Showing posts with label book authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book authors. Show all posts
On Depictions of Abuse in Fiction
Labels:
abuse,
author advice,
book authors,
child abuse,
creative writing,
emotional abuse,
fiction,
opinion,
physical abuse,
sexual abuse
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This disturbed me for a number of reasons, but first and foremost, the astounding number of people (including people who knew abuse survivors) stating that they would never read such a thing, that the subject matter was appalling, and even that it shouldn't be written. This type of attitude, this silence about such a horrific yet important issue, only makes the problem worse.
Child abuse is a subject commonly depicted in my works, because I feel the greatest sorrow in my very soul for human beings who have had to go through such deep pain. I have been fortunate to never have it happen to me, but I know several people who have. It is an issue that is dear to my heart and I truly want to gain support and understanding for victims by depicting abuse and its life-destroying consequences in my fiction.
So when people act as if this kind of subject matter shouldn't even be brought up, I get a little upset. Fiction is meant to challenge us, and no, it's not always rosy or easy to read. But without it, we're never going to grow as a society and rally together against all of the horrible things that happen behind closed doors. People in abusive relationships sometimes don't even recognize the abuse for what it is, and instead of remaining silent about it, we need to scream loud and clear, though our fiction and otherwise, that these things are not okay. And sometimes, yes, this involves details you probably don't want to know. If making our readers feel and see the pain of these fictional characters helps even one real life person, and we have to share descriptions not everyone wants to read, so be it. After all, for real victims, there are no scene changes or time jumps.
Now obviously, I am not referring to any abuse written in an obviously salacious way (that's beyond disgusting), or if the abuse is simply used for shock value. While it is never a good idea to make an abusive experience practically the sole trait of a character (because, hello, it's not), keep in mind that this might be the result of an inexperienced or mediocre writer with good intentions even if the execution fell short. Also, while I'm not the biggest fan of trigger warnings, if your book contains scenes of detailed abuse or its aftermath, you owe it to your readers to slap a warning label on it.
What do you all think? Speak in the comments!
To Pen Name or Not To Pen Name?
Despite the fact that I use a pen name, I actually advocate using your real one if at all possible for a number of reasons and to avoid several complications.
In my opinion, authors should really only use a pen name for one of the following reasons:
- You have an extremely common name (i.e. John Smith).
- You have written a book or write in a genre that you don't want connected to you for personal or professional reasons. (Example: if you primarily write children's fiction but want to try your hand at erotica)
- You share your real name with a reasonably famous author (this one's my issue and why I use a pen name).
- Previous books you have published have had a negative reception and you're trying to restart.
- If you really, really just hate your name, are transgender, or are better known by a nickname.
Bonus Tips:
- While it used to be true that books written by certain genders in certain genres didn't sell, I think this trend is largely going away and so it is not necessary to use an opposite-gendered name, unisex name, or initials. However, if this is still an issue for your gender/genre, you might choose to use a pen name.
- If your name is difficult to spell or pronounce, you might want to use a pen name, even though I personally think it's better to use that uniqueness to help build your brand and stand out from the crowd.
- It's an extraordinarily bad idea to use a pen name to hide from people (Examples: while writing non-fiction that lambastes real people or to avoid breaches of publishing contracts). You will likely be found out and could be sued for libel or breach of contract.
If you're self-publishing, it's really nothing to use as many pen names as you want. It will, however, make it harder to build an audience with readers because there will not be as much name recognition. Book marketing is largely personal these days, so consider how you will accomplish that if you don't want people to know who you are.
If you are publishing traditionally, using a pen name is a little more involved. You do not want to only use your pen name when communicating with your agent or publisher. Make it clear up front that you want to publish your piece under your pen name, but again, use your real name for all formal communication. Advances and royalties can get complicated if you use a pen name as well.
For registering copyright, you can use your pen name or your real name. It is generally recommended to register so both names are on record, but if you can only pick one, use your real name for maximum protection.
As for how far you should go with an assumed identity, I think that is up to the individual author to determine. For example, if you are writing under a pen name of the opposite gender, it might be pertinent to come up with a vaguely factual fake biography for your back cover. Jury's still out on how appropriate it is to use opposite gendered pronouns. Don't claim credentials you haven't earned or outright lie. Major lies, if discovered, are likely to make readers lose faith in you.
So that's what I have to say about pen names. Agree? Disagree? Anything I missed? Any interesting pen name stories? Be sure to say so in the comments!
Why I Raised the Prices On My Ebooks
Here's the problem: it didn't work for me, and I'm starting to think it's not an approach that will work well for other authors either, in the long run.
A quick story, and raise your hand if you've had a similar experience: When I got my new NOOK, I started looking at the free ebooks on Smashwords to buff up my library. I also purchased a few books by traditionally published authors as well. Can you guess which ones I actually got around to reading?
I think readers are running into this problem more and more these days, because there is such a glut of low-cost ebooks available that by pricing our books low or free, we are having to fight harder and harder to gain an audience and, more importantly, keep their attention. I think we, as authors, would do better to price our books more as if they were released by a traditional publisher (that being said, I wouldn't ever exceed $10 for an ebook). This is especially important for self-published authors who do view themselves as professionals and desire their peers and their audience to do so as well.
The major advantage of this pricing method (besides more money per sale, obviously) is the fact that it doesn't scream self-published author. I love self-publishing and I think it is one of the best things to happen to the publishing industry, but the negative stigma is still very visible and very much there. A higher price tag sends your readers a message: that you are a professional, that you expect them to spend this kind of money on your product because it is worth it. It also makes your book look as though it was professionally published, which might help it catch the attention of readers who avoid self-published books for the aforementioned reasons. And, readers are more likely to invest the time to read your book after they have spent money on it.
The jury is still out on whether or not this new pricing model will work for my books, but I personally feel a lot better about it. I feel more professional, and I think my books seem that way too. What better message can you send to your readers to help them gain trust in how serious you are about your craft?
Agree? Disagree? Where has your "sweet spot" price been for ebooks, as both a reader and a writer? I look forward to hearing from you!
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