Pen name issue for contribution: can you advice?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Ton Lew Lepsnaci

A WIP
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
803
Reaction score
140
Location
Near the waves
I'm contributing a piece on writing to an author's blog. I've considered a pen name in the past, but did not give it major thought as I'm not yet published. The only reason I'm considering a pen name is to gain a bit of breathing space between being published (should it happen) and dealing with mixing different worlds. It seems nice to have a choice on whether to talk about it or not and to be able to pick the situation in which to bring it up. Not a big deal, but still something to consider.

It seems sensible to use a pen name consistently, so the blog contribution brings the issue closer than anticipated.

Any advice from those who have used a pen name for similar purposes? Anyone who found it useful? Anyone who thinks it's too much hassle?
 
Last edited:

Tex_Maam

not in show business
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 27, 2012
Messages
174
Reaction score
54
Location
Dallas, Texas
Website
www.thetexfiles.com
Well, I've never tried to write under my own name, so I don't have much to compare it with, but so far I'm really liking the separation between Bruce Wayne and Batman.

It gives me some nice psychological distance (you know, to help remember that the person blow-torching my book is taking issue with the Batsuit, not me personally.) Plus, speaking as somebody who gets paid to shape fragile young minds, it is nice to be able to speak my mind online without having to administer smelling salts to Google-curious parents in the morning.

The only place where it's been tricky at all is when my two social spheres start to have contact. I've helped several of my local workshop buddies apply to work at my company, and sometimes I hang out in mixed groups of writer-buddies and regular friends, and it's a little peculiar to have to explain why I'm dual-wielding name tags.

But on the whole, it's been a fantastic way to make friends and fight crime, and it sounds like you have very little to lose by trying it out.
 

veinglory

volitare nequeo
Self-Ban
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
28,750
Reaction score
2,933
Location
right here
Website
www.veinglory.com
I use a pen name to keep things tidy because I also write and speak on unrelated topics under my real name.

This does not mean I feel my employer has to be told about my fiction writing. I have told some and not others depending on their 'need to know'.
 

ChristinaLayton

Sockpuppet
Banned
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
452
Reaction score
40
Location
Florida
Christina Layton is the pen name I plan to use for my stories, and it's gonna be the same pen name for all my stories no matter the genre. If you don't want to write with your real name for any reason, use a pen name.
 

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 22, 2010
Messages
4,810
Reaction score
413
Location
The sovereign state of Baja Arizona
This does not mean I feel my employer has to be told about my fiction writing. I have told some and not others depending on their 'need to know'.

The fewer people you tell, the better.

You never know how an employer is going to react when you tell her/im that you're a writer. All of your friends will be looking at the stories and some will find themselves in it, whether you intended it or not. Your boss will, too.
 

backslashbaby

~~~~*~~~~
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
Messages
12,635
Reaction score
1,603
Location
NC
I do it. Don't make too many, of course, because that would get very complicated :)

Remember that the separation may not be ironclad. Folks will be able to tie you to a pseudonym if they try hard, in most cases.

I'm not that concerned about someone knowing, but I take basic steps to make it a tad difficult. I tell people not to mention my username here along with my pen name if they know it, for example.
 

Ton Lew Lepsnaci

A WIP
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
803
Reaction score
140
Location
Near the waves
What about bio's? Do you stick to writing-focused bio's and share nothing more personal? Never put a picture with your work? It seems you'd have to develop a bit of a split personality :) I am curious about the logistics.
 
Last edited:

backslashbaby

~~~~*~~~~
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
Messages
12,635
Reaction score
1,603
Location
NC
What about bio's? Do you stick to writing-focused bio's and share nothing more personal? Never put a picture with your work? It seems you'd have to develop a bit of a split personality :) I am curious about the logistics.

I had to write a bio or two that were sneakily gender-neutral. I used the last name a lot instead of he or she, lol. I don't have that many writing credits, so my bio is mostly personal but not something that helps find my real name easily. I give the state I live in, if that.

Most things I do don't require pictures. Who knows what will happen if I ever have to do a reading :)

I kind of like the split personalities :D I get in certain frames of mind for each style of writing, anyway. My non-fiction and my stories sound nothing like me chatting here on the forum or in real life, but that's how I really am! I'm also serious-faced when I do math ;) I have different concentration paths, so the various works feel very compartmentalized naturally for me. I know that's a bit odd :ROFL:
 

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 22, 2010
Messages
4,810
Reaction score
413
Location
The sovereign state of Baja Arizona
What about bio's? Do you stick to writing-focused bio's and share nothing more personal? Never put a picture with your work? It seems you'd have to develop a bit of a split personality :) I am curious about the logistics.

I live in Arizona. I write three hours a day. I go rockhounding and do silversmithing with my wife of 46 years. I'm 70 years old and retired.

My pen name lives in the American Southwest. His age is nonspecific, as is that of his much younger wife, the dominatrix and Harley repairwoman. He studies Native American culture and explores the backroads along the Mexican border seeking lost silver mines.
 

Ton Lew Lepsnaci

A WIP
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
803
Reaction score
140
Location
Near the waves
Interesting. I find it fascinating you keep up the distinction to that extent. Not sure what the best path is for me yet, but I definitely got straightforward answers. Many thanks (in the shape of rep pts)!
 

boozysassmouth

Warthog, skin is already thick.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 6, 2012
Messages
76
Reaction score
1
Location
Not where I want to be.
I actually had a lot of these questions myself. Thanks Ton Lew Lepsnaci for starting the thread, and everyone else for your responses!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.