[2021] The Wild Discussion Showing 751-800 of 2,279

[Pam]

I love the 2nd chance prompt also!

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Lots of romances involve couples who knew each other in the past and get reconnected or people finding new love after a death or divorce.

[Irene]

I would also vote for the postponement/second chances! I might have downvoted it the first time because I immediately thought of second-chance romances (a trope I dislike), so I didn't think about it in a broader context.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Someone getting over physical/mental illness, a sports, entertainment, or political figure who lost before winning, biography of a business person (who probably had some failures) all would work too.

[Pam]

2nd chance could also refer to a child or animal being adopted or a change in career. I would probably use it for a book that I started but set aside to read something else (not really a DNF). I have a GR shelf titled Started but on Hold, with the thought that I eventually want to get back to the book.

[Jillian]

I also think, second chance could work for a prompt that does not make it on the list. I don’t do a reject challenge so I like being able to add a prompt that did not make it to the challenge. There are always so many goods ones that don’t make it.

[°~Amy~°]

Do we have a complete list of winners anywere? I have it in the KIS/BIO but a more concise list would be helpful. The one I used to check seems out of date?

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

You can find it here... I do need to update it lol. Working on that now!

[°~Amy~°]

Emily wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

You can find it here... I do need to update it lol. Working on that now!"

Thank you Emily!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

No problem! You can also find a list (with listopias linked) on the community spreadsheet under the 2021 Plans tab.

[Kim]

I'd like to workshop my idea for a prompt - a book written by an author with a nom de plume. Would "written by an author who writes under more than one name" be more likely to appeal? There are so many, from the Brontes to Stephen King, Zane Grey to Nora Roberts. It covers so many genres and such a wide time frame, and I've never seen a prompt like it before.

[Irene]

It might help if people didn’t vote for it for being too easy/broad (which I didn’t think it was!) since it’s harder to find authors who actively publish under 2 pen names (or their real name + a pen name) than just their pen name in general. So I guess it depends on why people didn’t vote for it in the first place. I think I left it neutral because I wasn’t strongly opposed to it, but it also wasn’t one I was dying to do!

[Alicia]

I did vote for it the first time, so can’t speak to why it was downvoted or not voted at all, but I wonder if some people weren’t immediately familiar with what a nom de plume was. If that was why, this solves that.

If it was just people not loving it enough to upvote but being ok with it, then I think it’ll be the same result as it’s the same prompt.

[Kim]

Alicia wrote: "I did vote for it the first time, so can’t speak to why it was downvoted or not voted at all, but I wonder if some people weren’t immediately familiar with what a nom de plume was. If that was why,..."
A couple of people commented that they didn't know what the phrase meant.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I personally downvoted it because I thought it was too limiting... I don't have many authors with a nom de plume on my TBR. So I would opt for making it *less* restrictive, not more.

That being said, Kim, I do think your revision is more likely to garner more votes.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Maybe phrase it as an author who publishes under a name other than their given one. For instance, many romance authors and some mystery authors use pen names, but usually just the one. It's not obvious though, you would have to research to find it out. Looking for an author with 2 pen names is too restrictive in my opinion.

[Nancy]

How about just "written by an author who uses a pen name?"

[Hilde]

Or maybe just ‘an author who uses a pseudonym’. I think that is what has been the most common wording in previous years for this prompt. Pop Sugar has had this or some version of it in the past, maybe ATY as well.

Edit: Now I just saw Nancy’s suggestion, I like it - it’s plain and simple.

[Jillian]

I do challenges in different groups and prompts with an author who writes under a pseudonym comes up regularly so it does not seem like a new idea to me.

I upvoted it last time but I do think changing it from nom de plume would be a good idea.

[Sophie]

Examples from many genres along with the prompt suggestion would help, as many people may not realize that an author they read is or has used a pen name.

The only person I read regularly who uses a pen name (at least that I realize uses a pen name) is JK Rowling/Robert Galbraith. I voted for the prompt with the hope that she may have another instalment of the Strike series coming out next year. If not, I would have to reread a HP book unless I find out about other authors I’d be interested in reading.

