Pen Name or Real name??

[Branwyn]

I was wondering what the opinions and/or choices are for you guys out there that are published(Will be published).

Do you use your 'Real Name', a pen name, and does a pen name mean you have to legally change it?:Shrug:

[Linda Adams]

I know of a writer who writes in five different genres and has pen names for each of the different genres. In Romance, there are some male writers who use women's pen names to help sell books better. So, it's not really a big deal to use a pen name.

[Stan Jozwiak]

Because of the disgraceful nature of the chapter called "Marzipan" in my PA published novel The Newness of New, I used the pseudonym Stanley Jozwiak.
There is no legal requirement to notify any court that you are going to use a pen name. You do have to specify that your novel was written by John Doe using the Pseudonym Stan Jozwiak when you apply for your copyright. It is also advisable to notify your local postmaster that if the post office receives any mail in your pen name, the P.O. can deliver it to your home address or post box.
Unfortunately, for some reason the Library of Congress denied granting me a copyright when I first submitted my novel. I applied for The Newness of New using the pseudonyms Stephen King and J K Rowling (their first collaboration) It appears that there is some silly law on the books that prevents one from doing that.

[underthecity]

My real name is on my books. As Linda pointed out, some authors who write in different genres will use pen names for each. Some don't.

I have three regional history books published. My fourth, a WIP children's book, will likely contain my real name. That's because the children's book is historical fiction.

allen

[Branwyn]

Because of the disgraceful nature of the chapter called "Marzipan" in my PA published novel The Newness of New, I used the pseudonym Stanley Jozwiak.
There is no legal requirement to notify any court that you are going to use a pen name. You do have to specify that your novel was written by John Doe using the Pseudonym Stan Jozwiak when you apply for your copyright. It is also advisable to notify your local postmaster that if the post office receives any mail in your pen name, the P.O. can deliver it to your home address or post box.
Unfortunately, for some reason the Library of Congress denied granting me a copyright when I first submitted my novel. I applied for The Newness of New using the pseudonyms Stephen King and J K Rowling (their first collaboration) It appears that there is some silly law on the books that prevents one from doing that.
:D

[Shadow_Ferret]

I've used my real name for the few short stories I've had published.


But I've given serious consideration to a pen name should I publish a novel. Something easy to prounounce.

[L.Jones]

Pen names are most often business decisions. They come after you are in business, meaning you have a contract, of course.

I have had 4 pen names with different publishers or genres (though presently publishing concurrently under 2 of them (Annie Jones and Luanne Jones), I have had years when books came out under 3, and if you count reprints, all 4). Every time I have used a new pen name it has been about business, including one book that was orphaned and we used a pen name to keep the numbers, which we knew were going to stink, from hurting my chances at publishing elsewhere. That book didn't do so bad and I pubbed elsewhere based on awards and reviews, not numbers so...

If I had the choice to make again, I'd have been Luanne ANYTHING BUT Jones (this is my legal name and I got talked into using it by an agent and editor who thought it sounded 'southern') so my best advice on that if you decide to go that way, chose something you will be happy with.

annie (aka Natalie Patrick aka Annie Flannigan)
Luanne Jones
Heathen Girls (MIRA available now)

[My-Immortal]

I've used my real name for the few short stories I've had published.


But I've given serious consideration to a pen name should I publish a novel. Something easy to prounounce.

I never really had a problem pronouncing "Shadow Ferret"..... ;)

[Avalon]

I used a pen name for my early short stories (unpublished). Now I'm using my real name for novels (unpublished). In my fantasy world, I start selling books. In my rather pessimistic (or realistic) fantasy world, they start to tank. Or, a happier thought, I'm so successful that I want to spread my wings and look at a new genre. In either of those cases, I'd start switching to pen names. But I'm going to start with the real one, and hope it sticks. :)

[pdr]

that if you are not an American citizen check with your friendly legal advisor about pen names.

