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I was asked if I would ever publish under another name, under a pseudonym. I thought about it, and no fucking way. I could not slave over a book and then not bask in the accolades, awards and money that it would obviously yield. That would be like sleeping with a gorgeous girl in the dark, making her see through the stars, and then sneaking out before the shadows parted to show my face. Well, it might be like that…

In honesty, I would not want to be an author without my own name. I would want to be associated with my writing, I would want my writing to be associated with me. My favourite writers are the ones with a personality that I am invested in as well. Stephen King is an insanely great and entertaining writer when he speaks to his constant reader. His forwards, afterwards, arguments and author’s notes are so pleasurably readable. Clive Barker is a guy who stands next to his work, whether you agree with his lifestyle or not, ha. Matt Fraction is an author with a voice, especially at the end of his Casanova issues. I just dig an author with something to say, and who will talk about process.

I would want to be an author with my voice in people’s heads when they thought of me. I would want to be an author who could connect to the audience. I would want me to be a part of the experience, because I like it so much when other authors are a part of my experience.

I can see the reasons behind publishing pseudonymously though. Stephen King, again, used the name Richard Bachman to publish five short novels in the late 70’s, early 80’s, he even got pseudonymously married. He did this because, as he explains in his forward to the collection The Bachman Books, he wanted to see what it felt like to write for the masses without it being a ‘Stephen King’ book. He cites the example of The Beatles playing in pubs wearing masks just because they wanted to get back to the music. I can see wanting to do that. See how your babies hold up out there without the crutch of your fame. On a side note, I own an original Bachman paperback release of his best story, The Long Walk. Man, I love having it on my shelf! Sorry, nerd brag over.

Anne Rice wrote a bunch of novels under a different name, mayhap it was Anne Rampling…She used the different name because the books were trashy romance, and that was very different to the supernatural scares she was penning under her own name. I see that over the years her vampires and mummies have become so lovey that she pretty much has consolidated her two sides.

Many authors have used pseudonyms throughout the years; Mark Twain, George Orwell, the anonymous of Primary Colors. Lots of people get in the game.

I would want to be me first. If I suck so bad as a person then I’ll consider a personality transplant to a new name, or if I get so famous I can’t see my head through the clouds then I might need to get grass roots on a new name, but otherwise I think I will stick with Ryan K. Lindsay.

I wonder what name I would choose for my pseudonymous rampage…

Posted on July 24th, 2008 by ryan
Filed under: Writing, books