Charity Marie Blogs!

BCOF 2301: Better or Worse

Do you believe things are better or worse for writers today versus ten years ago? Does it matter if you use a pseudonym versus your real name to be authentic to your craft?

I like to think things are a little better for writers today. Certainly, we have more access and opportunities than ever before. The publishing revolution was long overdue and it's happening. There's still a long way to go because there's not a great way to spotlight good writing and bring it national attention. There's efforts here and there, the best selling lists are a joke, there's some awards programs and contests, but mostly, there's not a lot out there for really identifying great work. Perhaps it's because writing is so subjective - what one person loves another person can't stand (Fifty Shades of Gray anyone? Twilight series?)

As to the pseudonym idea, people want to feel a connection with authors now. So unless your pseudonym sounds like a real person, it's likely to not be a success. I tried Michelle D. Keyes for almost a decade and struggled to be published. I switched to variations of my real name and poof! I had over 100 credits to my name in two years.

So try to stick to your real name. It gives you authenticity and you'll find yourself acting more like yourself. I should know, I learned the hard way. If your last name is a hard one to remember or spell, try using a middle name or a very simple last name. For example, Kountz is hard to spell and remember, especially for kids so I use Charity Marie in my children's publishing and Charity Kountz for my non-fiction. It keeps the brands just slightly separated so parents don't get confused over the content for their kids. It also helps with SEO purposes (which is a post all in itself).


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