In NZ, and so probably in most of the rest of the Commonwealth, in order for you to pass your copyright onto your heirs you have to have substantial proof (bank statements, publishers' letters and contracts and usually a legal document) explaining that you are using the pen name, Helena Heffalump, and it is your pen name.

[Jeneral]

But I've given serious consideration to a pen name should I publish a novel. Something easy to prounounce.

I keep going back and forth on this myself. My real name is very bland: think "Jane Smith." But my maiden name is very eastern European, and 99% of the people reading it for the first time pronounce it wrong. I've been sending out queries so far using my full name: "Jane CantPronounceIt Smith." At what point should I think of a pen name, if I should use one? Is this something that isn't important at this stage, and I should just concentrate on getting interest from an agent? And down the road if I'm going to be published an editor will say "You know, let's come up with something more palatable..." Is that likely?

[Jo]

Do you use your 'Real Name', a pen name, and does a pen name mean you have to legally change it?:Shrug:

Just to confuse matters, I use a "real pen name" - the name I was given at birth but never used because I was adopted. I have since legally changed my adopted name to my birth name (long story), but go by my husband's surname in everyday life. So... (are you still following me?) by using my maiden birth name for my writing, I still get to be me, but incognito. Keeps my writing persona separate from my private life, and allows my kids and hubby relative safety, normality and anonymity.

[willietheshakes]

I'm using my real name for the upcoming publications of my first novel. How else would the people who told me to give up, who said that I'd never amount to anything, realize how wrong they were?

[Branwyn]

I like the idea of using my maided name. :idea:

[aruna]

I keep going back and forth on this myself. My real name is very bland: think "Jane Smith." But my maiden name is very eastern European, and 99% of the people reading it for the first time pronounce it wrong. I've been sending out queries so far using my full name: "Jane CantPronounceIt Smith." At what point should I think of a pen name, if I should use one? Is this something that isn't important at this stage, and I should just concentrate on getting interest from an agent? And down the road if I'm going to be published an editor will say "You know, let's come up with something more palatable..." Is that likely?

I use a pen name. Originally I wanted to write under my maiden name, which is Dutch. My legal neame is German, and not only unpronounceable ( I still can't pronounce the Umlaut) to English speakers, it usually gets demoted to Munch, which evokes the rather creepy painting The Scream, or something rather silly, the Munch Bunch. Besides, it's not my name, it's my husband's.
It was my editor and her sales and marketing team who first suggested a pen name. Their reason being that my maiden name started with W and thus on bookshelves it would be on the bottom shelf. I was amenable, and we discussed various possibilities, including my father's middle name and my mother's maiden name. Finally we decided to shorten my maiden name and that's how I ended up who I am.
Be warned that in writer and reader circles your pen name becomes your name, so you must be happy with it.
In retrospect, I wish I'd stuck with my maiden name. The W argument ceased to convince after I once found the W authors at eye level, and th eM authors - including me - on the bottom.

To answer your question: sure, you can start thinking about it now, but make sure it's something you can live with, and maybe, turn into one day.

[Bigbunny]

Pen names are most often business decisions. They come after you are in business, meaning you have a contract, of course.


So let me get this right, you don't have to choose until after you have a contract? That makes sense. I was thinking you have to plunge ahead with one from the beginning.

PS. Did you write Sadie-in-Waiting? I liked it

[aruna]

So let me get this right, you don't have to choose until after you have a contract? That makes sense. I was thinking you have to plunge ahead with one from the beginning.

PS. Did you write Sadie-in-Waiting? I liked it

That's correct. You can start thinking about it now but you don't have to commit until much later in the publishing process.

[reph]

I think it was Damon Knight who cautioned women who write under their married names that they might not always be married to the same man.

[Monet]

I use three pen names, one for each of the genres I write.

[L.Jones]

So let me get this right, you don't have to choose until after you have a contract? That makes sense. I was thinking you have to plunge ahead with one from the beginning.

