Ken Nelson

Gratuitous Pierce Brosnan picture for my wife

A woman has trouble in her life, starts writing to earn extra money and struggles… until she uses a male pen name.

Instantly, jobs became easier to get.

There was no haggling. There were compliments, there was respect. Clients hired me quickly, and when they received their work, they liked it just as quickly. There were fewer requests for revisions — often none at all.

I wonder what the reason having a male name worked?  My company contracts a female tech writer. We love her work and pay her well.  She beat out a few other guys for the gig based on work quality.

I do know I can readily tell women and men e-mailers apart, even with names like Devin, Kim, or Tracy.  So maybe women do write differently from men and perhaps less effectively for the market this writer served?

I don’t know.  I don’t mind that she hid her sex. I don’t mind that customers in her market might prefer men writers.  Vive le difference!