Pseudonyms And The Writer's Life

Redeve · Aug 26, 2007

I'm looking for some advice about the use of a pseudonym, in particular, guidance about using them in relation to others aspects of the writer's life besides his writing per se.

As background, the reasons I use a pseudonym include:

* I'm a cross-genre fiction and non-fiction writer,

* I'm not crazy about the idea of colleagues and clients I deal with in my daytime profession knowing about my fiction which deals with certain sexual themes (although this might be a nice problem to have if and when it's published),

* I don't care much for my real last name which, combined with my first name (which I do like) is the full name of a general who was involved in a war that I (and many others) think of as criminal, yet I likely won't change my name -- if I ever do -- until my mother passes.

There are other, even more personal reasons for my use of a pseudonym and, as one may be able to see by now, I have strong feelings about this. I don't know about you, but I feel like a different person when I'm writing, or talking about writing, so much so that I'm in a different ego-state which of course I associate with my pseudonym.

So here are my specific questions I'd like help on:

1. When the writer is meeting writers and other artists, is it appropriate that he introduce himself using his pseudonym, or should he use his "real" name? If he chooses to use his pseudonym, should he add, "by the way, just so you know, that's my pseudonym"?

2. Does a different set of "rules" apply when meeting agents and publishers? Are there any set "rules"?

3. Would it look funny to use letterhead with the pseudonym on it, then in the body of a letter to an agent say, "I use a pseudonym. My real name is ...."? What about pseudonyms on business cards?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may have.

Chalula88 · Aug 26, 2007

I wouldn't worry about using the pseudonym with agents before they accept you as a client. Once they do than it would be appropriate to say "I'd like to use ____ as my pseudonym" They may or may not recommend a different one.

I would also be interested in your other questions. I am thinking of using a pseudonym or at least the initial. initial. last name thing because I don't want people to read what I write and think it characterizes me....if that makes any sense....

mscelina · Aug 26, 2007

So here are my specific questions I'd like help on:

1. When the writer is meeting writers and other artists, is it appropriate that he introduce himself using his pseudonym, or should he use his "real" name? If he chooses to use his pseudonym, should he add, "by the way, just so you know, that's my pseudonym"?

2. Does a different set of "rules" apply when meeting agents and publishers? Are there any set "rules"?

3. Would it look funny to use letterhead with the pseudonym on it, then in the body of a letter to an agent say, "I use a pseudonym. My real name is ...."? What about pseudonyms on business cards?

1. I have several pseudonyms as I am also a cross-genre writer. But the REAL writer is me. So, I introduce myself with my real name. If it's someone I'm meeting in regards to a specific pseudonym, then I say, "Hi, I'm Celina Summers. I write as blah blah blah."

2. Agents and publishers will deal with you as a real person, not a pen name. Your pseudonym can't endorse checks. You are the legal entity, not your pen name.

3. Again, your real name. If you're going to a convention, your pseudonym would be appropriate on business cards. Otherwise, leave it on your computer and go forth in the world as who you really are.

DarkLight · Aug 26, 2007

Wow. Well, I can't give you any excellent advice because I've never been published and until then I won't be using a pseudom (I know I spelled that wrong) and I will probably choose not to anyway. However, I do have a few comments. First off, in terms of talking to publishers and agents about querying your book, I would suggest using your real name. When you're discussing buisness and contracts, its all legal, and so it would be very unproffessional to use a pseudom and might actually make you look stupid. As for your other questions, I can't really help other than to say a lot of this peseudom stuff is preference based, but as far as buisness goes, you should probably use your real name.

FennelGiraffe · Aug 26, 2007

Chalula88 said:
I wouldn't worry about using the pseudonym with agents before they accept you as a client. Once they do than it would be appropriate to say "I'd like to use ____ as my pseudonym" They may or may not recommend a different one.

Recently, one of the agent blogs (I think it was Nathan Bransford, but I'm too lazy to go look) suggested querying under the pseudonym and waiting until an agent offers to represent you to mention that isn't your legal name. But everywhere else, including other agent blogs, I've always seen what Chalula says.

Claudia Gray · Aug 26, 2007

I agree with Chalula and the others: Use your real name first, pseudonym later. That's what I did.

And introducing yourself as X, who writes as Y, works fine.

amber_grosjean · Aug 26, 2007

I use two names, both of which are real names. For my adult books, I use my first, maiden and married names together Amber Rigby (maiden name) Grosjean (married name). For all other books, I will use just Amber Rigby. I put all my books on the same website to make it easier for people to find all my books.

I began writing as Amber Rigby so I really want to use that name. Since my YA was written under than name, I wanted to keep it that way. When my first book was published, my husband really wanted me to use my married name for at least one book. I decided to do that but keeping Amber Rigby alive in the name.

It is a personal choice. My husband does understand. I could consider a new name if a publisher requests it but as of right now, I'm keeping it the way it is for personal reasons.