PS. Did you write Sadie-in-Waiting? I liked it

Yikes! Yes, I did write Sadie-in-Waiting. Thanks!

And yes, don't worry about pen names until you have at least signed with an agent (its fine to consider and play about with it, or course, but don't include it in submissions). There are tons of things to consider including the kind of book you are doing, names of other authors (either big names or already published by your publisher) that might be too similar to your name or to keep different writing ventures separate (steamy stuff and children's stories, for example).
Also as Aruna says the shelf placement (that's how I got stuck still using Jones) and that doesn't really mean anything, books get shelved on all levels depending on inventory.


Your pen name will be included in a clause in your contracts for proof of who you are -- but I've never had a problem even when a publisher slips and sends me a check with a pen name on it - you can believe I get that sucker cashed (having them redo it could take forever and this writer always needs $$) but you can have your copyright under you legal name, your pen name, or a corporation name to either reveal or conceal your identity.

annie
Luanne Jones
Heathen Girls (Mira - available now)

[skylarburris]

I use my real name, but my real name (Skylar) is rather unique so I don't feel compelled to use a pen name.

"I think it was Damon Knight who cautioned women who write under their married names that they might not always be married to the same man."

I write under my married name. I wasn't always single either! So I have work under my maiden name too. I don't see this as a problem. I use my full name when I write, which includes my maiden name as a middle name, so the name recognition would largely remain if I ever switched back to my maiden name.

[Shadow_Ferret]

That's correct. You can start thinking about it now but you don't have to commit until much later in the publishing process.

I thought when you submitted your work you'd put the title and your pen name down, then in the upper corner have your real name and contact info and on the right side the copyright and word count. Isn't that the case?

Like this:

Copyright 2006 Edward MyRealName
Approx. 195,000 words
Edward MyRealName
Address
Phone




The Dragons of Atlantis
by Jacob Pseudonym

[kristie911]

I always figured I would use my maiden name if I get published...or hyphenate it with my married name. I want to make sure all the people who said I would never make it don't have any doubt that I did...my way of telling them to stick it!

<sigh> Now I just have to make it...

[Jeneral]

I think it was Damon Knight who cautioned women who write under their married names that they might not always be married to the same man.

This is true, but honestly I'd probably keep this name if I got divorced. (Not that that's in any danger of happening...) I'm too used to having a name that I can actually spell to people over the phone.

Thanks for the thoughts, Aruna. I'll start thinking about names in my family tree, but concentrate harder on making my synopsis look good. :)

[Branwyn]

I always figured I would use my maiden name if I get published...or hyphenate it with my married name. I want to make sure all the people who said I would never make it don't have any doubt that I did...my way of telling them to stick it!

<sigh> Now I just have to make it...

Agreed!

[Diana Hignutt]

My books are published under my real name. Anything that I write for adult audiences will always bare my real name. Now, I've got a couple of YA books in me... down-the-line...I'll almost certainly use a pen name for those.

Diana Hignutt

[emeraldcite]

My guess is that I'll have to have a pen name eventually. My last name is far too ethnic and difficult to pronounce (it's not really, but people get overwhelmed. It rhymes with Gucci. Geez, how hard could it be).

Although I'd love to have my real name on a book, it may not be as marketable as a more "plain jane" kinda name.

No offense to any Janes.

[Maryn]

My suspense stories all bear my real name, but my erotica stories have appeared under any one of three pseudonyms, depending on the intended audience. One's female and melodramatic, one's male, and one's gender-free and steeped in mystery. (Gag me, huh?)

In that way, erotica is like romance--readers make certain assumptions about who can write what they want to read. Funny, it's never a suburban housewife...

Maryn, steeped in mystery (yeah, right)

[reph]

My suspense stories all bear my real name, but my erotica stories have appeared under any one of three pseudonyms....
What do you do when the publication asks for a bio? I assume readers balk at "George P. Nathanson earned a degree in comparative literature from Reputable Old New England Women's College and is now a suburban housewife in Perimeter City, Iowa."

