Using a 'pen name' - yay or nay?

SpeckyBrunette · Dec 15, 2007

Hey everyone! First off, I'm quite new to the boards here as you can see so I apologise in advance if I'm asking something that's already been covered in a different thread.

My question is about authors writing under different names and I'm looking for some advice on this.

Okay, I'm currently working on a chick-lit novel and have a few more planned. Granted, my book is not really 'serious' in terms of this genre. (It's more 'supernatural' I suppose, and a bit silly, although it's still chick-lit.) Right now I'm still writing it and hope to be finished with the rough draft by the end of the month so I can begin to rewrite in the new year.

Anyway, I'm thinking of using a different name for this book (or just a shortened version of my own). The reasons for this are:

1. I have a double-barrelled surname that is absolute HELL to spell. Seriously, only one person EVER has managed to spell it correctly. If I added up all the time I've spent on the phone, in class, or spelling it out to delivery people, I'd probably realise I've wasted, in total, a good half a year of my life. The subs at the local paper can't ever get it right either when I do work experience there. My first name is seemingly normal yet many can't seem to spell THAT either, so I'm thinking this would be a bit annoying if I was ever to be published. (Gawd, imagine trying to find my book on Amazon?)

2. Due to my name, many assume that, like other people with double-barrelled names, I'm 'posh'. I'm not posh. I drop the F-bomb. And the C-bomb too, when very irritated. And I watch crap TV. Do 'posh' people do that? Well, maybe...but still, people can make assumptions like this.

3. I'm a student journalist. I want to become a local reporter. Personally I think it would be better to keep my journalism separate from my other writing. Odd? Perhaps. But writing in a genre that many people hate or regard as 'girly tripe' (I swear, I've attended too many chick-lit-bashing seminars and uni creative writing classes where chick-lit is seemingly a C-word all on its own and much, MUCH more offensive than the first one.)

4. Later on I'd like to delve into writing young adult books (I've got those planned too. Hurrah.) Again, when you write in different genres, would it be wise to have different pen names, a la Sophie Kinsella/Madeleine Wickham?

Basically, I'd just take part of my name that's easier to spell, isn't posh, and acts as a personal hideout for my 'career-girl shite all about boys and sparkly shoes and handbags.' (Um, do any other chick-lit writers suffer from this kind of abuse?)

What I'd like to know is - and yes, this may sound silly and obvious to many so please forgive me - do you send your initial agent/publisher queries under your pen name, or do you do it under your real name and explain the situation later?

How does one go about using a psuedonym?

scarletpeaches · Dec 15, 2007

If I were planning on using a pen name, I'd put that on the cover sheet of my book proposal, for instance: "Chronicles of a Rampant AWer, by S.Peaches, written as Crimson Banana."

Or maybe mention it in the query letter: "...my novel, Put the Kettle on, Love, I'm Parched, written under the name Throbbe Gentlie..."

JeanneTGC · Dec 15, 2007

The way I've seen it, and have done it, is to only reference the pen name on the synopsis and MS. Synopsis: John Doe (writing as Joe Blow). In the MS I just put it under the title: The Greatest Story Yet Unpublished, By Joe Blow.

You need to query under your real name, because that's who the checks go to and agents like to know who they're really dealing with.

As for the wisdom of pen names, I had a very prolific and successful author counsel me to use them, because I write in so many different genres. It's not as much for readers (though it is for them) but because of how the bookstores will shelve you. If John Doe is writing both fantasy and chick lit, then one of those will be shelved incorrectly, and so on.

Gray Rose · Dec 15, 2007

SpeckyBrunette said:
What I'd like to know is - and yes, this may sound silly and obvious to many so please forgive me - do you send your initial agent/publisher queries under your pen name, or do you do it under your real name and explain the situation later?

How does one go about using a psuedonym?

I use a pseudonym because I am an academic writing dark fantasy. Further down the line I am also planning to write YA - don't know if I'll take a different pen name for that one.

Anyway, when sending stories out, I sign the cover letter, "Real Name, writing as Gray Rose." In the MS itself, I put in my real name and real life address in the left top corner of the first page. Under the title, I put "by Gray Rose."

Good luck, and welcome to AW!

