Changing your name?

Take pride in your work. Put it under your name. And if you're worried about being the 'wrong' gender just use the first intials of your first and middle names. So, "W. A. Smith" would be fine.

I'm not sure that using a pen name is akin to not taking pride in your work. Was Samuel Clemens trying to avoid credit for Tom Sawyer?

"I was a fresh new journalist, and needed a nom de guerre; so I confiscated the ancient mariner's discarded one, and have done my best to make it remain what it was in his hands-- a sign and symbol and warrant that whatever is found in its company may be gambled on as being the petrified truth; how I have succeeded, it would not be modest in me to say." - Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

There are stories that I have in my head that would horrify my family. Were they published, I would use a nom de plume for sure.

Of course using your real name works too. Look at Bob Dylan.

Wait.
What? Really? That's not his name? Bummer.

Well, considering I'd probably come up with a lame new name, I'd just stick to my own.

Dr. Suess had great success with his name too.........

I don't know if he would have been as famous as Dr Theodor, Dr Geisel, or Dr Theodor Suess Giesel.......would it have mattered? I love his books, Dr. Suess is catchy though.

I guess it's up to the individual.

In my case my daughter doesn't want any other name than mine on the book, she's ten and her and her younger sister rule the universe.

Jester

jester said:

....In my case my daughter doesn't want any other name than mine on the book, she's ten and her and her younger sister rule the universe.

Jester

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Which is, as it should be.

So they tell me as often as I try to forget

My birth certificate says "Jeraldine Dian Girard," and I have always gone by "Dian." I wrote short SF humor for the pro-mags as "Dian Girard" but after a lapse of several years I started writing murder mysteries and my publisher thought that, between the change in genre and the fact that women mystery writer seem to sell well, I ought to use "Jeraldine Crayne," since it was more obviously feminine. Somehow my publisher got her hands crossed and the first book came out under "J.D. Crayne." Thirteen books down the line, I'm stuck with it. I'd say, use your own name unless you're writing something that is apt to produce death threats, embarrass your children, or cause people to throw nasty things through your windows.

I think I would want to publish under a different name just to keep old "friends" from looking me up and asking to borrow some of my millions.

I also wonder if people would act different around me, like, "Wow. I used to think that you're lame but now that you have a book, I'm going to be a lot nicer to you."

ltd.

Happens a lot, especially in other fields. Do you know Meatloaf's name, do you care? I used Dick Stevens on radio, easier to say than my 'real' name. As long as the cheque in in my name.

if the big leagues in writing are anything like the big leagues in visual art, a good sounding name can't hurt. some just sound too ethnic [depending on the genre of writing]-
in visual art- judy chicago is really hilda backwichakeen. robert indiana is really ralph fitzmiereski.
yes- i made those up.

I'm too vain to change my name. I like that people can see that it's me. However if I ever ventured into say erotic type writing I'd change it because my typical writing is pretty wholesome. I'd be afraid of different work hurting my rep.

Take care
~ Jennifer

I use three different pen names, one for each of the different genres I write. The readers of one genre don't necessary read the other two genres. I reserve my 'birth' name for the checks!

OK, so those of you that change your name, do you put your picture on the inside or back cover so people can read about the author? Just curious how that works.

Jes

I wouldn't mind using both my first name and last. I don't think there would be any point in using, all 4 names I have. Initials sound appealing too heehee

jester said:

OK, so those of you that change your name, do you put your picture on the inside or back cover so people can read about the author? Just curious how that works.

Jes

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when stephen king was writing under the guise of bachman, he put a phony photo on his jackets.

William Haskins said:

when stephen king was writing under the guise of bachman, he put a phony photo on his jackets.

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I didn't know that.....cool idea

Jes

more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bachman