Pen Names

[nessa2591]

Hey, I'm Vanessa.

I have a fairly general question involving aliases.

What are the good and bad aspects of pen names?

Any comment about pen names, in general, is appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!

[Andy]

Interesting question. I've heard that some writers use a local street name for their pen name, or sometimes the name of a pet. A good pen name should be pronounceable. :) It could be either a real-sounding name, or something fun and catchy.

Just out of curiosity, why do you want to use an alias? Why no use your own name?

[Lykaios]

The Lionboy books were written under an alias as the two people who wrote its names were too long to fit on the cover so they stole the name of their pet lizard (Zizou) and a friend's dog (Corder). But even then they had their own page at the back for their real names.

[Shaun]

Pen names are used quite frequently, particularly by authors who want to cross genres. Stephen King has a pen name (maybe two, I can't remember) and a lot of other authors do too. I have no idea who, though, because they've cleverly not gone around screaming "I'm that guy!"
You should use them with caution though. Don't make up a silly pen name unless you're writing for children/young adults. Adults are far less likely to take you seriously if your name is Lemony Snickett or some other equally bizarre name. Try to come up with a catchy, yet realistic name. Don't treat it like a joke (unless the name you choose came about as a joke, but it's a good name).

Also realize that if you choose a pen name, you still have to tell your publisher, if you ever get grabbed by one, your real name beforehand. Keeping your real identity secret is a great way to get dropped and blacklisted by an editor. Don't do anything to jeopardize your potential for publication.

[sXe_Jinxeh]

I use a penname mostly because I want to do a billion other things in the world (Be a rockstar, filmmaker, musician, lawyer...) and if one of those things happen beforehand (rockstar in particular) and I become super famous I don't want the world to think the only reason why I got published or why the books sold was because I was so and so.

So, that's why.

[Shaun]

That's a good reason too, actually. Some folks use pen names so they don't have to deal with that "you sold because you were famous writing those other novels". I can't remember, but I think Stephen King used a pen name as an experiment, but I could be wrong.

[ScottyMcGee]

Scotty McGee is a total alternate ego that I have. I use it whenever I vandalize, whenever I leave a note on somebody's book without them knowing, whenever I get a mysterious present, whenever I write, etc.

I hardly think my real name, Edgar Fransisco Raphael Gonzalez, is as dashing or exciting or amusing. It's also fun to see people scream it out loud when they're pissed off at me.
"SCOTTTYYYYYYYY!!!!!!"


I'm not sure if I'm officially going to have it as my pseudonym though. It doesn't sound serious enough. I'm still debating on what pen name to have when I become a writer.

[sXe_Jinxeh]

Yeah, I'm in pretty much the same boat as Scotty too.

My real name...

Teresa Andi SweetActually, it's Theresa, but Teresa is way better. So even my real name is a penname...dude...

isn't half as awesome as Jinxeh, or Facts, or Brenda, or whatever I am going by now.

[Majyk]

I read a series of books (Warriors, or something) that were written by three people (I think everyone got a turn to write a book?), and they all used one name, Erin Hunter, so it would be easier to have all thier books in the same place on the shelves.

[Crocolyle]

Pros:
1) They're cool

2) Gender neutrality (if you want. J. K. Rowling instead of Joanne or whatever Rowling is an example. Sometimes also changing gender like George Sand, etc. And then there are a ton of other examples like the Bronte sisters took neuter first names and the last name Bell.)

3) If you're already published, you can do this to prevent your name from saturating the market (Stephen King wrote under Richard Bachman for that reason)


Cons:
1) No old acquaintances/friends know it's you unless they know your nom de plume

2) Oddly enough, there are stories this former editor I sort of know mentioned where people who wrote under pseudonyms got their stuff misfiled by the publishing house.

-----
My pseudonym is Nick Sean Lyle, from which "Crocolyle" is derived.

My real name is
Neil Calensky

I think my pseudonym sounds better than my real name. I mean, I'm the only one I know named Neil...

[SweeneyLovesLovett]

How I came up with mine: First name=Name of pet
last name= Street name
That's how I came up with mine, and I love it.

[Sofiel]

What is it??!!

(Your pen name, I mean.)

