The day I became a published author was the day I gave up on it. I'm still semi-careful about more sensitive details, but I realized in my case that my rep was

The day I became a published author was the day I gave up on it. I'm still semi-careful about more sensitive details, but I realized in my case that my rep was bigger in my online name than it was in my own name, so the simplest solution was to abandon the pretense. I think this can be a real stumbling block to success these days. Increasingly ones accomplishments are likely to be more visible online than anywhere, so trying to keep them divorced just shoots ones own foot in the process. If I had published my books under the name most people new me by rather than my real name, then what do I do when its time to apply for work or pitch myself further in real life? Far easier to just wear my own face, for all its sins, but then I'm not usually a prime target anyway. When I have been, I just go dark for a while.