[Liam Jackson]

Sometimes, use of a pen name isn't just a matter of convenience, it's a necessity. When I submitted my last book (a piece somewhat different than what I had been writing), the Powers That Be said something to the effect, "No, no, no! You're going to confuse the readers! They'll expect you to write "genre A" and here you are writing "genre B!" Oh, the humanity of it all! Quick, invent a pen name!"

(All melodrama and exclamation marks supplied by the Powers That Be.)
I think I'm going with Isle B. Damned! Jr.

[Pike]

I've been using my nick name for so long as a first name that I often forget to seperate the two. I've been Pike since high school twenty years ago and haven't had a problem with it. And as others have said, using a name that is different might hopefully catch a few eyes at the book rack, not that my writing can't do that on its own.

[Maryn]

What do you do when the publication asks for a bio? I assume readers balk at "George P. Nathanson earned a degree in comparative literature from Reputable Old New England Women's College and is now a suburban housewife in Perimeter City, Iowa."I tell the suspense magazines the truth. The erotica publishers don't ask for a bio so far, except for one. When and if they do, each pseudonym will have one that doesn't exactly lie but doesn't reveal the truth, either. Rather than giving my education and residence, it'll probably have any hobbies and interests which are peripherally related to the kind of erotica it is.

George P. Nathanson has been fixated on suede and leather since childhood and only recently has begun adding silver spikes to those special favorites... Yeah, try and find me based on that!http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif

Hmm, that makes me think of something I'd be wiser to ask on the erotica board...

Maryn, who will see some of you there, no doubt

[DamaNegra]

When I was about to be born, everyone thought I was a boy. Therefore, they were going to name me Jose Pablo. However, at the last minute I turned out to be a girl :D so I was named Ana Isabel. If I ever use a pseudonym, I'll be Jose Pablo.

I've always had this question, though. When you do signings or public appearances or whatever, what do you do if your pen name is not the same gender as you are? Not like it's about to happen, but I'm curious.

[Maryn]

That's a good question, Ana Isabel! (Nice to meet you.) So far, my male persona has never completed a novel and had a signing or other event--but I bet someone here has been there.

We'll just chat while we wait for the answer.

Maryn, holding up her end of the conversation

[aruna]

No offense to any Janes.

We actually do have a real live Jane Smith on this forum. But since everyone seems to be avoiding Jane and Smith like the plague, it will probably end up being the rarest and cooest name of all!
Go Jane, go :hooray: !

[triceretops]

I'm using my real name for the upcoming publications of my first novel. How else would the people who told me to give up, who said that I'd never amount to anything, realize how wrong they were?

This is exactly the way I feel. I want my real name in THEIR face. Actually I have already put it there, so I don't feel so bad.

Tri

[scfirenice]

That's the reason I use my MAIDEN name!!! No really, I write under my maiden name because I worry about stalkers (I wish). As a nurse, my information has to be public and can be easily accessed. Plus with kids in school if you ever make it big it puts them in danger if every one knows mommy is a big star (Wishing again). Not to mention that my married name is...um...German and sorta hard to write, say, pronounce, look at.....

[DamaNegra]

But does anyone have any experience dealing with public appearances of works you did under a pseudonym of a different gender?

(I'm a curious and persistent person, bad combination)

[Diane]

A friend of mine, a former romance novelist, insists that any woman writing a book MUST use a pseudonym, especially if there's sexy stuff in the novel. "You get letters from guys in prison! You don't want your real name out there!"

I, however, have always wanted to see my name on the cover of a book. So I'll take a pseudonym for real life, if I have to.

[Ravenlocks]

I will be using a pseudonym because (1) there's a major author with the same name as me who writes in a genre I do NOT want to be associated with and (2) my name is too generic for my taste anyway. I have a less generic nickname among some of my friends, so I'm planning to use that and my generic last name.