[Crocolyle]

That's a good reason too, actually. Some folks use pen names so they don't have to deal with that "you sold because you were famous writing those other novels". I can't remember, but I think Stephen King used a pen name as an experiment, but I could be wrong.

Stephen King wrote under the name Richard Bachman because he was being too prolific and was worried he'd saturate the market, or something along those lines, so he'd publish some books under that name. After a while people noticed the similiarities and one book store employee, if memory serves, became convinced that the Bachman and King were the same guy and managed to find out and prove it. Stephen King got pissed and decided that Bachman had dead. Occasionally Bachman's fictional wife finds a manuscript of his, it gets edited by a Bachman scholar, and gets published. Like, he still publishes under the name correctly.

I think that's what happened. The only Bachman book that I read was "The Regulators."

[ironcir]

Stephen King wrote under the name Richard Bachman because he was being too prolific and was worried he'd saturate the market, or something along those lines, so he'd publish some books under that name. After a while people noticed the similiarities and one book store employee, if memory serves, became convinced that the Bachman and King were the same guy and managed to find out and prove it. Stephen King got pissed and decided that Bachman had dead. Occasionally Bachman's fictional wife finds a manuscript of his, it gets edited by a Bachman scholar, and gets published. Like, he still publishes under the name correctly.

I think that's what happened. The only Bachman book that I read was "The Regulators."

King's pen name was one part to turn down the heat, another an experiment.

Now something to answer Nessa's initial question: because Crocolyle said just about all I wanted to say in the beginning, my advice is use a pen name if you've murdered someone.

[SweeneyLovesLovett]

Samson Woodhill

[Shukara]

I only use one pen name, which just happens to be Shukara. Sometimes it's best to do that in the beginning because I think it helps you be a little more shielded if you are posting things on the internet. It also doesn't brand your story if you have a horrible name. What if you had a name like Dick Waltz? I wouldn't that on a book. It helps you seperate your writing life and your personal life. (If anyone has the name Dick Waltz, no offence).

[kathydacat]

I always use one of my characters names wherever I go, because it's original because there's probably loads of people named Holly. And that sentence was rubbish. I'm tired.
And also my nickname is boring, and it makes me quite happy when people call me Kathy.

[Snappy Penguine]

I read all the Bachman books but one, in "Thinner" the main character actually says at one point "I feel like a character from a Stephen King novel". I couldn't stop laughing at that.

I like psudonyms for the anomyty they provide (if that's spelled right), I actually considered going with a psudonym at one point since I plan on being a psychologist and I write horror and don't want the latter to lure away patients. But I eventually decided against it because I have a long deceased relative who was a well known writer and I'd like to see my books on the library shelves right next to his one of these days and if I used a penname I would never have that.

[acrosse]

Hi!

I write under a pen name for several reasons:
a) so no one can look me up in the phone book
b) so I can maintain some privacy when going to the bank, or a doctor, or anywhere else that I would be required to give my name
c) because I work on a rape crisis line and am looking for a job working with youth who have experienced violence. Anonymity is important here because I don't want to create a power dynamic and I don't want my clients worrying that I will write their stories.
d) so that I can branch out and explore new techniques without it reflecting on my personal relationships.

Pen names, as I call them have both pros and cons, but it depends on you, on your lifestyle and on what you want for yourself. Ever since I started highschool I have wanted the anonymity that a pen name can provide. I have also always known I wanted to go into this feild, so that was a contributing factor.

Hopefully, you will find what works for you and see where you go. Many people create a pen name part way through their career, so you could always do that.

Good luck!

Aisley Crosse (pen name)

[Mercy]

I have mixed feelings about using a pen name. It would be good for privacy, but at the same time, I like the idea of my name being published, eventually. Berenice from The Member of the Wedding sums up my feelings on it, really. There is one part in the book where she talks about names accumilating meaning and that when you change your name, no one knows who you are. There's a little voice inside my head that wants people to know who I am. x3

[Midnight_Moon]

I will always use a pen name on the Internet. But if I even become a famous singer or get a book published, I will use my real name. I think it's pretty but I can't tell you. Internet thing remember.

[blue phoenix]

I use a pen name and only a pen name online, my dad's protective that way, but I don't really care.