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

Sophie wrote: "Examples from many genres along with the prompt suggestion would help, as many people may not realize that an author they read is or has used a pen name.

The only person I read regularly who uses ..."

I don't know of any off the top of my head, but loads of romance writers use pen names. In fact, a couple of times I've come across writers who use as many as 4 or 5 different names to separate out their different pairings. Like one name for m|m romances, a second name for m|f romances, etc etc.

[Kelly]

Sophie wrote: "The only person I read regularly who uses a pen name (at least that I realize uses a pen name) is JK Rowling/Robert Galbraith. I voted for the prompt with the hope that she may have another instalment of the Strike series coming out next year..."

I think the next book is actually out this September!

[Kat]

I knew pseudonyms were used a lot by women so that they could get published (the Brontes, George Eliot etc) but I hadn't realised just how common they are until doing some research. There are a lot of authors that I have read or heard of who write under a different name and I had no idea. Examples include Anne Rice, Ayn Rand, Cassandra Clare, George Orwell, John le Carre, Lewis Carroll, Mark Twain, Stan Lee and many more.

There are also books written by two or more people who combine their names or make one up such as Christina Lauren, P.J. Tracy and P.C. Cast.

You could also make a case for a book published anonymously or written by a ghost writer.

[Ellie]

Alicia wrote: "If it was just people not loving it enough to upvote but being ok with it, then I think it’ll be the same result as it’s the same prompt...."

It really depends on what other suggestions it's up against. We do get resubmitted ideas making the list without any changes to wording.

I didn't vote for the nom de plume just because I've done it in various guises in other challenges. But there are authors I read who use pen names, Laura Lam, Seanan McGuire, Claire North, Gail Carriger, Marie Brennan... So I don't mind it, just not excited by it.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Now that I think about it, I was thinking that the prompt meant an author who wrote under two different names, not only ones who just wrote under aliases. So that would ease it up a bit for me.

[°~Amy~°]

Jillian wrote: "I do challenges in different groups and prompts with an author who writes under a pseudonym comes up regularly so it does not seem like a new idea to me.

I upvoted it last time but I do think cha..."

This is why it wasn't an upvote for me. I have seen it done a lot over the years. It's a struggle to find authors that I actually WANT to read who use pseudonyms/nom de plumes/pen names now.

[Entropia]

For me the problem with this prompt was that I don't have enough authors who use pen names on my tbr (at least that I know of).

[Sophie]

Kelly wrote: "Sophie wrote: "The only person I read regularly who uses a pen name (at least that I realize uses a pen name) is JK Rowling/Robert Galbraith. I voted for the prompt with the hope that she may have ..."

Excellent news! Thanks for letting me know, Kelly!

[Nancy]

I've been making my way through the In Death series so I would read another of those (JD Robb is Nora Roberts), but I don't know that I would vote for the prompt unless there were others I didn't like better (I didn't vote in that poll because I didn't realize the voting process had started).

[Conny]

I don't really remember how I voted on the nom de plume prompt, but I certainly wouldn't have a problem with it. I have a bunch of unread Anne Rice and Richard Bachman books lying around, plus, as you guys mentioned, there is a new Cormoran Strike coming up later this year. I could also get my hands on the In Death series by Nore Roberts/J. D. Robb without problems. It just feels very "been there, done that" to me, and I generally prefer prompts which are a bit more unique (which may be the reason for my outlandish suggestions that never make it in, ha ha).

Question: Would any author count who somehow tweaks their name a little for publicity purposes? Like Karen Rose actually uses her middle name as her last name in publishing.

[Mary Beth]

I learned Toni Morrison is a pen name based on this prompt.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Those 2 would count for "publishing under a pen name" but not "publishing under 2 names". I think the 2 names is definitely too limited. You are right that many authors, including some famous ones, are not using their "legal" name but we won't even know it without research.

[Nancy]

The original intent of the prompt, if I understand correctly, was an author who publishes under a different name, not under 2 names. Authors who publish under 2 names (e.g. Nora Roberts and JD Robb) would also count, but the spirit of the prompt is for a different name.

