I am wondering what anyone thought of using pen names. I am writing an extremely personal work of narrative fiction loosely based on events in my life. However, I don't want to use my name. While I am so proud of this book, I am deeply ashamed of my life and would hate for anyone to know that I went through some of these things. My writing is different when I think about publishing under my name. It becomes tense and strangled, however when I think about hiding behind a pen name, I open up and it just vibrates out of me! I was also wondering if anyone ever was hesitant to finish a novel because they were scared of getting rejected. I know from reading thousands of your posts over the months that rejection is a way of life, but I've put so much of myself and so much hope into this. So on the one hand, I'm so scared that someone will read the book, I want to hide behind a name, but on the other, I'm afraid I'll die if no one wants her. Schizo, huh?
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If I were you, when you get an agent, talk with them about the personal nature of this and I am sure they will aid you in finding a great name to pen under.Keep in mind that unless you tell anyone that it is off your real life there would be no way for them to know it. You might just have a really neat story running around in your head.
Either way you may find that putting the story on paper will help heal any bad things from your past. Great success with your work.
Many people write under pen names, for many reasons - some more than one.
What's important is the work, not the name tagged on the end (as long as it's you cashing the checks!).
What's important is the work, not the name tagged on the end (as long as it's you cashing the checks!).
I think perhaps the process of distancing yourself from the work might be harder if the work is of a more personal nature. Please remember that a rejection letter is just a no, and that 'no' can come for a whole host of reasons. It's not a rejection of you as a person. It simply means they don't think they can sell the work, but someone else might feel it's a perfect fit for them.
If you're still writing, try and put the issue of submitting to one side. You will need to put your work away for a while once you've finished it (that way you can spot the errors and problems much more easily), and then go over it again, so submitting is a little while off at least yet. For me the fears of submitting far outstripped the reality, and you may find the same is true for you. I hope so.
(Your questions weren't dumb, by the way).
If you're still writing, try and put the issue of submitting to one side. You will need to put your work away for a while once you've finished it (that way you can spot the errors and problems much more easily), and then go over it again, so submitting is a little while off at least yet. For me the fears of submitting far outstripped the reality, and you may find the same is true for you. I hope so
.(Your questions weren't dumb, by the way).
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i don't necessarily want a pen name but i hate my extremely jewish sounding last name and would prefer to write with a shortened version of it.
if only my boyfriend would just propose to me...his last name is great!
if only my boyfriend would just propose to me...his last name is great!
Thank you for your responses.
I wanted to use the name of the person telling the as my pen name since it is in her voice, but I didn't know if that would make me look "Frey-ish" (amazing when someone's name becomes a euphemism for fibbing).
I constantly sabotage myself when writing this. For instance last night, I had the perfect opportunity to write-I have two kids under two so the quiet moments are fleeting, however instead of doing this, I spent three hours on Myspace looking at innane web pages. Then I spent another thirty minutes or so pondering why "sugar" isn't spelled with an "sh".
It is almost like exercising for me-once I get into it and get moving, I feel REALLY good, but it is a struggle to get into it.
I wanted to use the name of the person telling the as my pen name since it is in her voice, but I didn't know if that would make me look "Frey-ish" (amazing when someone's name becomes a euphemism for fibbing).
I constantly sabotage myself when writing this. For instance last night, I had the perfect opportunity to write-I have two kids under two so the quiet moments are fleeting, however instead of doing this, I spent three hours on Myspace looking at innane web pages. Then I spent another thirty minutes or so pondering why "sugar" isn't spelled with an "sh".
It is almost like exercising for me-once I get into it and get moving, I feel REALLY good, but it is a struggle to get into it.Would it be possible for you to bic*? Part of writing consistently is creating a routine. If you can put aside even a small part of every day to write, or at least sit in front of a screen until your mind rebels and forces you to write, that may help quell the part of you that will look for anything to do that isn't writing.
*means butt-in-chair. You sit at your monitor and write, come what may.
::starts pondering why sugar isn't spelled with a 'sh'::
*means butt-in-chair. You sit at your monitor and write, come what may.
::starts pondering why sugar isn't spelled with a 'sh'::
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Sweetie, don't sweat it! If you're more comfortable with a pen name then GO for it and let the writing flow.
One of my friends has 7 pen names, with reasons for using each one. When submitting to a publisher you need only put in:
Roses are Red
by Jane Smith
(Joan Brown) (<--your real name)
An agent or editor will need your real name as that's the one with the social security number which they need to cut you a check and fill out tax forms.
Don't worry about them giving it away to anyone, they won't. They understand and respect a writer's right to privacy.