Amber

lkp · Aug 26, 2007

On yet another agent blog recently (I think it was Kristin Nelson but I may be wrong. I may be thinking of the same Nathan post) she (or whoever) said that if you use a single pseudonym, you should use it in every aspect of your writing career --- eg. at conferences, on your blog, at book signings, with your editor and publishing house, and even in correspondence with your agent (who will of course know your real name, as will the publisher). The point was, I think, that you should be creatng a single writerly presence under the name that will appear on the book cover. Also because it is easier for agents and editors to know who they are talking to if they don't have to think of name and pseudonym every moment. It makes a lot of sense to me.

Querying is another matter and here I think I'd agree with the rest. I'd be inclined to query under my own name and then discuss pseudonyms once I've landed an agent.

Joe Moore · Aug 26, 2007

Here's a couple comments from Jessica Faust over at BookEnds Literary Agency on the subject:
http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2007/07/using-pseudonyms.html
http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2007/08/revealing-your-true-identity.html
Good luck.

Azraelsbane · Aug 26, 2007

Okay, here's another question. when querying and such, if I do use my pseudonym as the Book Ends Literary agent says, do I sign it E.A. Blackwell (which is what I'd like to publish under), or Elizabeth Blackwell? Is it too informal to sign it and use the initials all the time?

Chalula88 · Aug 26, 2007

I'm wondering how to come up with a pseudonym???? I'm not married so I don't have maiden and married last names and I don't like my middle name or my current last name as both are very plain.

For those who have pseudonyms that have nothing to do with their real names, how did you come up with them? Do they hold some meaning?

a_sharp · Aug 26, 2007

Mine is an amalgam of my first and middle names, plus a takeoff on a college classmate's name. I love his, John Dan Reib. Pow! Oh, well. we can't all have names that ring.

I agree with everyone here about using your given name, with the exception of a very unfortunate result that just can't make it to print. There's a Seattle Mariner's pitcher named Putz. He's very good and he obviously doesn't worry about name jokes anymore, but it's another thing to put it on a book cover.

Karen Junker · Aug 26, 2007

I write under the name Fiona MacLeod. It's the name of a nineteenth century poet, someone who was really a man but who wrote under a woman's name. The man was a magician in the Golden Dawn, along with WB Yeats. The one book I had published was a mystery which had magical characters, so I felt it was an appropriate pseudonym.

robertpri007 · Aug 26, 2007

Many years ago and desperate to be published "anywhere", wife and I created some bizarre characters and sold to the second and third publication levels of mags of Penthouse, like "Couples", etc. [do they still print that crap?] Anyway, we had a lot of laughs and made a few dollars. I invented a pseudo, but I "became" that person by registering at the court house under a legit "AKA", paid the fees and did it all.

I could open an account, deposit checks, and cash checks in that name. We had great fun being invisible people.

Until visiting our tax man. After explaining our little game, he looked over the dual identify, documents and tax records, smiled patiently and simply said, "Don't ever do this again."

Kristiina · Aug 26, 2007

I intend to use a pseudonym if I ever get published. First my real first name is hyphenated, and I have never liked the first part of it anyway. So the idea is to use just the second part. And for the last name I intend to use my mother's maiden name, for the simple reason that I really like it. So this would be one chance to use it without having to go through the hassle of changing my last name legally. Besides, if I do manage to get published by an American publisher that pseudonym would be shorter and, presumably, easier for English speakers to remember than my legal name.

Well, actually I find my grandmother's maiden name even cooler than my mother's, my mother's is nice but fairly common while hers is rare. Unfortunately that last name is used by only one family in Finland and it's legally protected, in other words you can't take it into any use unless you ask for that family's permission first. Since I'm related I would probably get that permission, but again, I'm too lazy to go through the hassle.

Joe Moore · Aug 28, 2007

Here's another professional opinion, this time from Sun-Sentinel mystery reviewer, Oline Cogdill.

James D. Macdonald · Aug 28, 2007

I have several pseudonyms. I use them to separate genres, and to separate the amount of control I had in the finished work.

The rules about pseudonyms are these:

Your pseuds should be a) easy to spell, b) not embarrassing to say aloud, and c) not the same as any other writer.

I know of writers who use pseuds for various reasons. For example, Mary Frances Zambreno wants to separate her fiction from her academic writing. Sherwood Smith hates her given name. Christopher Pike wants to guard his privacy.

All of them have their legal names on their checks, and on their contracts, and (except Sherwood who really doesn't like her given name) in private conversations with friends and business associates.

The name on the cover of your book is negotiable. Wait until you've sold your book to worry about that aspect of your writing life.

James D. Macdonald · Aug 28, 2007

Oh, yes ... assume that your pseudonym will eventually become known and associated with your real name, because there are no secrets.

Axler · Aug 28, 2007

I've been writing as "James Axler" for 'long about twelve years. Even though other writers work under the house name, I've written far and away more books as Axler as anyone else...several times I've had people call my house, asking for "James."

Pseudonyms And The Writer's Life

Redeve

Chalula88

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

DarkLight

FennelGiraffe

It's green they say

Claudia Gray

amber_grosjean

AW Addict

lkp

Joe Moore

Azraelsbane

Agony is defeat

Chalula88

a_sharp

Somebody give me an A

Karen Junker

Live a little. Write a lot.

robertpri007

Kristiina

In the land of frost, volcanoes, and well-armed wo

Joe Moore

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Axler