Pen Names - the good, the bad, and the very ugly

farfromfearless · Dec 18, 2006

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine recently on the use and purpose of a pen name. His take on the issue is that Pen names these days tend to be a point of vanity on the part of the author, where as I argue anonymity as being the case. Take for instance Charles de Lint. He actually published a number of works under the alias Samuel M. Key (there is quite an amusing explanation behind this), and later used his real name. I'm unclear as to the exact reasons why but, again I suspect in this case it was anonymity.

It strikes me that many published or soon to be publish writers here might actually be publishing under an alias. I would love to know your reasons why - are there genuine advantages to a pen name? What happens when you tire of that pen name?

Willowmound · Dec 18, 2006

If you have made a name for yourself in one genre, it may not be a bad thing using a pen name if you want to try your hand at another. For one thing, you might suck. For another, you don't want to confuse your fans.

If JK Rowling ever wanted to write, oh I don't know, PORN, she might do well to call herself something else.

Simon Woodhouse · Dec 18, 2006

I'm going to publish under my own name. But if I ever write a romance, I'm going to add an e to the end of Simon. Apparently romantic fiction sells better if it appears to be written by a woman.

IrishScribbler · Dec 18, 2006

I will be using a pen name to dissociate from my father and his family (maiden name), as well as to protect the privacy of my husband's family (married name), who are quiet, reserved, and keep much to themselves.

farfromfearless · Dec 18, 2006

How does one even come up with an acceptable pen name, even one that is NOT in circulation by an established author. It would definitely be an interesting exercise and it makes me wonder what the heck I would end up with. I'm half Asian, half Spanish with an Irish sur name (and a Spanish middle name).

Toothpaste · Dec 18, 2006

I was debating publishing under another name, just for fun. But then I thought the whole acting thing might never work out for me and darn it I want my name out there somewhere! So it's all about the Adrienne Kress. Besides I like my name.

Elektra · Dec 18, 2006

Maybe mix up the names of your favourite authors, as long as they aren't too distinctive? I plan to use the surname Bell, as a tip of the hat to the Brontes.

farfromfearless · Dec 18, 2006

Clever

I never thought of that; still the results would be interesting for me considering that most of my favorite authors are women: Kathrine Kerr, Lynn Flewelling, Sara Douglass, etc. And aside from one male author, Terry Brooks, most given or Sur names are too distinctive to warrant a combination.

Elektra · Dec 18, 2006

Lynn Brooks wouldn't be too bad

Chumplet · Dec 18, 2006

I'll be using my maiden name, which is Acadian (French-Canadian). My married name is Slovenian, and a little... abrupt.

My maiden name is also closer to the beginning of the alphabet if you're thinking about shelf placement. See? I'm using my noggin!

Willowmound · Dec 18, 2006

Elektra said:
Lynn Brooks wouldn't be too bad

Or Douglas Kerr.

Elektra · Dec 18, 2006

You can also choose a pen name so that you're likely to be on the bookshelf next to a certain author, who writes books similar to yours (which could go either way--they might notice your book and pick it up, or just go straight to the more-famous author and leave.)

farfromfearless · Dec 18, 2006

ROFL! Lynn Brooks - that does beg the question though, do male authors ever publish under a female alias?

Elektra · Dec 18, 2006

farfromfearless said:
ROFL! Lynn Brooks - that does beg the question though, do male authors ever publish under a female alias?

Ah--my most sincere apologies for the oversight. :Ssh:

Aaah! I've just discovered all the smileys AW has to offer, and now feel the need to include at least one in every post. If necessary, the post will be modified to fit the smiley.

Tallymark · Dec 18, 2006

Elektra said:
You can also choose a pen name so that you're likely to be on the bookshelf next to a certain author, who writes books similar to yours (which could go either way--they might notice your book and pick it up, or just go straight to the more-famous author and leave.)

That's true--I've seen this done. For example, there's an author who wrote a version of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice from Darcy's perspective. So, she picked the pen name Janet Aylmer, which is not only reminiscent of the name Jane Austen, but pretty much sits next to it on the shelf--so that when people go looking at Jane Austen, they'll see her related book.

That's of course an extreme case, but I'm sure there's other authors who try to place themselves next to people who write similar things. They probably have other reasons for using pen name as well, but if you've decided to do a pen name, might as well use one that doubles as a marketing tool.

Me, I plan to do most of my books under my own name, except any romance novels. The reason is that I plan to write some children's fantasy, and I don't want a kid who likes my book to look up my name in search of more stuff, and find my vampire smut. XD And I wouldn't want their parents finding it, either. It's a case where success in one genre could adversely affect success in the other. In most cases, I would say doesn't matter if you write multiple genres, you'll just collect many different readers, but it'd be hard to maintain a clean-cut kid-friendly reputation at the same time as maintaining a wildly sensous reputation.

