I’ve been wondering how best to manage Pseudonyms for a while, but I think I’ve cracked it now. Does this all sound OK?
I didn’t want to just erase the Pseudonym and put the writer’s name, because they used a different name for a reason. Plus, we’d forever be getting reports that an incorrect writer is listed for a book!
Instead, what I’ve done (this is not live yet, it is on the staging server only at the moment) is as follows:
When viewing the piece of media, the writer now has a little indication that it is a Pseudonym:
Clicking the name goes to the writer’s page for that Pseudonym (which matches what TARDIS Wiki does), listing everything they have written under that name. There is also a little note at the top:
How does this look? There isn’t a way to see everything written by this person in one place, but I’m not sure we need it?
Also as a side note: for people who have changed their names and their old name is a dead name, I’m just going to replace the old name. This doesn’t get around the problem of people thinking there is a mistake, but I think the author would rather we didn’t use their deadname. Does that sound alright?
I like this, and I think you’ve found a good workaround for showcasing different pseudonyms. I agree with how you’re tackling deadnames.
I might suggest an extra alternative, for if anyone has changed their name but doesn’t mind their old name being referenced (ie. not a pseudonym, but simply a previous name). Something like “XXX by Original Name (now/also known as ____)” although I don’t know if there are any instances of this [other than Jenna-Louise Coleman changing to Jenna Coleman].
Does it handle cases where the pseudonym is for multiple writers?
Like in City of Death, David Agnew is David Fisher, Douglas Adams and Graham Williams. (But then, in “Invasion of Time”, David Agnew is Graham Williams and Anthony Read…)
I think this is a good solution, it still respects the writer’s choice to use a pseudonym, while also offering a means to find the rest of their work under their others.
Good call on the name change/deadname idea, despite the confusion it might cause, respecting people’s wishes and comfort should take priority.
I would suggest only doing this if it’s explicitly requested (probably a low chance of it actually being requested), it can get messy trying to infer if someone is or isn’t ok with their previous name, plus we don’t want give Shauny even more work
I think it would be good to. If I’m clicking on a writer it’s because I want to see all their stuff and possibly filter within it, and generally don’t want to have it split up.
David Agnew was basically the pseudonym they used when a script needed to be rewritten, and the original scriptwriter couldn’t do it. It was quicker to use a pseudonym then to give the production staff credit…
Sure, but I’m talking strictly in terms of credits on Doctor Who work.
Sylv has never been credited as “Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith” on any Doctor Who material, whereas Jenna Coleman was “Jenna-Louise Coleman” for a while on Doctor Who material.
Forgive me as I’m just enquiring as someone new to this topic - is it okay to add a disclaimer such as “this work may previously have been published under a different name” or do people with deadnames prefer not to even have that disclosed? Not trying to upset, just genuinely curious, as I thought something akin to that may save any confusion but also still avoid using a deadname.
