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The Pros and Cons of Writing Under a Pseudonym
Navigating a Second (or third) Identity in the Literary World
People are often surprised to learn that Julia Amante is my pseudonym, and that I used to have a different pseudonym.
The first time I decided to write under a pseudonym, I didn’t expect that it would be as complicated as it was. I also had never planned to use a pseudonym, but my editor at the time suggested it because my real last name was so long and complicated. There’s only so much room on a book cover after all. So, I became Lara Rios. I loved that name, and I would have been happy to keep it forever. But when I made the change from romance writing to women’s fiction, my agent strongly suggested I might want a different name, one that wasn’t tied to the romance genre and my previous sales figures.
Though it sounds simple and thrilling to change your name and become someone new, it’s more challenging than one might expect. Choosing to write under a pseudonym isn’t just about picking a clever name; it’s like crafting an alternate version of yourself.
