The thing about being that famous of a writer is that you don't have to be a big part of the lime light.  You don't have to put your picture on the book cover.  You don't have to use your real name.  You don't have to do any speaking engagements.  Your fans will still read you and love you as long as you put out good books.

The real problem is when you are starting out.  When you are starting, before you are famous, you will have to do book signings, appearances, any and everything thing to get your name/pen name out there.  That is the only way to get into the industry these days.  Even if you wrote a great book that a publishing company loved, they won't be very willing to back you if you aren't willing to put yourself out there.

If you're famous enough, the secret of a pen name will eventually come out.  No secret is safe forever.  I say if you are good/lucky enough to gain that much popularity, you have to be ready and willing to embrace it.  Money and fame come with a price but as a writer, you would face a lot less of the hassles that actors and musicians do.

Being a famous writer is not like being a famous movie or TV star since your face isn't plastered everywhere. Even if it is on the book, most people probably wouldn't recognize you on the street (and you don't even have to put your picture on the book.) I barely glance at an author's picture on a book (I might make an exception say for a Halle Berry memoir, lol) and if you posted pictures of the top ten best selling authors, I doubt I would recognize any of them, certainly not most. So, you can have your cake and eat it too so to speak. Enjoy the dream and the reality should it come to pass. Take care. Vern

PS: Top 10 best-selling authors of the decade: AS LISTED BY "TWILIGHTERSANONYMOUS.COM"
How many would you recognize on the street? Me, none.

1. JK Rowling
2. Stephenie Meyer
3. Julia Donaldson
4. Terry Pratchett
5. Jamie Oliver
6. Dan Brown
7. Enid Blyton
8. Bernard Cornwell
9. Alexander McCall Smith
10. William Shakespeare

Last edited by vern (09-13-2010 16:53:44)

I would recognize Shakespeare for sure Vern.  The ruffled collar thing is a dead giveaway.

The only authors I would know by their face are Stephen King, Joe Hill, James Patterson, JK Rowling and Ray Bradbury.  The only reason I would know Bradbury is because I have had the pleasure of meeting him in person, although that was a lot of years ago so I couldn't say for sure that I would anymore.

Oh and thanks to my Kindle, I would probably recognize a great deal of classic authors since that is their screen saver.

quote Bloody_Hell "I would recognize Shakespeare for sure Vern.  The ruffled collar thing is a dead giveaway."

HAHA!!!
Just need to catch breath...
Wait...
OK now:


i'm having the same thoughts on not trying to get famous. My options are:
1.) Write shit and not publish it
2.) Write good, publish with my own name and the regret it later
3.) Write good, publish under pen name with copyright also under pen name and everysthing very secretive.

The problem I have is a little more specific, though. As a scientist I do have a name and I don't want that to be mixed up with any novel author (celebrity that I'm sure going to be, harhar). But still, there may be a slim chance that the small science world reads that novel (one day) and then what? Suddently everyone knows me as that woman who wrote that weirdo book and no one ever cares about my science thingies anymore? Wouldn't be too cool I think.

So, yeah... I don't know. I'd rather don't take that piece of the cake and eat it. I'd rather stay anonymous...

Cheers
AEK (mysterious, of course)

Just one thing: excellent scientist publishes awfull novel and trashes Conan Doyle (I can already see those headline)
;-)
AEK

Hi Bonnie,
YES! Precisely!
But don't mix up the ACD Sherlock with the BBC Sherlock (high-function sociopath - what the heck is that anyways?)
The ACD Sherlock is very different, he can feel and show feelings so some degree (according to Watson, who is too blind anyways).
That stereotypic shit about highly intelligent people can't feel got me so totally pissed that I though I let Sherlock:
(A) feel something at least (when he gets kicked in the butt by Anna, or outsmarted)
(B) solve a real crime for once

So!
Anyways... Still not too sure about that pen name stuff. But as the novel isn't done yet, I have time to ponder and wonder...

There is also the ebook/kindle/nook route thing, where you can become the new amazon.com great gaga, shoot up the ranks and sell a trillion rapid downloads, while keeping all marketing control in your hot little fingers and avoid signing anything but the check deposits. I keep reading that it can be done, and I seriously doubt too many cameras are lurking outside the door of those folks:)

Just a thought. I am planning to try that route, if I can't market my longer finished works in a decent time frame (say a year or so).