[random_writer]

See, I need to think of a pen name. I hardly think that my real name,

Hannah-Marie Hendrix

Actually, it's Hannah Marie Hendrix... But Hannah-Marie is SO much better.

is that exciting. I don't particularly think it should go on any book covers. But what I need to do is go to one of those baby-naming websites and randomly do stuff. Then, I have a name generator I found that does last names...
(I use a lot of resources for my character names...)
It would/will take me a while to find one that fits.

[Starry]

See, I need to think of a pen name. I hardly think that my real name,

Hannah-Marie Hendrix

Actually, it's Hannah Marie Hendrix... But Hannah-Marie is SO much better.

is that exciting. I don't particularly think it should go on any book covers. But what I need to do is go to one of those baby-naming websites and randomly do stuff. Then, I have a name generator I found that does last names...
(I use a lot of resources for my character names...)
It would/will take me a while to find one that fits.

RW, I would say that your real name is interesting enough to use. xP I hate mine, so boring. But I'll probably still use it to publish anyway. I want the credit!

I actually only replied to this to as RW to post a link to that name generator that does last names-- I've been having such a big issue with that!

[random_writer]

Here you go, Starry. I think it only does English last names, though; that's my only disappointment.

Name Generator! (http://www.xtra-rant.com/gennames/)

Oh, it does first names, too. Or, you can enter the first name of your choice, and it will show last name results paired with the first name that you entered, so that you can see how they look together.
It's pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. :D

EDIT: Hmm. I have another one, too. It's http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/.
I use it for first names.

[Starry]

Thanks! I need a new way to get last names. I've been either just giving first names or creating last names by adding "son" to the ends of first names. This should be a major improvement!

[blue phoenix]

I use http://www.babynamesearch.com/ for my character names I love it :D!

[Phantom]

I wonder.... Is my name exciting enough?

Mary Kathleen Hill Mary Kate

[Snappy Penguine]

Phantom, if you were to publish under a pen name I would suggest keeping your full name but dropping the first name. Nothing wrong with Mary, but the latter part by itself sounds very professional.

[random_writer]

Oh, I've got a good one! I'm considering

Shanda Shea or Shanda Lynne Kiefer

What do you guys think?

EDIT: More!

Shyla Blunt
Lynna O'Keefe
Eden Carr (Totally different from the other ones... but I like it!)

[Zombified]

No more spam or I delete your posts.

[random_writer]

Way ahead of you... I'm deleting them myself! :D
Sorry, Zomb!

[Neocutey24]

It depends on why.

Just to have one? Okay... something like John Twelve Hawks. That's cool.

Because you don't like your name? I don't know. Use what you like.

Because you're name's to uncommon? CRAP. Be PROUD of your name. Because when you get famous, if your name's to hard to pronounce people will make themselves LEARN (obviously, you can see why I'm so passionate about this particular part)

[Crocolyle]

My pen name is Hamper Westley.

jay kay.

But seriously

[littledreamer!]

I've been thinking of making a pen name that uses my real name...like Ember something....

[Ammom]

I like pen names. They can be ones you've given yourself, or accumulated. They can be beneficial I think, if you don't want to be too known. Like if you become a published author, you can have a pen name to prevent being noticed.

[Jack]

I normally either use a character from my novel 'The Conclave'- Draxzar. Or i use my real name: Jack Simmons.

[Ammom]

I usually use names from my own books or games I make (which often, the game characters are based off of my fictional characters), or Ammom - a name I've had for about 4 years now.

[lango]

Well since my original name is way too Brazilian, and I really don't write in portuguese at all, I just made it a bit more international by shortening it a bit - 'Ren Oliver' - or I just use my fake name, 'Lango' :D Lango is the name I might use for childrens' books if I manage to find a suitable last name for it

[eriko]

I told my parents that I wanted to use a pen name. And they were like: Why would we like our daughter to write with a fake name. When she writes we want everyone to know to know that she has written that.

Anyways I am not going to actually do as they say:
1.I am not sure if I'll ever will get published.
2.My ambition is to be a Genetic Researcher.
3.Pen names are much coooooooler.
4.I really am very concerned about my privacy.
5.My real name is too personal for me to be shared in the public.

I might have used Eriko but it is a Japenese name and I need an Indian one. But I like Eriko damn too much.