[Pam]

I didn’t vote for the nom de plume, mostly because I’ve seen it before in different challenges. It just occurred to me that an author I like, Nevil Shute, used a pen name even though he is not listed in Wiki under List of Pen Names. On the Wiki list, I found lots of authors of classics (e.g. Joseph Conrad, George Eliot, George Orwell, George Sand, Belgian cartoonist Hergé, German author Hans Fallada, British SF author John Wyndham, Mark Twain, Voltaire, Anatole France, Stendhal). After going through this list, I think I would vote for the prompt now! I know that there are also some current authors who use different names for different genres they write in.

[Irene]

Nancy wrote: "The original intent of the prompt, if I understand correctly, was an author who publishes under a different name, not under 2 names. Authors who publish under 2 names (e.g. Nora Roberts and JD Robb..."

Since the original poster said "written by an author who writes under more than one name" I interpreted that to mean writing under at least 2 names, not just one name that isn't their legal name.

I wonder if initials and stuff would count? I know J.K. Rowling would count because the "K" doesn't stand for anything (not to mention her actual pen names), but E. Lockhart's full name is Emily Lockhart - it's not exactly a pen name, but it's not her full legal name either. Would that count?

[Conny]

You are right, Irene, I just did not remember the wording of the original prompt. The way it was worded, it clearly refers to authors who venture out under a different name to either write in a different genre than the one they are famous for or just see if their books will sell without their name attached to it. So Agatha Christie /Mary Westmacott, J. K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith, Stephen King/Richard Bachman, Nora Roberts/J. D. Robb, Jenny Trout/Abigail Barnette, etc.

What about a change in publishing strategy? Sharon Bolton used to publish as S. J. Bolton because she was worried people would not buy thrillers written obviously by a woman. Later she switched to using her full first name. So that's technically two different names, is it? Because it was a conscious decision, not just a cover design issue?

[Irene]

Conny wrote: "You are right, Irene, I just did not remember the wording of the original prompt. The way it was worded, it clearly refers to authors who venture out under a different name to either write in a dif..."

I do think that would count as two different names because as far as I can tell, it looks like the "J" doesn't actually stand for anything, much like the "K" in J.K. Rowling.

I'm still not sure about authors like E. Lockhart or J.R.R. Tolkein, who are published under their real initials and don't have books published under their full names. Would they count as a pen names of sorts since they provide a bit of anonymity?

I'm also thinking, would Anne and Emily Bronte count? As far as I know, they didn't actively publish under their real names in their lifetimes (although I think Charlotte lived long enough to do so), but modern day publishers no longer use their male pen names. So it's not a case of the author writing under 2 different names - they wrote under pseudonyms in their lifetimes, and are now published by their real names.

[Ellie]

I wouldn't use initials personally, I don't think in this day and age that counts as anonymity, but maybe that could be a KIS option. I think the original wording of the prompt was pretty flexible, it just had to be by an author that used a pen name, not necessarily the book you were reading had to be under it and they didn't need to write under multiple names. I wouldn't see any problem with reading the Brontes for it.

[Irene]

Ellie wrote: "I wouldn't use initials personally, I don't think in this day and age that counts as anonymity, but maybe that could be a KIS option. I think the original wording of the prompt was pretty flexible,..."

I figured initials provided anonymity in the sense of Conny's example, with S.J. Bolton, who used her initials so it wouldn't be obvious she was a female writer, but I see what you mean! I agree it'd be a good KIS option.

And that makes sense as well - my main confusion was if the prompt was to find any writer who uses a pen name, or if it's an author who writes under their "main" name and then a pen name as well. (The recent rewording says "writes under more than one name" so I wasn't sure if it was different from the original post, which I can't find). Thanks for the clarification!!