DeleyanLee · Dec 15, 2007

SpeckyBrunette said:
1. I have a double-barrelled surname that is absolute HELL to spell.

This is probably the single-most common reason authors have for using a pen name, FWIW. Most of my author friends who use them use them for this reason.

2. Due to my name, many assume that, like other people with double-barrelled names, I'm 'posh'.

As the former owner of hyphenated surnames, I understand this but that's fading now, thankfully. Nowadays most people I've run into think it's nicer to do that than just keep your maiden name. No, I don't get that either.

3. I'm a student journalist. I want to become a local reporter. Personally I think it would be better to keep my journalism separate from my other writing.

Another common reason for taking a pen name--keeping two careers separate. Makes accounting easier too.

4. Later on I'd like to delve into writing young adult books (I've got those planned too. Hurrah.) Again, when you write in different genres, would it be wise to have different pen names, a la Sophie Kinsella/Madeleine Wickham?

And this is another common reason for taking pen names. Sometimes people will take different pen names while writing in the same genre if the styles of books are different enough.

How does one go about using a psuedonym?

For novels: On your cover page, put your real name with your address. Use your pen name on the by line.
In your header, you can use either your real or pen surname along with the title, just be consistent.

Another word of advice: Don't get married to a pen name before you're published. Your publisher and its marketing department will have advice and tips and perhaps suggestions that you should consider before making a final decision.

Once you've settled on a name, you can register it with your state as a "Doing business as" name, which gives you more legal protection to it. Checking state laws would tell you if that's a legal requirement or not, but it's something to consider.

CheshireCat · Dec 15, 2007

JeanneTGC said:
The way I've seen it, and have done it, is to only reference the pen name on the synopsis and MS. Synopsis: John Doe (writing as Joe Blow). In the MS I just put it under the title: The Greatest Story Yet Unpublished, By Joe Blow.

You need to query under your real name, because that's who the checks go to and agents like to know who they're really dealing with.

As for the wisdom of pen names, I had a very prolific and successful author counsel me to use them, because I write in so many different genres. It's not as much for readers (though it is for them) but because of how the bookstores will shelve you. If John Doe is writing both fantasy and chick lit, then one of those will be shelved incorrectly, and so on.

What Jeanne said.

Claudia Gray · Dec 15, 2007

I use one. Really not much reason other than I thought it was sort of fun. (However, I do hope to publish in different genres, and I couldn't see why some of my books should have my real name on them while others would not.)

That said, I didn't even bother with specifying my pseudonym until after my book sold. There's not much point in worrying about it before then, and you'll be dealing with agents, publishers, accountants, etc. under your real name anyway.

FennelGiraffe · Dec 15, 2007

One suggestion I've heard is to keep the first name similar to your real first name. So that when you're at a booksigning or convention and someone calls out, "Hey, Mary," you realize it's you they're talking to.

ORION · Dec 15, 2007

My real name is hypenated and my agent and editor suggested I use the last half. It wasn't my idea but I'm glad I did. Unless your real name is perfect it's something that your editor or agent may suggest- don't worry about it at the querying stage.

The Grump · Dec 16, 2007

Why worry?

Frankly, I have two impossible names in my hyphenated name, but I thought I'd worry about my "writing" name after I sold some fiction.

Danger Jane · Dec 16, 2007

I plan on using a penname when I start submitting my work. My name is pretty bland and wouldn't stand out on a shelf or in a reader's memory. It's not clunky or hard to spell...just not memorable.

DeleyanLee · Dec 16, 2007

Danger Jane said:
I plan on using a penname when I start submitting my work. My name is pretty bland and wouldn't stand out on a shelf or in a reader's memory. It's not clunky or hard to spell...just not memorable.

Not memorable, like, "Dan Brown"?

Danger Jane · Dec 16, 2007

DeleyanLee said:
Not memorable, like, "Dan Brown"?

Interesting point.

And, uh, it sucks?

Simple Living · Dec 16, 2007

I intend to publish using a pen name. I won't use my real name because I had my fill of recognition and hate it. I don't care about the "fame." I just want to make a living from my writing.

Funny thing is, I chose a pen name years ago that I really liked. Googled it and... nothing. Last week, I found there's a member here on AW with the exact name I chose. What are the chances?! LOL Good thing I have a back-up!

