Support for Indie Authors discussion

As a beginner with Amazon Kindle I made a formatting mistake with my first novel, and now, years later, I'm considering publishing under a pen name.

Should I do this?

Are you considering a pen name because of a prior formatting error or for other reasons?

Yes, that is why.

Depends. How big was the blunder? Did you get a bunch of negative reviews and become a complete pariah?

If it was anything lesa than that, you might just be overly sensitive. But..
Many authors are choosing a pen name for security purposes these days, so that's something to consider.

Kevin:

My advise for you is to own your mistakes, fix what is wrong, repost as a second edition, and ask for new reviews.

After you fix the errors, maybe you should run the manuscript(s) by a few beta readers. Their feedback could be very useful. Also, you should find a good editor to take a look at your work.

And, make sure the new reviews say that they are for the revised, second edition, to distinguish them from any previous negative reviews.

Remember, almost everything can be fixed.

Kevin: I agree with Helen. A formatting error is not usually a cardinal sin, and not something to run from. If it's simply a formatting issue, did you fix it? Those sorts of things can be fixed and the new document uploaded (as a second edition, if warranted) with a note that this is a corrected edition (especially if that was mentioned in reviews -- and to prompt people who bought the previous version to get the new one).

If there were other significant issues, and/or you just don't want to associated with that work anymore, that another question.

But, overall all, making mistakes on your first book is not that damning: "Everybody falls the time."

(Well, probably not Christina, but she's not like the rest of us.)

What Christina are you talking about, Owen? Have you seen how ugly my early books are?

I think I'm confused as to what you are changing, Kevin. If you are talking about repackaging a previous work under a different name, don't do that! But if you are talking about future works that you don't want associated, I see no harm in it.

Thank you all for valued comments and opinions and guidance. Years back I published my first novel and ...10,000 free copies went out with vertical print. I felt horrible.

I pulled it, took it out of publication, waited, renamed it after some months, and republished.

Christina: Thanks. I have a new novel that I don't want associated.

Helen: I am still learning. I will find out what a beta reader is and think it over. I posted a couple of chaps on my blog, but yes, reviews would be great. Thanks.

Kevin: There's nothing wrong with pen names: for example, some authors have a different name for every genre they write in. It often helps to keep things separate, and if you want to do that, it's fine. (What I don't understand is why some authors publish under a pen name and then list their real name and "writing as" in the front matter, or put their real name in their bio.)

Christina: we are not fooled. ;-)

I so needed to read this! I just realized my book I put out a month ago somehow had a typo (double-negative) slip past multiple sets of eyes, and I only found it yesterday. Of course, it's going to be hard to change it immediately, as we have a newborn in the house. I feel terrible that so many friends and family bought it. It's not something that will make or break the book, but it's killing me since most of the copies I've sold are hard copies.

Brittany wrote: "I so needed to read this! I just realized my book I put out a month ago somehow had a typo (double-negative) slip past multiple sets of eyes, and I only found it yesterday..."

Typos breed. I've been writing professionally (not fiction) and publishing reports for 30 years. We had the full weight the large editorial staff of a Fortune 500 company behind us. So what happens? Publish a report going huge number of a customers, get my copy back, open it, pg.1 -- typo!

At least these days we can fix it. Back then, all you could do was pound your head on your desk.

And if anyone looks down on you for a incorrect double-negative, question the person, not the book.