I'm talking about a pseudonym or--'yuk'--nom de plume; you, (the writer, author, scribe, litterateur, what have you), have the obsessive compulsive need to write crap under a name that is not your own, your given one.
This entry was prompted by a recent bit of advice that asserted that a writer needs a pseudonym if he or she plans to write in more than one genre. Well, I thought about this, and I thought about this, and I decided that I don't like it. Well, I've known, and heard of writers who have up to ten. I can't imagine getting into the head space of all of those disparate facsimiles of self.
I won't use a pseudonym:
- Because I'm proud that I have the ability to write in different genres and speak from different points of view.
- Because I'm not ashamed of anything that I write.
- Because writing to inform, educate, entertain and enlighten are all pretty much equal in importance in my perspective.
- Because I don't want to confuse any precious readers, fellow thinkers, companionate citizens I may have the good fortune to connect with on my writerly journey.
- Because integrity and ethics are important to me, and I feel like the use of a pseudonym implies that I have something to hide, or that I'm not soulfully connected with each project.
- Because at this point in my life, I'm trying to integrate the scattered parts of me, and more artifice such as writing under different names is counterproductive and counter-intuitive.
- Because I want to simplify and take ownership of my whole life, not become some compartmentalized chest of drawers.
- Because I'm good just the way I am, and my name is good just the way it is.
- Because there won't ever be any surprises or guesswork; if I write a memoir, a training manual, a how to book, a novel, or a book of poetry, any and all readers will know that it came from me, and that I gave the same care and consideration for one audience as I gave to another.
- Because writing is all about the sharing of thoughts and concerns from one person to another, and I think that bears the importance of the one being the same real, recognizable and honest person across the spectrum of living from the mundane to the sublime, from the down to earth to the highfalutin.
I promise to put my heart into everything I do as just little old me. I want you to promise me that you will read, and if not me, read something; learn something about something everyday. Even better, write something, let your own voice be heard. I wish everyone hope and love and peace. Namascar.