OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! β Joanna Penn
I have been debating the gender issues in the perception of books for a while now, and I have finally made a decision.
Joanna Penn is now J.F.Penn for thrillers/action-adventure/ anything I write that is in a genre that is dominated by men.
I will use Joanna Penn for my non-fiction and other works I have in the pipeline. Why am I doing this?
Feedback and reviews that I write like a man
Pentecost and Prophecy have some pretty violent scenes. I burn a nun to death on the funeral pyres of Varanasi and disembowel a psychiatric patient in the first few chapters.
It's not horror but it is thriller with a high body count and I make no apologies for that.
I like action movies. I like Lee Child's Jack Reacher. I love James Bond. In fact, one day, I'd like to be the first female writer to pen a Bond novel – move over Jeffrey Deaver! But apparently it's worthy of comment when a woman writes this type of thing.
Here's a comment I received by email about Pentecost.Β ‘It seems funny knowing you – I would definitely have thought the book was written by a man…”
and a lovely review stated:
“…this kind of sprawling, globe trotting, religious themed, action adventure thriller is historically the province of men; retired marines, mercenaries or CIA analysts. Or Dan Brown. Itβs what you expect. And Joanna is, self evidently to my well trained eye, a woman. So then my not entirely foolish expectation when perusing her first novel was of something a little more, you know, delicate in character….But wow, beneath her pleasant and chirpy demeanour lurks the black heart of a terrorist interrogator, a fearless adventurer.” [Thanks for the great review Phil!]
I don't mind being compared to a man. It doesn't offend me. In fact, I find it kind of liberating.
But I don't want any consideration of my gender to come up when someone reads my books. I want them to have a great fun read and escape the world for a time.
So if changing my name to initials stops any second thoughts, then it's worth it.
Evidence that the categories I want to rank in are dominated by male names
As I write this, both Pentecost and Prophecy are in the Top 100 Action Adventure titles for the first time. (#5 and #82 respectively but you know it changes every hour!)
I'm excited as this is a category I like to rank in. I also rank consistently in Religious Fiction which is a more varied category.
Action Adventure is certainly male-dominated. Stieg Larsson, George R.R. Martin, John Locke, Steve Berry, Clive Cussler, Lee Goldberg, Tom Anthony, J.A. Konrath… these are the names from the Top 20 as I read them right now. There are a few scattered female names but it's an overwhelmingly male group.
I don't know whether there are more male readers in this category. I certainly buy these authors but I don't think women readers are that hung up on the gender of the author. But apparently men are and they are less likely to buy from a female name. Feel free to say otherwise, male blog readers!
Men also get more attention and reviews. But I won't be changing my gender, for now at least!
Evidence of other female writers who use initials or male names
A number of women writers of successful women writers use initials. The reader doesn't know who they are until they look behind the curtain which, I think, is how it should be.
- NYT bestselling thriller author C.J. Lyons
- Baroness P.D. James, whose honours come from services to literature and who is still putting books out aged 92. ‘Children of Men' seriously rocked.
- J.K. Rowling. A woman in a man's fantasy world.
- Romance author Nora Roberts turned into J.D.Robb for her suspense/crime novels, a more male dominated genre
- Others include M.J.Rose, J.T.Ellison…I could go on…
Using a male name is an option. A now-famous example in the blogging world is James Chartrand who came out as a woman on Copyblogger.com after years of writing as a man. Her business is ‘Men With Pens' and writing as a man totally changed her business. I'll be interviewing James on the podcast and we'll discuss this further.
Does it matter?
The author doesn't matter. The reader matters.
The author's gender shouldn't impact the way the story is read so it's best to make it a non-issue. Initials are neutral. They have no gender bias and I like that approach.
I know there will be some people who disagree. But I do consider myself a feminist in the truly inclusive sense of the word. Men and women are different but equal and we should all have the same opportunities. I want to be a bestselling, name-brand author. This will clearly take some time but I don't want my gender to be an issue either way as I write the books I want to write.
What do you think about gender in publishing? Are initials acceptable for women to write under? Are male buyers influenced by a female author name?
Natalie Wright says
Hmm, interesting. You’re probably making the right move though it seems ridiculous that you need to do that to compete in your fiction category.
It made me wonder if the same holds true for science fiction? I have a sci fi novel series I’m working on right now and it got me thinking that perhaps as I venture down that path I should consider a pen name?
As always, your transparency helps us all Joanna – I mean J.F.!
Joanna Penn says
I’m still Joanna here π I think sci-fi is more mixed – although you might take a look at the Top 100 and do some research. Certainly Ursula K Le Guin has done alright π
Abigail Nussey says
The top 100 is heavily dominated by lots of men, and Le Guin. I think Nancy Kress might be in there, and C. J. Cherryh (who of course didn’t use her full first name), and Lois McMaster Bujold, and possibly Joanna Russ and I know I’m forgetting some others.