Willowmound · Dec 18, 2006

I've always suspected that New Zealand fantasy author Hugh Cook's name is a pseudonym. Simply because, if you squint (and you do, if you're in New Zealand), his name looks like a description of his anatomy.

PeeDee · Dec 18, 2006

I have two pen names, which are there for those rare occasions and which I haven't had to use yet. I adore them both. One is Robert Goldberg, and one is Damien Night. I don't think I'll use the second one, but they both amuse me to no end.

Probably, I'm the only one.

Inkwell · Dec 18, 2006

I heard somewhere recently that if your name is easily misspelled, it is wise to use a pen name, or an alternate spelling of your actual name.

My married name is Danish and has extra vowels. But with all the support my Hubby's given me while I write, I'd hate to disappoint him by not wanting to use *his* name at pub-time.

It's been weighing on my mind a bit lately...

PeeDee · Dec 18, 2006

Joe Straczynski and me, Pete Tzinski, both think that you don't have to use a pen name just because people are inclined to misspell your name. That is what we think. The both of us. This contest is killing me. I'm getting gray hair.

Willowmound · Dec 18, 2006

Inkwell said:
My married name is Danish and has extra vowels. But with all the support my Hubby's given me while I write, I'd hate to disappoint him by not wanting to use *his* name at pub-time.

It's been weighing on my mind a bit lately...

If by 'extra vowels' you mean the combination 'AA', that can be expressed with a letter that looks like this: 'Å'. This letter is is usually represented with an 'A' where no Å is available (everywhere, in other words).

So if his and your surname is Saabye, for instance, calling yourself Sabye should be fine by him -- that is, if he knows his language

Inkwell · Dec 18, 2006

Willowmound said:
If by 'extra vowels' you mean the combination 'AA', that can be expressed with a letter that looks like this: 'Å'. This letter is is usually represented with an 'A' where no Å is available (everywhere, in other words).

So if his and your surname is Saabye, for instance, calling yourself Sabye should be fine by him -- that is, if he knows his language

Good point.

Married name is Norgaard, so it could be Norgard or Norguard.

I think they both look a bit like Nougat!

farfromfearless · Dec 18, 2006

Inkwell said:
I heard somewhere recently that if your name is easily misspelled, it is wise to use a pen name, or an alternate spelling of your actual name.

My married name is Danish and has extra vowels. But with all the support my Hubby's given me while I write, I'd hate to disappoint him by not wanting to use *his* name at pub-time.

It's been weighing on my mind a bit lately...

Immortalize him in such flowery prose with your acknowledgements. I think that goes a long way as opposed to a sur name, which I think according to the varried responses in this post really has less value except in terms of marketing strategy and general anonymity.

Willowmound · Dec 18, 2006

Inkwell said:
Good point.

Married name is Norgaard, so it could be Norgard or Norguard.

I think they both look a bit like Nougat!

Well, Norgard would be correct.

The name means 'northern farm', whether spelled Norgaard or Norgard.

Norguard, on the other hand, doesn't mean anything, and would, linguistically, be wrong.

Of course, Nougat would be funnier

Inkwell · Dec 18, 2006

PeeDee said:
Joe Straczynski and me, Pete Tzinski, both think that you don't have to use a pen name just because people are inclined to misspell your name. That is what we think. The both of us. This contest is killing me. I'm getting gray hair.

Yikes, you've both got me beat!

Also, I think the logic behind having an easy to spell name is that it makes successful marketing of your website easier.

For example:

JaneSmith.com rolls off the tongue easier than CarmenNorgaard.com.

Elektra · Dec 18, 2006

I've got one of those first names that's very common, but can be spelled roughly a gazillion different ways. Yet another reason for the pen name.

Pen Names - the good, the bad, and the very ugly

farfromfearless

Willowmound

Lightly salted

Simon Woodhouse

IrishScribbler

farfromfearless

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

Elektra

Don't Call Me Sweetheart

farfromfearless

Elektra

Don't Call Me Sweetheart

Chumplet

This hat is getting too hot

Willowmound

Lightly salted

Elektra

Don't Call Me Sweetheart

farfromfearless

Elektra

Don't Call Me Sweetheart

Tallymark

Willowmound

Lightly salted

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Inkwell

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Willowmound

Lightly salted

Inkwell

farfromfearless

Willowmound

Lightly salted

Inkwell

Elektra

Don't Call Me Sweetheart