I also like my privacy, so a pen name would be a good idea for me in the off chance that I ever become known.

Btw, I was under the same impression as Shadow Ferret in regards to formatting a submission when you want to use a pen name. Can anybody speak to this?

[Manat]

I will be using a pseudonym because (1)
Btw, I was under the same impression as Shadow Ferret in regards to formatting a submission when you want to use a pen name. Can anybody speak to this?

I use a pen name for reasons of privacy but I submitted in my own name. The pen name wasn't used used until it was time to sign a contract and register copyright. The contract read me/ writing as Judith James, and the copyright was then registered in that name. As someone else said, you don't have to worry about it until you're getting down to the paperwork.

[wayndom]

I use my real name (could never imagine why I wouldn't), but my last name is Smith, so I'm 3/4 anonymous anyway.

[wayndom]

I don't think pen-names are as big a deal as they used to be, for the same reason that the radio airwaves are now filled with announcers with decidedly "ethnic-sounding" names.

Not too long ago (as late as the sixties), America was considerably more racist than it is now, racist in a benign sort of way, not really hateful, but over-accomodating to the whitebread folks who were the majority (and of whom I am one).

In the sixties, all radio announcers (and movie stars) had names like Bob Jackson, Tom White, etc. You NEVER heard someone named Hunsaker or Tblisi on the air, or saw people with non-anglo sounding names on TV.

The late great Salvatore Albert Lombino wrote dozens of hot and hot-selling crime and detective novels, but had to use the pen names Evan Hunter and Ed McBain. I heard him in an interview say that he simply could not have been published in 1950's America with his real name, which is shameful.

Those days, thankfully, are gone, and now there's nothing unusual about DJ's or movie stars with middle-European, Asian, or what-have-you sounding names. I'd bet there are fewer novels written under pen-names, too (though I can certainly relate to some of the female posters who feel more secure keeping their names to themselves).

[Danger Jane]

My name is kind of common and there are several authors with my same last name. I'm going to publish under a pen name, probably my first name and one of the cooler Irish names from the old Family Tree.

http://howmanyofme.com/

There are over a million Nancys and over a hundred thousand people with my last name (bet they all live in the Midwest). But there are only SIX actual Nancy Concannons. One of the cooler Irish names of the old Family Tree. We have the coat of arms. It has an elephant. Useless information.

But anyway that link might be helpful in figuring out a unique pen name?

[wayndom]

We have the coat of arms. It has an elephant. Useless information.


Useless, but tantalizing. What on Earth is an elephant doing on an Irish coat-of-arms???? Do Irish elephants have the big ears, or the little ones? Is it a Green Irish elephant, an Orange Irish elephant, or a pink or white one?

[TurkeyLurkey]

Nobody can pronounce or spell my married name correctly. I'm opting to go with my maiden name. Much easier for the public!

[Scrawler]

There's a writer with my exact name who writes graphic lesbian romance novels (not that there's anything wrong with that) and I've had a few people ask if her books were mine. (I often wonder if any people don't ask but assume).
I've started to use my married name.

[ajkjd01]

I have an established career using my actual name, and I do want to keep them seperate, for many reasons.

So I use my first and middle initials for my writing, which makes it a bit more gender neutral, and use my actual last name. Actually, the initials are me as well...I went by AJ to some of my friends in high school and college.

So it's a way of keeping those two worlds seperate in my own mind more than anything else.

[Shady Lane]

Nah, real name. The only reason I'd use a pen would be to separate my real life from my writing life...and I don't have a real life.

Plus my last name is clunky and ethnic and I like the thought that a girl with a clunky and ethnic last name could see mine on a shelf and feel some sisterhood. Or whatever.

[Danger Jane]

Useless, but tantalizing. What on Earth is an elephant doing on an Irish coat-of-arms???? Do Irish elephants have the big ears, or the little ones? Is it a Green Irish elephant, an Orange Irish elephant, or a pink or white one?

