With the Romance Writing business,
I use pen names.
I use them for many reasons.
They are easier to sell.
They give me the illusion
of privacy.
They allow me to brand tighter.
And
they allow me to put
emotional distance
between myself and my stories.
Trolls don’t attack ME,
for example.
They attack (Pen Name).
This enables me
to deal
with constructive criticism,
with not-so-constructive criticism,
with brutal outright attacks,
and other feedback.
I am more detached
and that is extremely healthy
in this often harsh industry.
As Seth Godin
shares
“Being detached doesn’t mean
you don’t care.
It simply means
you’re focusing on the work
and those you serve,
not on your own narrative.”
You are NOT your product.
Figure out ways
to put distance
between yourself
and the products you craft.