How do I publish a book anonymously? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

dtheriault · 04-04-2006, 09:21 PM

due to several factors I would like to publish a book anonymously. How do I go about doing this?

Should I anonymously contact a book agent?

How anonymous can I really expect the process to be?

What about getting paid? Who are they going to send the check to?

If my job were on the line- could I count on things staying secret as long as there were no legal/court issues surrounding my book?

I know that this probably belongs in the How To folder, but I figured there may be more knowledge on book publishing in this folder.

leftyderek · 04-04-2006, 09:55 PM

I suppose the publisher somehow has to know who exactly you are... but then I think you can always go by an alias. And probably due to some privacy things the publisher will not reveal your true identity unless your book is about some top secret things (and if it was, it might not be published at all)...

I am not exactly sure but that's my guess.

Martian · 04-04-2006, 10:11 PM

I'm not in the biz, so I can't give a definitive answer. Your best bet is to call up an agent and ask. Having said that, my understanding is that you deal with either an agent or a publisher who acts on your behalf. Everything will be forwarded to you from your third party (again, be it an agent or the publisher directly) and all of your return correspondence will go the same way. I'm not sure how the legal ramifications work, but so long as you're not plaigairizing or commiting some other blatantly illegal act I don't figure you have too much to worry about that way.

And publishing a book, be it anonymously or not, is a particularly arduous endeavour. Be prepared to be tenacious, because odds are you'll have to be.

EDIT - Oh, and I meant to mention, there's a difference between publishing anonymously and publishing under a pseudonym. I suspect you want the latter; the former implies no interest in maintaining legal rights to your work, since there has to be a name attached to it in order to hold copyright.

thesupermikey · 04-04-2006, 10:16 PM

release it under the Creative Commons. I do not know if you have to give a name or address...but you could set up a fake PO box with a fake name name

you could also set up website under a faults name with a site like Godaddy or something, conntect a number of blogs that would be sympithtic to your cause.

if your job is on the line, you can file for 'Whistle Blower' status, while your job will not be protected, you will be protected under federal law from reprisel from your job.

just some ideas

dtheriault · 04-04-2006, 10:23 PM

it's not a whistle blower kind of thing, more a propriety thing. And I don't really care about the ardour (i like the french look of that word as opposed to ardor) of the publishing process- i don't need the money i just have some stories to tell that i don't want anyone to connect to my public sense of self. if someone enjoys them enough to publish then so be it.

i like making people happy.

Martian · 04-04-2006, 10:33 PM

If you're not worried about rights or money... well, you've got your arena. The internet is the perfect vehicle for the sort of work you seem to be angling towards. I'd suggest setting up a cheap or even free website for publication purposes. Alternatively, a blog has been mentioned. And they get bonus points for being topcial.

04-04-2006, 09:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
dtheriault Psycho Location: maybe utah	How do I publish a book anonymously? due to several factors I would like to publish a book anonymously. How do I go about doing this? Should I anonymously contact a book agent? How anonymous can I really expect the process to be? What about getting paid? Who are they going to send the check to? If my job were on the line- could I count on things staying secret as long as there were no legal/court issues surrounding my book? I know that this probably belongs in the How To folder, but I figured there may be more knowledge on book publishing in this folder. __________________ "Remember, it takes two to lie. One to lie and one to listen." -Homer Unless you are the freakin Highlander, what is the point in learning how to fight with a sword?

04-04-2006, 09:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
leftyderek Crazy Location: Currently Canada. I have been in Norway in the last two years, and in Hong Kong before Norway.	I suppose the publisher somehow has to know who exactly you are... but then I think you can always go by an alias. And probably due to some privacy things the publisher will not reveal your true identity unless your book is about some top secret things (and if it was, it might not be published at all)... I am not exactly sure but that's my guess. __________________ -Imagine how beautiful the world would be if we could only do things for the first-and-last time. Imagine this is the last time you would ever be able to imagine. Imagine that. -Die Lust der Zerstörung ist gleichzeitig eine schaffende Lust. -...and god said Lx1,go! and there was light...

04-04-2006, 10:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	I'm not in the biz, so I can't give a definitive answer. Your best bet is to call up an agent and ask. Having said that, my understanding is that you deal with either an agent or a publisher who acts on your behalf. Everything will be forwarded to you from your third party (again, be it an agent or the publisher directly) and all of your return correspondence will go the same way. I'm not sure how the legal ramifications work, but so long as you're not plaigairizing or commiting some other blatantly illegal act I don't figure you have too much to worry about that way. And publishing a book, be it anonymously or not, is a particularly arduous endeavour. Be prepared to be tenacious, because odds are you'll have to be. EDIT - Oh, and I meant to mention, there's a difference between publishing anonymously and publishing under a pseudonym. I suspect you want the latter; the former implies no interest in maintaining legal rights to your work, since there has to be a name attached to it in order to hold copyright. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

04-04-2006, 10:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
thesupermikey I got blisters on me fingers!!! Location: In my stressless expectation free zone.	release it under the Creative Commons. I do not know if you have to give a name or address...but you could set up a fake PO box with a fake name name you could also set up website under a faults name with a site like Godaddy or something, conntect a number of blogs that would be sympithtic to your cause. if your job is on the line, you can file for 'Whistle Blower' status, while your job will not be protected, you will be protected under federal law from reprisel from your job. just some ideas __________________ If you are not outraged than you are not paying attention! "Reality has a well-known liberal bias" - Steven Colbert

04-04-2006, 10:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
dtheriault Psycho Location: maybe utah	it's not a whistle blower kind of thing, more a propriety thing. And I don't really care about the ardour (i like the french look of that word as opposed to ardor) of the publishing process- i don't need the money i just have some stories to tell that i don't want anyone to connect to my public sense of self. if someone enjoys them enough to publish then so be it. i like making people happy. __________________ "Remember, it takes two to lie. One to lie and one to listen." -Homer Unless you are the freakin Highlander, what is the point in learning how to fight with a sword?

04-04-2006, 10:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	If you're not worried about rights or money... well, you've got your arena. The internet is the perfect vehicle for the sort of work you seem to be angling towards. I'd suggest setting up a cheap or even free website for publication purposes. Alternatively, a blog has been mentioned. And they get bonus points for being topcial. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame