Abbreviations for Authors Name?

Jhaewyrmend · Sep 16, 2014

Obviously, a lot of writers have had one or two of their names abbreviated, but it's the first, middle and um ... middle-middle name? Never the Last, at least not that I have seen.

Is it okay, legal or whatnot, to have your last name as an abbreviation? The reason I ask is that my last name is a noun in any context other than sitting behind my middle name ... and it doesn't have a stellar definition. Smith if looked at as a noun would be well possibly a blacksmith. That sounds great to me, but Smith isn't my last name. It's just an example.

So, if my initials were A.L.K. (not really, just an example) would it be okay to use Alistair Leon K. as my author name? Any advice here?

I'd rather not assume a pseudonym after having researched that avenue simply because I don't want to try and market under cloak and dagger.

alleycat · Sep 16, 2014

My suggestion is to either use your real last name or use a pen name.

Maryn · Sep 16, 2014

Speaking only for myself, I'd find that weird and off-putting. If you don't want to use your actual name for any reason, then use a pseudonym that's enough like it that you don't feel as if you're hiding.

Edwin McCollagh --> Edward McCauley
Sara L. King --> Sarah Kingston

When you are doing your in-person marketing, you assume the pseudonym as if it were a role you're playing. I could go to a convention registered as Maryn Blackburn, for instance, and introduce myself by that name, be her at signings or whatever, but the hotel would be billing my real name.

When you market online, which is where most of it takes place, you play the same pseudonym role. It's not cloak and dagger, it's just a stage name. You may one day be glad you have that layer of separation if someone in your family, church, community, etc. does not approve of what you write, or if some crazy fan gets stalkerish.

Maryn, whose name is nothing like Maryn but has used it for so long she answers to it

JournoWriter · Sep 17, 2014

I would also find that weird, assume that the author is ignorant of other basic rules of English writing, grammar and punctuation, and steer clear of the book.

I'm also trying to figure out exactly why one would need to do this. Presumably you go by your last name professionally - at work or at school - and it's not a problem there. Why do you think it will be a huge problem for Author You?

Jhaewyrmend · Sep 17, 2014

It's not that it's a HUGE problem, it's just that I've always had a bit of a secret desire to not go by it.

When I was in the military, yeah last name was what you went by, and a lot people didn't even realize it was noun, but others did, and they would always ask me, "well, are you?"

I'm used to it for sure by now ... just trying to come up with a clever way of not having to go by it. But it seems this avenue is a no by the response. Alright, maybe I will have to do the pseudonym thing. Thanks all.

Elly_Green · Sep 17, 2014

Go by a pseudonym or if you'd rather you could go by your middle name as last name.

Alastair Leon

That could work as a real name, just leaving the last name off. I realize its an example, but without your real name, that's all I can work with here.

Becky Black · Sep 18, 2014

You can do it if you want to, nobody can stop you. But since it's not the normal way of doing names you might confuse people, making you less discoverable on the internet.

For example, if I saw "Alistair Leon K" written down I might think the name is actually "Leon K Alistair" and it's just missing a comma after the Alistair.

There's nothing cloak and dagger about a pseudonym. It's a perfectly normal way of doing business as a writer. It can be easier to at least use you own first name if you like it okay (I kind of wish I had!) but you get used to answering to a different one. It's not like you're actually living under a false identity.

BenPanced · Sep 18, 2014

Comedian Louis C. K.

Director C · Sep 19, 2014

Agree with Elly. First name, middle name.

frimble3 · Sep 20, 2014

If I saw a book with the author shown as 'Alistair Leon K.', I would assume it was some kind of coy pseudonym. And that the book was up-market porn, or a dodgy memoir.
If, when you are using you last name in the military, "a lot people didn't even realize it was noun", perhaps it's not as big an issue as you fear?
I'd go with 'first name, middle name' or a pseudonym.

Abbreviations for Authors Name?

Jhaewyrmend

alleycat

Still around

Maryn

Baaa!

JournoWriter

Just the facts, please

Jhaewyrmend

Elly_Green

Daydreamer or Living Nightmare

Becky Black

Writing my way off the B Ark

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

Director C

needy

frimble3

Heckuva good sport