Pen names

[September skies]

I'm sure this is probably already covered in some thread...but I was wondering.

I read somewhere that if a person has never been published, he/she should not use a pen name.

But what if I have a story I don't really want to promote under my real (more biblical) name, especially since I was a preacher's daughter?

Not that I'm writing an X-rated novel but I do have a couple of short stories that will knock your socks off....

just curious.

[pepperlandgirl]

That's a silly rule, ignore it. everything I've published, save one literary story, has been under a pen name. I can't imagine a singly reason why a new author couldn't use a pen name.

[veinglory]

Who said that? I think the majority of erotica writers use a pen name, I sure do. Some publishers have a preference for real name use as tghey can do fuller promotion of a person than a persona--but I don't know of any that insist on it.

[jen.nifer]

No, I've read that before too, somewhere in some submission guidelines...

Sounds like it was a rule set by that particular publisher unfortunately.

[dragonjax]

As far as I know, you have to give your real name with the submission so that you can get paid properly. But you would also clearly include a byline with the pen name.

Example:

AUTHOR'S REAL NAME
AUTHOR'S ADDRESS
AUTHOR'S EMAIL INFO

STORY TITLE
BY AUTHOR'S PEN NAME

Me, I use a pen name for my erotica because I use my real name for mainstream and YA stuff.

[blisswriter]

I certainly publish my erotica under a pen name. As others said, my mainstream stuff goes under my legal name.

But yes, you do have to give a publisher/editor your legal name to get paid. Unless you're "doing business as" _____________ (insert pen name here)...

[Danyealle]

I post under 3 seperate pen names depending upon the genre I am working with, sounds like what someone said, some publishers wierdness