Are you using? I mean pen names

[ZepysGirl]

Yeah, I guess that's what I'm saying. xD In an idyllic situation where groups truly make a name for themselves, it might be hard to protect a fluid type of anonymity.

And I'm just going to stop talking now before I confuse this even more. OTL

[manonrose]

I'm planning to use my real name. I'm trying to get more experience in the publishing world so I do want the credit that comes with editing these works. If potential employers are truly professional then they will look at the quality of the work that is done and not what the genre is.

[Seeshelle]

I will be using a pen name on 18+ titles 'cause the occupation I'm going for wouldn't hire me if they found out I was working on things like yaoi. It's already hard to sustain that occupation so I don't wanna risk it.
I think Zepysgirl makes a good point.

[jessylein]

I don't want to use a pen name, but I'll abbreviate my first name (by using the initial letter only), so that I *could* possibly claim it was somebody different and still use it as a reference for future jobs when I need it.

[Tigu]

I personally will be using a pen name for 18+ works. As nice as it is to think that future employers will be more concerned with quality than content I feel that I do not want to take that chance, not everyone is as open minded as we. I've worked with many clients in the past that would be put off by the fact that I've worked on "gay porn" or even just "porn" (yes I know it's not porn, but they would still consider it as such).

At least one of my groups has agreed that we will use our real names on general works and then just a set group name for 18+ works. (General works will not show the group name.)

As a side note: Our contracts with DMG will legally have to include our real name and possibly any pen names we will be using, therefore if you need to prove you did the work to a future employer/client you will simply need to provide them a copy of the contract to show you indeed worked to DMG. Previous contracts I had with clients would include addendum showing exactly what I had worked on with them.

[izanagi]

@Shroud: My question assumes you already know that you can be credited by group, name, etc. Sorry that wasn't more clear. ^-^ )>

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I don't mean pen names only for future employers' reference, but just in general; i.e. how would you feel if someone at the office or someone you met at match.com (or whatever; I'm trying to think of general possibilities outside of friends, since probably some of you at least are in this with RL friends) Googles your name and up pops DMP BL?

[ZepysGirl]

All of my real-life friends already know I'm doing this. I don't really filter things with people I'm comfortable with. Likewise, if I was trying out online dating and my involvement with the DMG came up, I would have no reason to deny it.

A work situation is another matter. They will not be as understanding as friends would be. I wouldn't want my name attached to something that an employer would look at and call it "porn". I think expecting various employers to "Just look past that!" or to understand that it's not "just porn" is asking a little much, as well as being entirely too optimistic. Hence, I would like to use a pen name with all mature titles. I don't mind having my name attached to boys love stories, but I would take issue with my name attached to a hardcore yaoi title.

[Shroud]

Either way, I wouldn't have a problem with it. if someone else took issue with my name on a title they considered "dirty", that is their hang up. I can't be bothered with people like that. But then, I work freelance, so I don't have to put up with stuff from employers. Friends already know I work with/review yaoi and other mature titles, so no concerns for me there. Neighbours? Not bothered. Family? Not bothered.Honestly, no one would raise an eyebrow: I'm a goth loli married to a goth biker and we homeschool so it would be just another tick on the eccentricities box if anything I possibly will use diff pen names from time to time but that's more to do with paying tribute to several families who took me in as a child when I needed it.

[kokiden]

I may be in a different position that almost anyone else here, which could explain my nonchalance. As for my career, I'm near the end of it and just started what will probably be the position I will retire from, so I don't expect to have to answer to anyone about my manga-related activities.

But even if I should be laid off and have to be on the job-hunt again, I'd consider it an extraordinary coincidence if anyone vetting or interviewing me became aware of my work for DMG. And if they did...um...they must be reading yaoi or whatever dirty thing I supposedly had my hands in. So I don't think they'd be on too high a horse.

And if I get to work in publishing, then my expectation and hope is to continue working in yaoi. So I don't think there's going to be much judgment there.