I found it interesting, but I still find it difficult to draw any conclusion. Is it conforming and reinforcing stereotypes to take a male or gender neutral name? Or is it proving the stereotypes wrong? And ultimately, is it aiding or hurting your present career, and/or your future notoriety? And should it depend on the type of science fiction you're writing?
It's personal choice. I don't want readers making any judgment about my work from my name alone. To be "gender neutral" in science fiction, I use a man's name. If I were writing romance, I would want it to be a woman's name. Most men writing romance use pseudonyms. And there are some good ones. I don't expect it will have any effect on my career at all, not today. And it's not like it's a secret. ANYONE who googles me will get to my blog and figure out I'm not a man.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-08 11:54 pm (UTC)It's personal choice. I don't want readers making any judgment about my work from my name alone. To be "gender neutral" in science fiction, I use a man's name. If I were writing romance, I would want it to be a woman's name. Most men writing romance use pseudonyms. And there are some good ones. I don't expect it will have any effect on my career at all, not today. And it's not like it's a secret. ANYONE who googles me will get to my blog and figure out I'm not a man.
Oz