Pen name question

girlyswot · Sep 11, 2009

Thanks for all your help with word counts. Now I'm wondering what I should do about using a pen name. I definitely don't want these stories to be published under my real name. Do I use my preferred pen name when I submit? Or (if by some miracle it gets accepted) do I sort that out later?

Dee Carney · Sep 11, 2009

girlyswot said:
Thanks for all your help with word counts. Now I'm wondering what I should do about using a pen name. I definitely don't want these stories to be published under my real name. Do I use my preferred pen name when I submit? Or (if by some miracle it gets accepted) do I sort that out later?

Every publisher I've ever dealt with asks for both your real name and your pen name. The real name is for accounting purposes. (For someone like me who writes under two pen names, having my real name would be paramount to making sure I get paid.)

When I sub, I sign the query letter: [Real name] w/a Dee Carney.

girlyswot · Sep 11, 2009

That's very helpful, thank you. What's w/a?

Stacia Kane · Sep 11, 2009

writing/as.

mariedees · Sep 11, 2009

Your contact with the publisher is in your real name. So at the top of your submissions, you put your name and contact info (address, phone, email). Then within the submission, simply include your pen name after the title.

Tea and Witchery
by
Marie Dees

I've not run into any problems working that way with Publishers. My real last name is Smith and there is already another writer using my real name.

Marie

girlyswot · Sep 12, 2009

Thanks, everyone!

job · Sep 12, 2009

Do all your querying with just your real name. The manuscript can have Jenny Finewriter writing as Fina Penname on the title page, if you want, but you are Ms Finewriter in interactions with the publishing world.

After the ms is bought, tell the editor you want to use a pen name. Routine matter at that point.

Pen name question

girlyswot

Dee Carney

Bringing sexy back

girlyswot

Stacia Kane

Girl Detective

mariedees

girlyswot

job

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript