. I have a story line for my erotica that could support a trilogy or even a dozen books, so i may pusue that as well. Personally, I want to keep those entities completely separate, just so a potential reader knows what to expect. When you see Jacqueline Susann or Tom Clancy or Stephen King on the cover, you know what you are getting. I seriously doubt I would read a YA romance by Tom Clancy, amiright?

Disclaimer: Total noob, YMMV...
 

s.j.l

Registered
Joined
Aug 10, 2014
Messages
21
Reaction score
1
I come from a marketing/advertising background, and I am a big believer in branding. I am writing an erotic novel under a pen name, as training to write a memoir and future novels under my own name. I have a story line for my erotica that could support a trilogy or even a dozen books, so i may pusue that as well. Personally, I want to keep those entities completely separate, just so a potential reader knows what to expect. When you see Jacqueline Susann or Tom Clancy or Stephen King on the cover, you know what you are getting. I seriously doubt I would read a YA romance by Tom Clancy, amiright?

Disclaimer: Total noob, YMMV...

I'm currently thinking this way as well. I'm writing more romantic erotica under one name and the other has hardcore stuff with no romance so I don't want readers to buy the hardcore stuff expecting something with a romantic storyline. I understand that the synopsis should be clear enough to tell them what they're getting but if I ever get authors who auto buy I don't want them getting something that's really not up their alley.