[[deleted user]]

even if it was reworded to include authors who don't use their real name? for example, Cassandra Clare or C.S. Pacat.

i wouldn't really recommend reading any jk rowling (not matter what pen name she uses) as she's a known transphobe but there's Seanan McGuire who also writes under Mira Grant & A. Deborah Baker! and a ton of romance authors, like mentioned

[Irene]

annie wrote: "even if it was reworded to include authors who don't use their real name? for example, Cassandra Clare or C.S. Pacat.

i wouldn't really recommend reading any jk ro..."

Definitely agree with you there - I plan on rereading the Harry Potter series since I haven't read them in 10 years, but I view that as "before" (it was back when she was a huge gay rights activist) and I don't plan on giving her any more money in the future.

[Kim]

You all make good points. I had in mind a broad prompt, where initials would work, etc. I definitely didn't mean they had to write under two different names, just that they didn't use their legal one.

[Conny]

As much as I disagree with Rowling's recent actions and statements, I can't help loving her books, and I am very excited for the next Cormoran Strike book, so I'm afraid I will keep buying her books^^

But there are several authors who are horrible people in real life (and JKR is nothing compared to what the likes of Jamie McGuire get up to sometimes!), and I decided long ago that I will try to keep their real persona as separate from their work as possible so I can still appreciate their art. If there is any art to appreciate :D

Back to topic: I would definitely allow initials (like E. Lockhart and J.R.R. Tolkien) to count as pen names, because the name on their book covers is still not the same as in their passports, and that is the whole point of a pen name. So if a prompt simply calls for an author using a pen name (not two different names), I would count that and not even call it KIS.

[Irene]

Conny wrote: "As much as I disagree with Rowling's recent actions and statements, I can't help loving her books, and I am very excited for the next Cormoran Strike book, so I'm afraid I will keep buying her book..."

Oh no, what has Jamie McGuide done?? (I have 1 or 2 of her books on my TBR!)

And to Kim - how would it sound if you rephrased the prompt like this:
A book by an author who publishes under a pen name or variant of their real name (including initials).

[Jillian]

I think initials count, when you look at an author who publishes just using their initials you don’t know there gender. I have read books published by authors who use their initials and be wrong on which gender I thought the author was.

[Kim]

Irene wrote: "Conny wrote: "As much as I disagree with Rowling's recent actions and statements, I can't help loving her books, and I am very excited for the next Cormoran Strike book, so I'm afraid I will keep b..."

Love it, thanks!

[Alicia]

If you’re talking about Jamie McGuire’s anti-vaxx statements, I wouldn’t put that anywhere close to JK Rowling’s transphobic comments.

I too LOVE Harry Potter, but there is a big difference between having controversial opinions v opinions based on hate and prejudice of another person. Especially in a modern day and age where there is a lot more information and understanding around acceptance of others (aka this isn’t the 19th century).

[°~Amy~°]

I have found that when there is an author that I do not want to support financially by buying their book, but I still want to read the book, I will buy a used copy. That way, the author doesn't get any royalties. I have very few authors on that list of authors to avoid, but JK Rowling is on there). She honestly has left such a sour taste in my mouth that I don't care to read anything of hers anyway. There are a lot better written and more interesting books out there in the world for me to read. :-)

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

Poll 7 results are up: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[[deleted user]]

Irene wrote: "As much as I disagree with Rowling's recent actions and statements, I can't help loving her books, and I am very excited for the next Cormoran Strike book, so I'm afraid I will keep buying her books^^ But there are several authors who are horrible people in real life (and JKR is nothing compared to what the likes of Jamie McGuire get up to sometimes!), and I decided long ago that I will try to keep their real persona as separate from their work as possible so I can still appreciate their art. If there is any art to appreciate :D"

i don't think it is a fair comparison. one author's shitty behaviour doesn't make another's behaviour invalid, even if it's seems 'worse'. jkr is still a transphobe, an ignorant, ill-informed transphobe who is using her massive platform to influence literally millions of people--even politicians who can then influence legislation that affects trans people's rights. i'm a massive hp fan and have been my whole life but choosing to financially support her knowing this is its own statement about whether supporting the trans community or indulging in my reading preferences matters more to me. and i have to side with protecting an already vulnerable & marginalized community over my own whims. but that's just my opinion.