tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post2052417484970901435..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Pen name to conceal your identityJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-63071707145785914522019-08-13T14:38:57.964-04:002019-08-13T14:38:57.964-04:00Yep, a Wiki will be your doom. If you are a good e...Yep, a Wiki will be your doom. If you are a good enough cop to have convicts pissed at you, it is guaranteed. They do have computers in jail and convicts live for this kind of thing.<br /><br />Try taking this up that chain of command first.Craig Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157301156577795781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-81558154847796061062019-08-13T10:57:35.738-04:002019-08-13T10:57:35.738-04:00John LeCarre was also initially published in a wor...John LeCarre was also initially published in a world without Google and Twitter. Info travelled much more slowly. Now, one person in their mom's basement, or one solicitor's wife at a cozy dinner party, and a phone with the Twitter app is all it takes.<br /><br />Janet Reidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-46573706462639160882019-08-13T10:55:13.752-04:002019-08-13T10:55:13.752-04:00Not to play fast and loose with the OP’s life, but...Not to play fast and loose with the OP’s life, but a memoir or thinly disguised novel by an ex-officer whose life (temporarily) falls apart after she or he is outed as the author of a series of bestselling novels would always find a place on my bookshelf. But I’m ghoulish that way. Lemonade for everyone, with just a touch of absinthe!Fearless Reiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14380936599156619260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39896681367236010182019-08-13T10:40:19.629-04:002019-08-13T10:40:19.629-04:00Look up John Le Carre. He was a spy with the Briti...Look up John Le Carre. He was a spy with the British Foreign Service (or a reasonable facsimile) when he started writing under similar circumstances as you, so he took up a pen name. He was outed, of course, but I think it took a few books and by then he was brilliant and the rest is history.<br /><br />Okay, I've shortened his biography a tad here, but you might want to check him out and see how he handled things. Good luck to you.John Davis Frainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18020019400599228492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-14286299821995260412019-08-13T10:13:01.808-04:002019-08-13T10:13:01.808-04:00I agree with those saying change the setting. In a...I agree with those saying change the setting. In addition to losing your job, you might get sued if someone thinks you're writing about them. In any event, it will invite unwelcome scrutiny and perhaps worse. I'd do pen name and fictional place.Liz Penneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13616005136130181910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-86756129199393449742019-08-13T09:26:11.815-04:002019-08-13T09:26:11.815-04:00I'm going to echo Amy Johnson's comments.
...I'm going to echo Amy Johnson's comments.<br />Different city, different coast and different department.<br />Call it Gotham City?<br />Unless what you've done is grind an ax.<br />In which case, you can run but you can't hide.<br />Good luck OP.Kreggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07229620504046221727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-8725738825032458932019-08-13T09:14:34.956-04:002019-08-13T09:14:34.956-04:00Michael Connelly's books don't exactly cas...Michael Connelly's books don't exactly cast LAPD in a favorable light, including (maybe especially) his first novel The Black Echo. But he didn't work for LAPD. I think speaking in confidence with your direct supervisor might be the best first step--but of course that depends on your relationship with that person. Best of luck OP!Richelle Elberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323766317305564428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-28565602191190506152019-08-13T08:32:48.416-04:002019-08-13T08:32:48.416-04:00OP, you have other things to consider as well.
My...OP, you have other things to consider as well.<br /><br />My guess is that you're going to have issues of confidentiality. What your agency wants the public to know and what it doesn't is going to matter. And they won't be happy if you start spilling the beans from the wrong can.<br /><br />Plus, most government agencies have paperwork/rules precluding outside employment unless you have permission. Once you're getting paid for your writing, you are most assuredly self-employed. <br /><br />What's unclear to me is why you won't fess up to your employer. If you really think that they'd consider nixing you for it...then sneaking around to get it pubbed isn't going to endear you to them. But if you go to them, you will have a definite answer as to whether your job is on the line. And then you'll have to decide if its worth it. And who know? They may stick their nose into your creative process instead (aka require a readthrough and approval on their end) and in the end they may even require that you use a penname so as to distance association with them. <br /><br />Megan Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752842865397799428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-50356602826726695832019-08-13T08:29:32.292-04:002019-08-13T08:29:32.292-04:00Wishing you the best, OP. Just a thought, though I...Wishing you the best, OP. Just a thought, though I recognize that you know your story and I do not. I am wondering if your story must take place at your own department. Setting it there seems to almost invite trouble. Maybe setting your story at a different department would eliminate or reduce problems. Maybe go as far as setting it in a different city. Maybe set it in a fictional city. Or maybe, for reasons you know and I do not, those options wouldn't work. I hope it all works out for you.Amy Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05324408700941398495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-82785167653127817372019-08-13T08:26:58.461-04:002019-08-13T08:26:58.461-04:00"...but this is my dream and I really believe..."...but this is my dream and I really believe in this story,..."<br /><br />Take it from someone who has been on this earth a long time, <br />all dreams cost something.<br />Be it sacrifice, dedication and lose we all pay a price. <br />On the flip side achieving that dream can change one's life for the absolute positive. It is the difference between regret and at least I tried.<br /><br />You will be outed. That's a given. If you lose your job, are sanctioned or punished in any way those ramifications can become a huge advantage regarding publicity. <br />Ask yourself, how far do you want to go? <br />Is the jeopardy worth it?<br /><br />I once had to make this choice all because of 650 words I wanted to say. I had to say.<br />We had to unlist our phone number. <br />We had to hunker down and wait for the fallout. It came.<br />I have no regrets and thank my supportive husband and family for letting me do what I knew I had to do. <br /><br />Think hard. Prepare. Never look back with regret.Carolynnwith2Nshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394998702410764388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-54445835583457716942019-08-13T07:28:16.844-04:002019-08-13T07:28:16.844-04:00In general, no one fusses about pen names. They ar...In general, no one fusses about pen names. They are used. OP, it sounds like you are in a tough situation. However, you are also in a situation to write a great procedural crime book (is that what you write?) with great credentials. And at the same time put your job on the line by doing it.<br /><br /> Makes me think of "Lethal Weapon" where the department thought Danny Glover's character was corrupt- turned out his wife was this real famous romance writer. <br /><br />Good luck, OP. I hope you do write what you wish to and get an agent without getting in trouble at work. Do as the queen directs. Talk to an attorney, your union, all of that jazz. Good luck. E.M. Goldsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18387494005655553037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79804016942797754062019-08-13T07:20:56.513-04:002019-08-13T07:20:56.513-04:00Why would anyone wonder if a writer was using a pe...Why would anyone wonder if a writer was using a pen name? I googled Inger Ash Wolfe, not because I thought she was using a pen name but because I wanted to know what else she had written. I was surprised to learn her real name is Michael Redhill. Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09868642232827730189noreply@blogger.com