Here’s a good list, actually: http://scifilists.sffjazz.com/lists_books_rank1.html
Also, sci fi is littered with sub-genres — hard sf (Sagan, some Asimov), space opera (Stars Wars, Star Trek), sociological (most Le Guin), cyberpunk (I think Philip K. Dick would qualify), steampunk (I don’t read the genre). I think it’s hardest to find women writers of hard sf, and easiest for sociological. This is a very broad assessment based on what I’ve read.
Jamie D. says
I choose a male (well, it can be interpreted to be either gender, but most readers will see it as male) name for my thriller/horror pseudonym for a lot of the same reasons. I’m lucky, in that my own name is gender neutral, but I’d already branded it for a completely different genre, and didn’t want to confuse my readers (I’m glad I made that decision). And while I enjoy a good thriller/suspense/horror novel, part of the name on the cover is knowing who your market is. And a good deal of that market is men.
For the same reasons, my erotica pen name is vastly more feminine than my real name – because in that genre, that’s what readers expect.
Have you seen Dean Wesley Smith’s blog today? You two are on similar wave-lengths…he’s talking about pen names too! π http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=6287
Joanna Penn says
Yes, I saw that – great minds and all that π
I like Jamie, it can definitely be either – someone suggested I go with Joe which can also be male/female but that’s too much like my actual name.
Hiroko says
I couldn’t care less if a book is written by a man, woman, worm, germ, etc. I do think men are less likely to read a book by a woman and only God knows why: the writer’s sex should not determine how well the subject matter is received. Yes, women tend to go towards romance/romantic mystery books, but why let that stop anyone from reading a book that thriller, fanstasy, sci-fi, etc.?
Gary A Swaby says
Like many, this is an issue that bothers me. I wish readers wouldn’t care whether the author is male or female. I’ve read a lot of books and most of my favourite fiction books are written by women.
I like J.F Penn indeed, and I fully understand why you made the change…I just wish you wouldn’t have to worry about this issue in the first place.
Joanna Penn says
Thanks Gary – I’m no longer worrying – decision is made π
Midnight rambler... says
Hey Joanna – remember me Michele *waves madly from Oz* great and interesting post. I get why you have changed your name. I, like you, am a feminist as well and you are not hiding behind a male persona – you are being honest about your gender just not advertising it in your name on a published book for readers who don’t know you. Sexism is bullshit but unfortunately exists! What I do think is great is that like JK Rowling – you will be found out to be the successful female writer you are and that will be empowering to all women and young women. Why fight against something you believe is obvious and holding you back because the more male readers you can get on your side the more males will view female writers differently over time. Unfortunately, this could be a long time but you are still pioneering for female writers. I’m currently thinking of changing my name also for slightly different reasons. I write under my current name for dark fiction but am writing YA as well so need a different name as I don’t want the different genres to hold me back. (there’s always something to consider hey?) Instead of going for initials (which I was going to do) I will be using a non-specific gender name instead, which of course means changing my entire name so I have to think carefully as if I’m successful I need to live with that name for a long time π Thx for the great post :)))
Joanna Penn says
Thanks Michele π I appreciate the support and I definitely think pseudonyms are good when you have YA and then dark books that you don’t want to mix your audiences. Deciding on a totally new name would be something quite different. I haven’t exactly strayed far from the truth with my own real initials – I was pondering using ‘Jonathan’ but that’s going a little far perhaps π
Melissa Medina says
I really enjoyed Pentecost because the main character was a strong, bad ass female and because the novel was written by a women (refreshing!). But it greatly bothers me that you are willing to re-enforce the literary world’s glass ceiling by hiding the fact that you are a female writer. As a feminist, shouldn’t you want to break through the ceiling and prove that women can write in any genera as well as men?
If your books are ranking high on Amazon, then obviously your initially going by “Joanna Penn” did not hurt your sales. People were actually willing to read a book written by a woman (shocking!). I feel like this was unnecessary and it’s a shame. I must admit that this move has me reconsidering whether or not I want to buy your second novel.
Matthew Chan says
In defense of Joanna, she did not have to be so forthcoming as to her reasons. She did so not for bragging rights or to generate controversy. She did so because that has been her philosophy for building a community that provides a great service to others. Agree or disagree, you have to respect her for publicly explaining her position. She did not owe anyone that. Not everything we do live has to be a fight or a cause. We get to pick and choose our battles in life.