Don't worry about them knowing *you* went through anything you're uncomfortable about. Your real name has no more reference to them than your pen name.
Most writers never meet their editors face to face.
I never met my first agent face to face until some 3 years after we'd begun working together. Had I wanted I could have avoided it altogether.
I've only ever met one of my editors once--about 10 years ago at a party that I didn't have to attend.
Most of the time you're just a voice on the phone or an e-mail address. They're far more interested in your submission than who you are. It's a professional relationship such as you'd have with a doctor or lawyer.
Just relax-a-vision, think up an appropriate name to write under, and focus on your writing!
Good luck!
One of my friends has 7 pen names, with reasons for using each one. When submitting to a publisher you need only put in:
Roses are Red
by Jane Smith
(Joan Brown) (<--your real name)
An agent or editor will need your real name as that's the one with the social security number which they need to cut you a check and fill out tax forms.
Don't worry about them giving it away to anyone, they won't. They understand and respect a writer's right to privacy.
Don't worry about them knowing *you* went through anything you're uncomfortable about. Your real name has no more reference to them than your pen name.
Most writers never meet their editors face to face.
I never met my first agent face to face until some 3 years after we'd begun working together. Had I wanted I could have avoided it altogether.
I've only ever met one of my editors once--about 10 years ago at a party that I didn't have to attend.
Most of the time you're just a voice on the phone or an e-mail address. They're far more interested in your submission than who you are. It's a professional relationship such as you'd have with a doctor or lawyer.
Just relax-a-vision, think up an appropriate name to write under, and focus on your writing!
Good luck!
Off topic - my jewish friend read the name post, and laughed and fell out of his chair.
Point at hand, many writers use pen names for a variety of reasons. A common one is writing in multiple genres. They don't want to disappoint current followings with a book that has nothing in common with their other writings, and don't wish to alienate those followers from future books within the original genre. Uncle Jim does this I believe.
Point at hand, many writers use pen names for a variety of reasons. A common one is writing in multiple genres. They don't want to disappoint current followings with a book that has nothing in common with their other writings, and don't wish to alienate those followers from future books within the original genre. Uncle Jim does this I believe.
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I dont see how my post is offensive considering I was making fun of myself, i am 100% jewish. i am embarrassed by my last name because it's hard to spell, pronounce, and sounds stupid when said aloud.
for the record - my boyfriend is also jewish, his last name just sounds prettier than mine.
eta: my funny-sounding last name is one of the main reasons i changed my first name to my middle name when i went to college - my first name is extremely common and i was soooo tired of having to write both my first and last name in school when if i went by my middle name (Shana) then I could just be a one-namer like madonna or cher in my classes.
so i have issues with my name.
for the record - my boyfriend is also jewish, his last name just sounds prettier than mine.
eta: my funny-sounding last name is one of the main reasons i changed my first name to my middle name when i went to college - my first name is extremely common and i was soooo tired of having to write both my first and last name in school when if i went by my middle name (Shana) then I could just be a one-namer like madonna or cher in my classes.
so i have issues with my name.
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If someone says 'I hate my Jewish sounding name' it's offensive to me.
A person can make fun of themselves while still being offensive.
NB: What sort of school lets someone use a single name?
A person can make fun of themselves while still being offensive.
NB: What sort of school lets someone use a single name?
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when i handed in papers - because there was more than one person in my class with my original first name.
i really didnt mean my comment to offend people or the jewish religion. i just meant that sometimes jewish last names sound funny, particularly mine which has a syllable that is repeated twice so it sounds like you are stuttering. this also isn't a slanderous comment - its a fact. or rather, it's a fact from where i grew up where this subject is openly discussed and laughed about.
i just dont thik it would make a good pen name. that's all.
i really didnt mean my comment to offend people or the jewish religion. i just meant that sometimes jewish last names sound funny, particularly mine which has a syllable that is repeated twice so it sounds like you are stuttering. this also isn't a slanderous comment - its a fact. or rather, it's a fact from where i grew up where this subject is openly discussed and laughed about.
i just dont thik it would make a good pen name. that's all.
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I grew up with the stupidest last name ever. And then I married someone with an equally stupid-sounding last name. I can't win. But, I submit all my work with my married last name. I just wish I'd got a name that sounded more...i dunno...literary.
Just go with whatever works for you. Some authors have work published both with a pen-name and in their own name.
Just go with whatever works for you. Some authors have work published both with a pen-name and in their own name.
cuteshoes said:
If it's your legal name, then it wouldn't be a pen name.
[I know I'm being picky--I gather you meant 'author name' rather than 'pen name'.]
Thank you all again!
Thank you again for your responses. Kevin, thank you for your kind words as well. You guys made this newcomer feel a lot better.