I'm thinking big ears. African. But I don't remember after that. It's at my grandma's house.

[Esopha]

People tend to leave out the last 'e' in my last name, so a pen name might be prudent...

But I want the fame and glory, dammit.

[Danger Jane]

People tend to leave out the last 'e' in my last name, so a pen name might be prudent...

But I want the fame and glory, dammit.

You'll get it anyway if you're good enough, and not just from all the nonfamous people who actually know you

:D

[Sean D. Schaffer]

I was wondering what the opinions and/or choices are for you guys out there that are published(Will be published).

Do you use your 'Real Name', a pen name, and does a pen name mean you have to legally change it?:Shrug:


I don't think you have to legally change your name, but you do have to send the publisher your real name so they can pay you, etc.

I'm debating right now whether or not to use a pen name with my present work, simply because of my previous experience with PublishAmerica. I sometimes wonder if people looking over my future published works, happening upon my PA book, would be either disappointed that I went, in my earlier days, with that company or if, worse yet, they might end up buying a book from them. Because I don't want that to happen, I might very well form a pen name for myself and write under it.

Also, I've thought about possibly using a variation of my own real name, just with first and middle initials and a last name, like one author I can think of whose works I highly admire.

Whatever I do, I think it might be prudent for me, anyway, to use a pen name, if only because of my previous experience with a less-than-legitimate house. I know it might be an unsubstantiated fear, but it's still a fear I think I will need to somehow alleviate.

I hope this helps, and I hope my rambling makes some amount of sense.

:)

[Talamascan]

It is always a good idea to register your pen name legally. I understand it is quite simple to do in the US.

[ChimeraCreative]

I cannot wait to use my pen name. I think it's a great way to keep your privacy. And I don't get too bent out of shape when someone critiques the work cuz they're not using my actual name. And my friends and grandmother won't read my dirty sex scenes. ^_^

-An

[maxmordon]

Don't know if I had to use a pen name; maybe it would help to eliminate the idea that the US citizens are reading a "foreing" novel

What would you think, for example, if you see a novel writen by a Juan Alejandro Coronado or a Felix Enrique Figueroa

[Talamascan]

I don't believe Americans are that Xenophobic, YET.

[maxmordon]

I don't believe Americans are that Xenophobic, YET.

I am not saying xenophobic, but I think they wouldn't expect a Sci-Fi novel, for example

[EriRae]

Don't know if I had to use a pen name; maybe it would help to eliminate the idea that the US citizens are reading a "foreing" novel

What would you think, for example, if you see a novel writen by a Juan Alejandro Coronado or a Felix Enrique Figueroa

Gabriel Garcia Marquez...that's what I would think. I would pick it up and read the jacket blurb, probably check page 40 to see if it held my attention.

[maxmordon]

Gabriel Garcia Marquez...that's what I would think. I would pick it up and read the jacket blurb, probably check page 40 to see if it held my attention.

Gabriel García Márquez is one of my favorite writers (my uncle had the chance to met him) but a lot of younger writers in Latin America feels that him and the other Old School writers from the Latin American boom from the 70's has made that we are classified as Magic Realism. And those are big shoes to fullfill...

[Talamascan]

The only shoes you have to fill are your own.

[EriRae]

Gabriel García Márquez is one of my favorite writers (my uncle had the chance to met him) but a lot of younger writers in Latin America feels that him and the other Old School writers from the Latin American boom from the 70's has made that we are classified as Magic Realism. And those are big shoes to fullfill...

Fill your own shoes and shoot for the stars. Use your name or a pen name, but whatever you use, don't be afraid of how people will take you. I've never thrown down a book because I didn't like the author's name (unless I'd already read the author ... who will remain nameless ... and decided he sucked). A killer title will overcome just about anything else on the cover.