AllieB · Dec 16, 2007

Yep, I write under a pen name for all the reasons listed above. Side note: I didn't do it intentionally, but it's turned out to be nice that my pen name is close to the beginning of the alphabet...'cause by first name or last name, it appears close to the top of any author list (on my publisher's page, for example).

HopelessDreamer · Dec 16, 2007

I'm all for using a pen name once (fingers crossed) I publish my novel. There are about five different spellings for my first name (mine being the most complicated), and I doubt my Polish surname would even fit on the cover! I'm considering using first and middle initials and coming up with a last name that's somewhat similar to mine, only Anglicized.

CheshireCat · Dec 16, 2007

Something to keep in mind when choosing a pen name is where you'll be shelved in a bookstore. I have a friend who chose her pen name so that her books would be shelved right next to those of a far more famous mystery writer.

And they are.

At the same time, I wouldn't want to be shelved next to, say Nora Roberts or Stephen King simply because each has a huge body of work and I'd be afraid my titles would get lost or overlooked.

DonnaDuck · Dec 17, 2007

My real name, from beginning to end, is 22 letters long and my last name is WAY too rare to plaster it on a book jacket. For comedy I have a pen name, Kate Boddie, that is completely unrelated is anything in my name. It's something I made up and, personally, I think it's fitting to the style of writing that I do under it. I really only write for one other genre and it's darker, borderline horror type stuff and for that it's my real first name, Donna, with a family last name, Siriani, an Italian equivalent to Smith. Lets me sit in anonymity quite nicely. Should you chose a pen name, just make sure you really like it because, especially after your published, you're stuck with it.

Metaphor · Dec 17, 2007

If I ever get published I'll probably use a pen name: I don't want recognition.

I expect I'll use "Sophie C. Archer" - not too hard to remember or too common. I like it

.

SpeckyBrunette · Dec 18, 2007

Thanks for all the replies! This really helps. The pen name I'd like is half of my first name, and one of my surnames. So it's still my name, just a short version.

One or two of you mentioned not wanting recognition. Just out of interest, why not?

DonnaDuck · Dec 18, 2007

I don't know if you're referencing me or not but since I wanted anonymity, I'll answer. My legal last name is very rare. Anyone else on the planet with my last name is a relative or some sort so the search rate and the ability to narrow down who I am, where I am and so on because expotentially easier. Taking a pen name keeps my real name secret, thus leaving me, hopefully, with the privacy that I want and need. For me it's not about not wanting recognition per se but maintaining a certain level of privacy.

Fox The Cave · Dec 18, 2007

I say go ahead and use a penname/pseudonym. They rock. Seriously.

Secondly though...i'm begging you to tell us your surname. You've really piqued my interest!

Metaphor · Dec 18, 2007

I don't really want recognition, because I don't write because I want fame or anything, I just write because I love writing, and it's all I could ever imagine doing. I think that if I had my name on a book cover, then people who live near me, or know me vaguely would know that it was me, and I might get sidetracked from my real goal.

Also, I have a real confidence issue with my writing, and hiding behind a pseudonym would really appeal to me, as if people hate my writing, well, at least they don't know who I am

. It kind of makes it less personal. Also, loads of people that I half-know wouldn't realise it was me and be able to criticise and laugh to my face.

Simple Living · Dec 18, 2007

SpeckyBrunette said:
Thanks for all the replies! This really helps. The pen name I'd like is half of my first name, and one of my surnames. So it's still my name, just a short version.

One or two of you mentioned not wanting recognition. Just out of interest, why not?

I responded with this answer. It's not so much that I don't want recognition, because I think all writers want to be recognized for their work. I just don't want anything to do with fame. I can say this because I had a fair bit of it in the 90's, as did several of my friends who were definitely famous. I hate it. It's unreal and unhealthy. It goes against the way I enjoy living -- simply.

DonnaDuck · Dec 18, 2007

Fox The Cave said:
I say go ahead and use a penname/pseudonym. They rock. Seriously.

Secondly though...i'm begging you to tell us your surname. You've really piqued my interest!

Me? Nope, sorry. I'm going to stay mum on that one!

Using a 'pen name' - yay or nay?

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