Exploring the experience of writing under a pseudonym for over four years, the podcast delves into audience growth, personal connections with readers, and the freedom of creative expression. The host shares insights on choosing a pseudonym, the internal struggle of sharing work with loved ones, and the identity dilemma between anonymity and authenticity. Additionally, the podcast discusses a structured writing process with a book coach and the importance of maintaining a routine for creative productivity.
Consider committing to a pseudonym for a year to establish identity and consistency in writing.
Choosing between writing under a pseudonym for freedom or using real name for audience growth is a crucial decision for writers.
Deep dives
Writing under Pseudonym for Over Four Years
The podcast episode discusses the speaker's experience of writing under a pseudonym for over four years. Initially a one-year experiment, the pseudonym, Charlie Bleaker, became a long-term identity. The speaker highlights the curiosity around writing under a pseudonym, emphasizing the personal nature of their writing. They explain the dichotomy between freedom in writing anonymously and the limitations of sharing personal work under one's real name.
Balancing Audience Growth and Anonymity
The speaker delves into the trade-off between audience growth and writing under a pseudonym. They stress the importance of choosing between the benefits of anonymity and freedom in writing versus visibility and audience expansion under one's real name. By sharing personal experiences, the speaker illustrates the challenges writers face in maintaining a pseudonymous identity while striving for audience growth and support.
Transition to Revealing Pseudonym for Book Publication
The podcast episode details the speaker's transition towards revealing their pseudonymous identity for an upcoming book publication, titled 'Becoming Charlie.' They express the apprehension and significance of coming out of pseudonymity to their family and friends. The speaker reflects on the potential impact of disclosing their pseudonymous writing lifestyle while preparing to share personal stories from the book with close contacts before its publication.
I have been writing as Charlie Bleecker for over four years. If you want to give it a real go, commit to it for a year.
Do my friends read my writing? No. Does my family read my writing? No. That is the whole point.
If you care at all about growing your audience in a time span of less than 10 years, don’t do it.
What about support? It’s nice to have your family and friends support you… That’s true. But give it time. You only need one or two people to support you in the beginning. I have SO much support now, and none of it comes from my friends or family, except for my husband. He is the one person in my life who knew about Charlie from the beginning.
How to choose your name: Pick a name you like! One that’s easy to say and easy to spell and isn’t super common if you search it in Google.
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