[Stijn Hommes]

There are only a few valid reason to use a pen name, the most important:
1. You don't want people in the different genres you write to accidentally pick up a book you know they won't like.
2. Your real name is impossible to pronounce or to common to be relied upon in bookstores.

[Esopha]

Apparently (or, according to howmanyofme.com), there are zero people in the US with my full name.

I would like to point out that this is wrong. Thank you.

[Dicentra P]

I've thought about a pseudonym because I do have a relatively common married name. (I just did an amazon search a dozen books in several different genres from kids to fiction to how to by authors who have my exact name) I never thought of the protect the kids angle but that's a good point too. My maiden name is pretty unique, though google tells me there is at least one other person with the same first and last as my maiden but I would prefer something else. Its more than two syllables which seems to be off putting. I don't need to decide on one yet but if I am ever so fortunate I will either farm my family tree farther back or use Dicentra as a last name.

[Libbie]

I was wondering what the opinions and/or choices are for you guys out there that are published(Will be published).

Do you use your 'Real Name', a pen name, and does a pen name mean you have to legally change it?:Shrug:

My real last name, for some totally stupid reason, gives people difficulty. It's not like it's Polish and spelled all weird. It's pronounced phonetically. But still, nobody can ever pronounce it correctly, or alternately, they feel the need to say it in a really goofy Sicilian gangster-voice. So when I published my short stories, I used my maiden name sans hyphen for my pen name. If I sell my novel, it will be under a different, totally made-up last name because I just like it better. And it's easy to pronounce.

But I'm keeping my real first name on it. Well, okay, my real middle name that I use as my real first name.

Complicated, I know.

I do plan on writing in other genres and for those I will be using different pen names altogether just for the sake of simplicity for readers. I am a very organized person, and I like the categorization of using a different name for each different genre.

I also plan on writing some controversial things, and having a little barrier of privacy between my writing life and my real life may come in handy in the future.

[Libbie]

There are only a few valid reason to use a pen name, the most important:
1. You don't want people in the different genres you write to accidentally pick up a book you know they won't like.
2. Your real name is impossible to pronounce or to common to be relied upon in bookstores.

Why isn't "Because you want to" a valid reason?

[Talamascan]

Why isn't "Because you want to" a valid reason?Seems like a perfectly valid reason to me.

[Namatu]

My real last name, for some totally stupid reason, gives people difficulty. It's not like it's Polish and spelled all weird.
Hey! :tongue The Polish thing is why I'd use a pen name. Even though my surname's been Americanized to be phonetic, 99.9% of people say it incorrectly. It doesn't even have a y in it, and only one z! :D

[Talamascan]

I use a pen name purely for the reason of anonymity. To me it's as natural as not giving out your ID number to strangers.

[Chasing the Horizon]

My real name is ideal for publishing. I'm lucky, I couldn't make up something as perfect as my real name if I tried, lol. It's fairly short, easy to pronounce, completely unique, memorable, and doesn't denote gender.

[James D. Macdonald]

"Whatcha reading?"

"My Years in Alcatraz by #23092057."

"Is that his real name?"

"No, it's a pen name."

-------------------

Another reason for using a pen name is because you might be confused with another writer. If your real name is Herman Melville, or John Grisham ... you'll probably want to use some other name.

[Kdaw]

I'm using my real name for the upcoming publications of my first novel. How else would the people who told me to give up, who said that I'd never amount to anything, realize how wrong they were?

My first priority is getting published, but after looking through this thread I guess the advice for someone with an unpronounceable name (it's even unspellable with a standard English keyboard), is a pen name.

I really fell for Willietheshakes argument, but for me I would like the anonymity. Then I can look them in their eyes and think; you're talking out of your ass, and do not know it.

[Kurtz]

There are only a few valid reason to use a pen name, the most important:
1. You don't want people in the different genres you write to accidentally pick up a book you know they won't like.
2. Your real name is impossible to pronounce or to common to be relied upon in bookstores.

George Orwell.

