So interesting how we worry a pen name or semi-anonymous approach to fiction might be career-limiting or otherwise impact “authenticity” but at the top of the heap commercial authors can slap their name on ghostwritten content all day. Personally I think pen names are cool as shit and a no brainer. An elegant solution to reduced circumstances and opportunity. Why would you want your entire life tied to everything you write, especially when it has never been clearer that there are some things we aren’t allowed to write about — at least not without considering the feelings of murderous regimes. You called it and I believe it: the future of literary fiction is anonymous.
So interesting how we worry a pen name or semi-anonymous approach to fiction might be career-limiting or otherwise impact “authenticity” but at the top of the heap commercial authors can slap their name on ghostwritten content all day. Personally I think pen names are cool as shit and a no brainer. An elegant solution to reduced circumstances and opportunity. Why would you want your entire life tied to everything you write, especially when it has never been clearer that there are some things we aren’t allowed to write about — at least not without considering the feelings of murderous regimes. You called it and I believe it: the future of literary fiction is anonymous.
Fascinating stuff!