If you want to “punish” Joanna by not buying her books, that is certainly your right. As I understand it, the book is meant to entertain. She charges a nominal fee. Either you find value or you don’t. Joanna has already taken a strong public position for independent publishing (against traditional publishing) by simply bypassing them entirely. Further, she public discusses and teaches this. In a sense, her novel is already taking a stand. But does every shred of her project have to represent a greater stand or fight against some injustice? I believe not.
Joanna Penn says
Thank you for your defense Matt. I appreciate that you understand my reasons for sharing. The whole point of this blog and this forum is that I share honestly what is happening along the writer’s journey. But at the end of the day, we all have to make our own decisions about our own publishing career and choice for our books.
My friend and amazing thriller author CJ Lyons made NY Times bestseller list with one of her thrillers last year. It sold 240,000 copies in 2 months. My books currently have been ranking highly in a different category than I want to rank in, and my sales are certainly not spectacular. So I am keen to maximise what I can do in order to reach readership. This is one way.
I knew this was contentious but I have a commitment to my audience to be honest. If I didn’t talk about it, someone would have brought the fact up.
I’d also add that although I am indie and proud, I’m not anti-traditional publishing and would definitely take a good deal if one came along. But I’m not pursuing that option at the moment. I am enjoying being at the beginning of the journey. I’m sure I will make many mistakes along the way (as I have done already!), but hopefully this move is a positive one for my career as an author.
Thanks.
Ashley Prince says
Joanna, I think the initials are wonderful! I have always thought that initials are so badass when authors use them. And I typically see them in thriller, mysteries, urban fantasy, etc. where badass is perfectly acceptable.
I have thought about initials myself, but I feel AE Prince sounds awkward. =/
Joanna Penn says
It sounds a bit like ‘aaieee’ like a war-cry – could be good π
I’m so glad I sound badass – thank you.
Kent Weber says
J.F. Penn does have moxie, so go for it. The most important part of this post, however, is the picture with you holding the shotgun π Your stock just went way up! When I brought my (then girlfriend, now wife) home to meet the family for the first time, some shooting with dad and the brothers was part of the passage. To this day, that first ever picture of her shooting a gun is my all-time favourite. Well done!
Joanna Penn says
Thanks Kent – I will make it even better then. That was on my first wedding anniversary and I said to my husband, “would you like to go shooting for the day?” and he thought (thinks) I am the best wife ever π I also loved it – I’d do it again but in England shooting is much more restrictive than Australia or America. Probably a good thing for most reasons – but it was a lot of fun!
Alison "A.J." Walkley says
Hi Joanna! I made the decision when I published my first book, QUEER GREER, to go by the pen name A.J. Walkley for this very reason. I knew men would be less reluctant to give my books a shot if it was obvious off the bat that I was a female writer. I wanted my books to be accessible to a much wider audience, so Alison became A.J. and I haven’t looked back since.
Joanna Penn says
I’m so glad – I intend to not look back either π
Jeffrey N. Baker says
Certainly there is evidence for what you’re saying and why you’re making the change. But what I find odd is that the reading community comprises mostly females. So the audience is skewed female, but even they trust male authors more? Seems odd to me.
So then I ask this question. Is it really a bias of the readers, or the publishers and agents? Are they under the mindset that you must be male or have a gender neutral name for certain genres? Looking at the romance section on Amazon, I’m seeing mostly female names. Perhaps we should make a test and see how hard it would be for a male, using his full name, to get to the top of that list π
Joanna Penn says
It could be bias of agents/publishers but it has affected the market. It must be noted that I am specifically aiming for the male skewed action-adventure lists – it’s different by genre.
Certainly J.K. Rowling was advised not to use Joanne.
On romance, Nicholas Sparks is one of the most highly paid and successful romance authors – I didn’t say it couldn’t be done but I’m not at the top yet π
Jessica Meats says
I had this discussion once I realised Child of the Hive was going to actually be published. Did I put my name on the cover? Did I go with a pseudonym? Did I use my initials?
In the end, I decided to use my full name. I figured if the book would have my photo in the jacket and if I was going round doing talks and signings to promote it, it would be obvious pretty quickly that I was female. I decided there was no point in using a male name if I then turned up publically as female.
The fact that I’m female doesn’t stop me killing two people and burning a house down on the first page. Why should it stop people reading my book?
Joanna Penn says
I have no issue with putting my photo on the back cover. I’m not denying I am female, I just don’t want it to be the first thing that crosses people’s minds.
Selena Silcox says
This is a subject I’ve been wrestling with over the last few months, given that I intend on publishing my first novel this year. The reason, however, is a little different.
For some unknown reason, people seem to stumble over the double S’s in my name, and I end up being called “Wilcox” or “Filcox” instead of “Silcox”. Apparently, the second S becomes silent (meh, I have no idea why either) and people just add in whatever they think they’ve heard instead.
