Summary: This week on Hide and Create Jordan Ellinger, Joshua Essoe, Debbie Viguie, and Michael J. Sullivan talk about the genres we are least likely to write, what would get us to write in those genres, and about pen names. The genres will take care of themselves in the episode, so let’s talk a moment about some guidelines for choosing a good pen name. 1. Ask yourself if anyone famous has a similar name, especially any other published authors. 2. Consider names that people can take seriously; a name that won’t immediately be discounted as a joke or a stunt, or relate to another genre. 3. Is the name easy to remember, but still stands out? Will readers be able to read it and spell it with ease? 4. If you’re a traditional author, pay attention to where your name lands on the bookshelves. You don’t want to be buried on the bottom somewhere, so pick a name that lands you at eye-level. 5. Make sure that the name you choose is one you think you will still want to be called a decade from now. How about twenty years from now? 6. Make sure you can purchase the domain, get the twitter handle, and the Facebook profile.
