MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Authors who use just initials in their name.

GlenBarrington · 04-29-2013, 09:59 AM

It always seems to be women writers trying to hide their gender. At least that's how it FEELS to me, and I feel a bit insulted by it. (OK, CS Lewis is an exception)

Oh I understand the economics of the situation, women writers run the risk of getting pigeon-holed if they use their REAL names, but there is also the risk of putting people like me off. Maybe I'm in the minority so it's worth it from a business perspective, but I still find it "off-putting".

Margaret Atwood, Octavia Butler, Jean Auel, Lois McMaster Bujold, Mercedes Lackey, all women who managed to keep their gender identity in what is still a very male oriented genre and still sell and still be important. I'm not sure what I'm trying to say, except that I respect that they have done. (So nobody tell me they were/are all guys, I'm not sure I could handle that)

04-29-2013, 09:59 AM	#1
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	Authors who use just initials in their name. It always seems to be women writers trying to hide their gender. At least that's how it FEELS to me, and I feel a bit insulted by it. (OK, CS Lewis is an exception) Oh I understand the economics of the situation, women writers run the risk of getting pigeon-holed if they use their REAL names, but there is also the risk of putting people like me off. Maybe I'm in the minority so it's worth it from a business perspective, but I still find it "off-putting". Margaret Atwood, Octavia Butler, Jean Auel, Lois McMaster Bujold, Mercedes Lackey, all women who managed to keep their gender identity in what is still a very male oriented genre and still sell and still be important. I'm not sure what I'm trying to say, except that I respect that they have done. (So nobody tell me they were/are all guys, I'm not sure I could handle that)