I’ve also had people struggle with the first S if all they hear is “Silcox”, so I’ve been called Lisa, Leena, Sally and Leah, among others.
In order to reduce that confusion, I have also decided to publish under my initials – SR Silcox – since the R seems to break the S’s up enough for people to get it right.
I did toy with using a completely different and made up name, but my mother would never forgive me π
Joanna Penn says
Nice one Selena, I can see the issues with your name – it’s why a lot of authors with “foreign” names often anglicise as well.
Nancy M. Popovich says
Usually, I read all the other posts before considering commenting. This time, I will when I’m done. I only have a few words to say. You Go Girl! Your work is what matters. It’s still your name.
Joanna Penn says
Thanks Nancy, I’m glad you see I am not denying my name, I am using my real initials π
Biola Olatunde says
Hello Jo,
I am a woman but basically I am human being and want to function and be seen as one. creativity, passion, dreams are not gender based and I never wished to be anything but a woman but I am darned not willing to be categorised. Thanks for a beautiful site, and exciting introduction to life I had lived for 35 years. Yes I have been writing for 35 years, been published and produced but I never saw myself as a woman writing but a human working in the Muse factory. I am definitely a fan now even if I come from a side of the world you probably never saw nor ever would visit. Keep up the creative work, best wishes from a human in Africa.
Joanna Penn says
Hi Biola, Thanks for your support. I actually went to school in Blantyre, Malawi so I have a lot of fond memories of Africa.
Wendy A.M. Prosser says
J.F. Penn — looks good, strong, straight to the point. If swapping your name for initials helps sales/boosts fame, go for it!
It’s just a shame that (some!) male readers are so narrow minded. Do female fans of traditionally feminine genres such as romance have the same attitude, I wonder?
Joanna Penn says
It’s good to wonder, but we all have stereotypes in our minds all the time. Most of it is unconscious I’m sure, but it happens. That’s also why writers have to use pseudonyms when they become famous in one genre – so the reader doesn’t “tarnish” their name with expectations that are incorrect. I try not to think narrow-minded – just different.
Jen Brubacher says
Great article, J. Points well made. I was debating just this last week when I wrote about a man who is refusing to use initials because he wants to make a stand about gender bias:
http://jbrubacher.blogspot.com/2012/01/gender-honesty-and-descrimination-in.html
But I think that these writers who used initials and showed their books belonged in stores made a greater point. Or at least a more effective point.
Joanna Penn says
Interesting… but strange the writer didn’t go with initials as it’s clearly not lying. I AM J.F.Penn – if I had made it a male name like Jonathan Penn then fair enough – but the author mentioned didn’t even try that. But each to their own…
Henry Hyde says
A very interesting decision, Joanna. I actually love your name — Joanna Penn, what a dream name for a writer — but I can understand your decision as a thriller writer. In fact, as a fan of fantasy, I’m quite used to female writers (you mentioned the great Ursula K Le Guin) and, as a man, am keen to read across the gender line, just as when I write, I hope to challenge preconceptions about what ‘masculine’ writing should be.
I’ll be fascinated to see how this pans out for you, both in terms of sales and feedback. Good luck.
Joanna Penn says
Isn’t Penn the dream name, not so much Joanna?
I shall report progress as ever…
Christopher Wills says
Hi J F interesting topic. I have called myself C R Wills on my book (and will continue to do so on future books) for almost the same reason; I don’t want gender to be an issue, as I find I am writing about female characters. This is a conscious effort to write about characters who are not me. In my mind I am a bit like what the male protagonists in thrillers will become when they retire; if they live that long. π (I did say in my mind….)
Joanna Penn says
Cool, I like CR Wills – again, could be either…
Jeff says
A side note –
I’ve been reading for decades and used to enjoy picking up a work of fiction without looking at the author’s name. Usually after a few pages I could tell if it was written by a man or a woman. That distinction became harder to notice some time during the 1990’s.
In some ways I miss the two voices of male and female in the generas I read. It can be like a chorus. On other ways – it’s no biggy. The quality of the journey is more important that the gender of the author.
p.s. I love your site. Keep up the good work.
Joanna Penn says
I’m interested to know if you have read my books what I sound like – as per the comments, most people think I write like a man π It will be interesting to see what people think as they read.
Jeff says
You work is on my list of things to-do. In addition to preparing my second novel I have an IT job that has kept me distracted. I’ll write when things settle down, if you really want.
What I’ve seen is a general blending of writing/speech patterns with both genders moving towards common ground. There are of course exceptions and sometimes I may be surprised to find an article with a distinct “feminine” tone was actually written by a man.
In my case I was a little surprised to find such a strong feminine voice in my work – Not that I could do it, but that the women took over such large tracts of the text. π
Thanks,
-Jeff