SciFi and Fantasy eBook Club discussion

I usually write normal, serious sci-fi, but I've been dying to try out writing a sci-fi comedy for quite a while now and I've got one planned out and ready-to-write. My question is should I use a pen-name for the finished book to differentiate between my serious sci-fi novels and the sudden change to humour, or is there no need to do that?

Hi Paul.

Happened on this post of yours by chance, and checked out the sample for 'Voyage of the Elysian'. Looks interesting, so I've downloaded it to my Kindle.

Someone more experienced than me will I'm sure be able to advise you about the marketing aspects, but I will say that when I published my first novel, the publisher insisted I use a pen-name, and although I agreed, I always felt a bit fed up about it because the novel wasn't under my real name: having to assure people that it really was by me took a little of the shine off the experience. You may have no such problem, but it might be worth trying to imagine how you'll feel in future years if this comedy novel - which might become a series? - doesn't have your name on it. I know I would resist using a pen-name now, and I've republished my novel on Kindle under my own name.

How about using your own name but stating prominently that it's a comedy at the start of the blurb, on the cover, etc.. so people are warned?

Whatever you decide, good luck with it. I'm a big fan of sci-fi and fantasy comedy, and I hope your idea works out.

Odd. Chris, your real name is not by any chance Stephen King, or William Shakespeare, or James K. Rowling, or something like that? The prevention of confusion is the main reason for a change in name.

Forgot to add: Paul, you might consult your editor or your agent, who will have good advice. Every shift of name forces you to start out as a 'new' author, which is sometimes good and sometimes bad.

In my case it was because my publisher thought the name 'Naylor' was too mundane. It's a common name in the north of England where both he and I come from. He asked me to change it, and I chose 'Chris Fox'. This turned out to be a bad choice anyway, because there is now, as I'm sure you know, an American SF author using that name. There are other Chris Naylors, but none writing the sort of stuff I write.

Brenda wrote: Forgot to add: Paul, you might consult your editor or your agent, who will have good advice.

Second that, of course. My thoughts were very much those of an amateur author. I'm sure Paul will ignore them if they are unhelpful.

It doesn't sound too mundane to me, but what do I know. It is worth it these days to throw any possible pseudonym into Google, and see what pops out. I have a friend who, having written several saucy chick-lit novels, did a YA adventure. She used a pseudonym for that, so that when the kiddies searched on her name the flirtatious fiction would not pop up.

Brenda wrote: "Forgot to add: Paul, you might consult your editor or your agent, who will have good advice. Every shift of name forces you to start out as a 'new' author, which is sometimes good and sometimes bad."

I wish I had an agent. My editor wasn't sure on the whole thing - basically said it was up to me!

Thanks for the opinions everyone.

If any names being considered are similar to other published authors, at a minimum use a fake or real middle initial/name or some variation on the name to avoid having your works confused with someone else's.

A subtitle on book front and line(s) on the blurb clarifying this is comedy, probably otherwise sufficient. The comedy element could also be conveyed in cover art and design.

A complete switch of genre, maybe a pen-name. Weird range of age groups (like writing BDSM erotica and a series for middle schoolers), as another poster mentioned, I would definitely use a pen name.