[Novelist in Paradise]

In grade school, when I had to write a hundred times on the blackboard "I will not tie my teacher's belt loop to his chair" (I'd sneaked up behind him when he was paying attention to something else), I had to sign each sentence with my full penal name.

[The Lonely One]

I prefer pen names. I currently have only one of them published in any fashion.

I suppose there's a professional reason for this; I am a published journalist at a daily newspaper, and I feel better about leaving my reputation with one separate from my reputation with the other. But I think it's more an extension of storytelling for me. I enjoy the act of creation, of becoming someone else when I write.

[SarahWesten]

If I get published I'm definitely using a pen name. My real last name is unpronounceable.

[COchick]

I have a name that's pretty easy to remember, but I might just use a pen name to make things more separate. I haven't really decided yet.

[Alitriona]

I am using my real name. I used my real name on my submission but the publisher checked before drawing up the contract that I would be using that name and not another one.

The elephant on the coat of arms... I have been told that over time lots of Irish families made them up themselves and after a few generations for some they stuck. It doesn't make them any less real today but it does explain the random images on some.

[jallenecs]

.... Keeps my writing persona separate from my private life, and allows my kids and hubby relative safety, normality and anonymity.

Ditto, though for different reasons. I live in a very small county, with only two towns in it. My real name is VERY well known in it, because A) this is a small appalachian community, and everybody knows everybody and B) my parents both developed strong reputations from their time teaching, reputations that reflect well on me and my children.

I write about monsters and demons and magic, stuff that doesn't fly well in the Bible Belt. I don't want to be harassed by well-meaning neighbors who think I'm going to burn in hell because I didn't write what they liked.

Besides, I like my privacy.

[quicklime]

I'm doing a pen name for the simple reason I'd prefer to be anonymous, both in general terms and specifically because there are a few people in my past I'd rather not see turn up again if I hit a payday simply because of that

[Psybolt]

I have used my real name. It was just a cool thing to see my name listed on a cover of a book. It wouldn't have been as much of a thrill if I had made up a name to use.

[Margarita Skies]

I am considering using a pen name.

[LOG]

I use a pen name.

[Loren Ellis]

A good question that I saw asked in another pen name thread, but that was never answered, was what to do if you used a pen name and were sending out things such as query letters and manuscripts. Would you use a pen name right from the get-go? Is a pen name something that you solidify with a publisher after they've chosen to publish your work? Is it something you tell your agent after s/he has agreed to represent you? At what point in the writing process does a pen name actually come into play, and how do you let it be known (to only the right people!) that this pen name is actually you?

[Psybolt]

Of course, if I were to use a pen name, it would be John Dodge.

[DeleyanLee]

A good question that I saw asked in another pen name thread, but that was never answered, was what to do if you used a pen name and were sending out things such as query letters and manuscripts. Would you use a pen name right from the get-go? Is a pen name something that you solidify with a publisher after they've chosen to publish your work? Is it something you tell your agent after s/he has agreed to represent you? At what point in the writing process does a pen name actually come into play, and how do you let it be known (to only the right people!) that this pen name is actually you?

A writer can think up a pen name, or multiple ones, any time they like.

My understanding is that you send out all correspondence in your legal name. If you're thinking of using a pen name, you put that on the first page of the manuscript as the by-line (ShadowFerret posted the format I'm used to on the first page of this thread).

After the book has been sold, discussions of pen names happens with the editor and, sometimes, the agent and the name gets approved by the marketing department. Sometimes the editor comes back and wants you to use one, sometimes it's the author's preference. With my published friends who have pen names, all of them had to get the blessing of the marketing department (just like with the title) before the name got used.

Since the publisher and agent was part of the sealing of the name deal, they have the records needed to remember who you are, no matter how many pen names you have.

There is no need to legally change your name to your pen name or to trademark it or anything else. However, some states have a "doing business as" legality that makes it easier for you to open bank accounts, file taxes, etc which you might want to look into.