Does a writer have to become a public figure? Are they instantly one once they're published or only if they become successful and, if the latter, how successful? Isn't it easier for writers to still keep their privacy compared to actors though - by refusing to use photographs of themselves and/or even using a pen name? So even if a writer automatically becomes a public person (do they?) can't they hide their identity or remain out of the public eye much easier than an actor?
"I'm still a bit confused on this point. I've seen you and others mention a writer is a public figure, but also a writer can be anonymous. So which is it? Is this decided at an early stage when the writer decides whether or not to use their real name? So if they use their real name, they become a public figure and give up some degree of privacy? But if they use a pen name, their privacy should be respected? You've said "why should we know" but also "writers are public figures". Confusing issue!"
ETA: If you read this post and STILL have questions about Pen Names, etc - I refer you to the pinned FAQ, in which a link to MANY answers on the topic can be found. OK, on to the long part:
I guess I'm not sure what's so confusing, that multiple people keep asking? Like -- yeah, writing, like any art or piece of entertainment, is meant to be consumed by the public. If you write something that is for public consumption, and you are "the name" behind that thing -- then you are inherently a public figure.
Are you public like A FAMOUS ACTOR? Of course not. Most authors don't achieve a huge level of fame or glory, and most people don't know or care who authors are. Even if your books become wildly popular, the person that fans are interacting with is, on some level, a persona. Just like if you are a normal person on social media, you are probably curating what parts of your life you want people to see, you are putting up flattering pictures of yourself, or making it seem like you live a more glamorous life than you do, or only posting "witty" things and not boring things? Posting pics of your dogs, and not the trash pile next to your desk? Well, it's the same for being an author.
You can still absolutely have a private life -- but PART of your life -- THE AUTHOR PART -- is "public". You have a website, you have a "bio" (that can be as detailed or non-detailed as you want -- you are the one writing it!), you probably do some level of public appearances, sign books, whatever (during which you are as forthcoming or not about your private life as you want to be). You probably DON'T talk about personal details like your kids names ages and schools, or your home address, because like, you aren't a fool, there are crazy people out there, why would you mention that in an interview? You probably DO talk about things like "what inspired you to become a writer" or "what's your book about" -- because you are an author, promoting your books.
If you don't want to use your full legal name on your books -- don't! Many (most?) people do not. Pen names are very common, like common as dirt -- like literally NOT A BIG DEAL WHATSOEVER. Whether because you prefer a nickname, or because you are a trans person, or because you write in multiple genres and don't want to confuse your readership, or because you don't want your "day job" to be affected by your books, or because you have young kids and you don't want the other parents at school to know you write smut, or just because you don't like your name, or whatever. LOTS of authors write under "pen names" -- that doesn't mean they are anonymous, that just means they have a stage name, just like many actors have stage names.
They style themselves on their book jackets as January Q. Publique (author of historical romance) or J. Q. Jones (author of thrillers), rather than plain Jane Jones, soccer mom. Their agent and editor and whoever is aware that their name is Jane, calls them whatever name they wish to be called, and sends money either to Jane Jones (with your social) or to the business entity "January Q. Publique" or "J. Q. Jones" (with your EIN). Your contracts probably say something like "Jane Jones, D/B/A J. Q. Jones"
Again -- Using a pen-name is not BEING ANONYMOUS. It's just not. It is certainly putting a distance between the Jane who is running late for the PTA meeting and January, the "fancy author" on her way to a book signing -- but it isn't like you are literally a spy with a secret identity or something. You just have an author persona that is separate from your private life. This is normal.
(And yes - your privacy SHOULD be respected, and it usually very much is. Why would anyone dig around about the "true identity" of January? You aren't HIDING anything, actually, you are just presenting the version of yourself you wish people to see, and not presenting your personal family life, etc.)
TRUE anonymity -- like where you literally don't show a face or name or anything else -- would be hard -- because people LOVE uncovering secrets. So it is actually quite likely that if you say "NOBODY MAY EVER KNOW MY NAME OR FACE, I AM DARKNESS!!!!" people would take that as a challenge. Which is what has happened with the very famous cases of "anonymous" authors like Elena Ferrante that I wrote about earlier today.
