What is your pen name?

[Venetia]

I use L. Reid (which is my real maiden surname), with L. abbreviated because I've read a few studies which suggest that many people are less likely to buy non-feminine-oriented books written by women. I write dark fantasy, which is a male-dominated market for the most part, so by abbreviating my name, people won't instantly assume I'm writing about romance and babies.

And YES I know there are a few fairly-well-known fantasy writers who are female but I'll bet there'd be more if ... Well, you get my line of thought there.

Generally, being obviously female in the workplace/marketplace is a liability if you're not selling/marketing feminine-oriented crap.

 

[adelaidechoc]

The same as my user name: Adelaiadechoc

 

[Ellie]

I know I said earlier I'd use Wyatt Draegonhart, but I guess if it was a serious non-fantasy work I'd probably use Dan Badger; if it was a non-fictional work probably D. Badger or J. Bright (yeah... an old Whig MP if I remember right).

Although I've always wanted to use the name Clit Elgrave for some reason.

 

[Atsuen]

Chad Sexington.

Well not really, I just use my real name.

 

[CeruSkye]

Skye Sheppard.

Sheppard is my Grandparents last name. Skye, cause I like it, and I am a Gemini, which is an air sign, and we do strange things, like have two names, and write run on sentences that never seem to end.

 

[Stardust]

I'm actually working on writing a book, and I try to juggle that and making games, but I usually fail.  I've put it off for a while to work on my game, but I'm getting wayyyyyyyyyy off-topic...

On a completed game (only have "Something's Fishy" done at the moment) or a novel, I would use my real name.  For forums and such, I obviously use Guardian1239.  In other places, I use Darien Garlan, the name of the main (sort of, sort of not) character in my book.  I've also used Metora, the protagonist from my book, and earlier versions of Darien's name, such as Michieru Darien (the Japanese thing was a temporary phase), although I doubt I'll ever use anything other than Darien Garlan and Guardian1239 anymore.

and a i guarantee in the slim chance that any of you guys get anything published you'd be using your real names so this thread could very easily be cut in half.

True, but it's still interesting to think about, so this thread will probably remain for at least a little while.

 

[Perihelion]

Using a pseudonym because you're afraid people will find out how old you are is silly. If you do get published, people aren't going to research your life history before deciding whether or not to buy your book. Readers (and agents and editors) have better things to do with their time, frankly, and besides, they could tell you're a teenager the instant they look at the author pic anyway. It shouldn't affect your odds of getting published on its own because there's no reason to share your age with an agent before they're already seriously considering your work, and at that point it won't matter.

Worry about writing the book first. :P But a word of advice: keep writing and dreaming, but publishing is a hard business with slim odds of success, especially for teenagers.

I'm not in any way shape or form saying Eragon is a good book, but the guy who wrote it was like 15 or something.

His parents own a publishing house, and he was already actively promoting the book when Knopf picked him up. He got a lucky break; things don't normally work that way. Also, Eragon is shit, but I digress.

Back on-topic, I might use a pseudonym because my last name is patently uncool, but it's not a big deal. *shrug* I'll worry about it if and when I get there.

 

[FlippyD]

Really, no one should be using a pen name unless it's actually important. And since I doubt any of you are Charles Dodgson, Daniel Handler or Mary Ann Evans it's pointless. No one's going to care if you publish a work under your real name, and if someone on the internet wanted to stalk/harass you changing your name will only slow them down for all of 10 seconds.

(Note: while Daniel Handler wasn't avoiding possible sexual/social connotations, and had no reason to hide his gender, his pseudonym served an ancillary purpose to his writings.) I say stick with your real name, as it's more professional and mature to do so. Or, at least a name a sane member of society would christen their child with. This is especially important if you plan on publishing your work as no one's going to be perusing a shelf at Border's going, "David Sedaris is a funny and insightful author, but I'm willing to try my chances with 'Ultima Raevyn'." Furthermore, in this unlikely future, you are going to NEED to do book signings (it rakes in the cashflow.) I wouldn't care about age either as no one's going to notice until you're sitting in a crowded book store with a pen in your hand and life-sized cardboard cutouts of yourself cluttering up your periphery.

 

[stillzero]

Well, I must admit I don't have a pen name, but if I did, it would be something like...

...crazymotherfucker666destructionswordmagiccrystalsatan...

...that would be quite attractive...

 

[Arathe]

If I were to publish anything seriously, I'd use my maiden name, because honestly, my married name is horrible. Maiden name being Van Cour, married name being Epworth. *gag*

 

[Tachiba]

I use mainly the name Def Row, as it's my emceeing name.  The name Tachiba came from one of my favorite protagonist at the time, and I used to use that as a pene for my mangas when I was an anime freak.Coincedentally, I dont remember the game's name.

 

[mawk]

To be honest, ixis, I doubt most people with horrendous pen names use them for anything which actually warrants a good pen name. I don't plan to publish and distribute a hard-bound novel, and for everything else Chimmy Ray is catchy and adequate -- for everything from graffiti to the (other) arts!

Then again, if I do need a pen name, I'd probably go with Rupert Faraday, Robert Fabian, Roscoe Fain, or something in that vein. I like to keep all my names abbreviable as R.F. Save on momogrammed clothing that way.

 

[FlippyD]

To be honest, ixis, I doubt most people with horrendous pen names use them for anything which actually warrants a good pen name. I don't plan to publish and distribute a hard-bound novel, and for everything else Chimmy Ray is catchy and adequate -- for everything from graffiti to the (other) arts!

Then again, if I do need a pen name, I'd probably go with Rupert Faraday, Robert Fabian, Roscoe Fain, or something in that vein. I like to keep all my names abbreviable as R.F. Save on momogrammed clothing that way.

But I enjoy telling other people what to do. You should know this by now.

 

[mawk]

First step: admit you have the problem.
Second step: stop having the problem or you'll look silly.

 

[FlippyD]

First step: admit you have the problem.
Second step: stop having the problem or you'll look silly.

Nay, the world needs my helpful advice. A load of justice smeared all over the faces of every boy and girl.