By the way, I HATED my last name-I mean I used to scream out "HERE!" before the teacher would even finish saying my name just so he wouldn't be able to say it-but of course he always did!
So I married the first man that came down the pike BASED on the fact that I thought his last name was really cool (and I thought he was soooo cute) so I could finally get out from under the embarrassment of the one I had been saddled with for 20 years.
I bet I don't have to tell you what happened with that.....
Thank you again for your responses. Kevin, thank you for your kind words as well. You guys made this newcomer feel a lot better.
By the way, I HATED my last name-I mean I used to scream out "HERE!" before the teacher would even finish saying my name just so he wouldn't be able to say it-but of course he always did!
So I married the first man that came down the pike BASED on the fact that I thought his last name was really cool (and I thought he was soooo cute) so I could finally get out from under the embarrassment of the one I had been saddled with for 20 years.
I bet I don't have to tell you what happened with that.....
In some cultures, people only have one name. Surnames aren't a universal convention, and I had someone in my class once who only had one name. It caused him all sorts of trouble in the beginning, but they eventually got used to it.
I didn't marry my ex because of his last name, but when we separated, I didn't go back to my maiden name, and I won't. 'Nuff said...
Now as to the original topic of the thread:
Then write as if you were going to use a pen name. It's a decision that doesn't have to be made before you finish the manuscript.
I would suggest a pen name in this case, if it makes you feel better about the whole thing. I *would not* suggest that you use the name of your character as the pen name. You're writing fiction, even if it's based in fact, and so you want to get across the fact that the author and the main character are not the same person, although they may have had similar experiences.
Yeshanu,
Thank you for your advice. I guess I always pictured the main character as writing the book-she's almost like a real person to me-strange, but true. I suppose the real reason I got into writing because I have no insurance and can't afford the therapy bills
Thank you for your advice. I guess I always pictured the main character as writing the book-she's almost like a real person to me-strange, but true. I suppose the real reason I got into writing because I have no insurance and can't afford the therapy bills
We write who we are.
I canot see how you will ever be able to write without bringing yourself into the story. The people I write about are real in so many ways. They are part of my life, a composite of many people and places and events that I have visited, are read about, and some of the things I have done. But, what is real to me---is something I need not tell the reader of my Novel. I have been told and it does work for me: when I stop writing, I do it at a place I want to finish. Then I cannot wait to get back to it. Good-Luck
I canot see how you will ever be able to write without bringing yourself into the story. The people I write about are real in so many ways. They are part of my life, a composite of many people and places and events that I have visited, are read about, and some of the things I have done. But, what is real to me---is something I need not tell the reader of my Novel. I have been told and it does work for me: when I stop writing, I do it at a place I want to finish. Then I cannot wait to get back to it. Good-Luck
Uh-oh, time to get married again. Next husband must have (1) insurance with spousal coverage and (2) a mellifluous surname.isthismylife said:
Way ahead of youreph said:
(3) No drug addictions
(4) No entitlement issues
(5) A job
(6) A job
(7) A job
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reph said:
Nah...you just need to live with someone for at least 6 months and you can be covered as a domestic partner!
I always hated my maiden name - Millar. I always thought of this person standing there in a mill, grinding flour to make bread.
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Use a pen name.
Do the usual "this is a work of fiction... blah blah blah."
And forget about it.
Do the usual "this is a work of fiction... blah blah blah."
And forget about it.
lol at reph.
And if your writing is therapy, that's fine. Just write, and don't worry about under what name it will be published. To be perfectly honest, it probably won't be published at all, at least as you're writing it now. First novels in general have trouble finding homes, and first novels written as therapy are almost universally unpublishable.
But years from now, you'll pull out the ms, and find that bits and pieces will find or have already found their way into other stories you're writing or have written, and it wasn't wasted time or energy.
My personal journals for the last 13 years have served this purpose. Not only that, when I re-read them, I get a feeling of satisfaction that I've come so far.
So write on, and don't worry about the name that will be on the book at the end of this process. It simply isn't relevant right now.
And if your writing is therapy, that's fine. Just write, and don't worry about under what name it will be published. To be perfectly honest, it probably won't be published at all, at least as you're writing it now. First novels in general have trouble finding homes, and first novels written as therapy are almost universally unpublishable.
But years from now, you'll pull out the ms, and find that bits and pieces will find or have already found their way into other stories you're writing or have written, and it wasn't wasted time or energy.
My personal journals for the last 13 years have served this purpose. Not only that, when I re-read them, I get a feeling of satisfaction that I've come so far.
So write on, and don't worry about the name that will be on the book at the end of this process. It simply isn't relevant right now.
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