I need pen name help...

[secretme]

Okay,

So I've been laboring over this for days now.
I've never bothered with a pen name.
The other stuff I have published is under my name.
So I've been going nuts and getting some suggestions for names.

A really good friend came up with:
S.M. Baird

which I kinda liked. She got it from secret me and the last name I used during reenactment that I did for a while. But slyc tells me it sounds like an old man's name.
So I'm at a loss for what to do.

other suggestions have been:
Leighann Hawke
(which is my middle name + an animal I like)

Sanas Run
(which is Gaelic for Secret Story)

I would probably use
Leigh Ann or Flynn in whatever order or in combination with the other stuff suggested...

Does anyone other than slyc think that S.M. Baird sounds like an old man? I was really leaning toward that until he gave his opinion..

 

[Varian P]

Well, when my eyes first skimmed over the name, my first association was S&M, so, no, no old codger connection for me.

I often turn to the site babynames.com when I'm trying to pick character names. You can plug in meanings and get derivative names, search by country, etc. Even if you don't find an exact name you like, it can prompt ideas.

-Varian

 

[Guest]

.............

 

[secretme]

Well, when my eyes first skimmed over the name, my first association was S&M, so, no, no old codger connection for me.

I often turn to the site babynames.com when I'm trying to pick character names. You can plug in meanings and get derivative names, search by country, etc. Even if you don't find an exact name you like, it can prompt ideas.

-Varian

I haven't had much luck there...
I think I'm being too picky

What about

Ann Leigh

 

[secretme]

Sorry, I agree with slyc on that one.

Leigh Ann Hawke?

Alright... So maybe that one's out...

Slyc likes Leigh Ann Hawke too...
Sheesh
guys!

 

[Guest]

..........

 

[Noor]

Mim Segredo

Mir Cache

 

[secretme]

Remember to Google one you decide on a pen name.

Anne Leigh Hawke?
I think I like it reversed better like that.

Thanks
I didn't even think to google it... Yeah, just in case.

 

[TE999]

I agree with slyc--S. M. Baird's definitely old man-ish.

Leigh Ann Flynn sounds more Gaelic.

 

[rachlou]

Slyc's right - S M Baird is old man'ish.

How about Anna Flynn? Short & sweet.

 

[DesertPirate]

Slyc's right - S M Baird is old man'ish.

How about Anna Flynn? Short & sweet.

Nice one!

 

[Guest]

For what it's worth:

Leighann Hawke = Ahnika Glenhew

 

[secretme]

Mim Segredo

Hmmm...
I kinda like this one...

 

[secretme]

I agree with slyc--S. M. Baird's definitely old man-ish.

Leigh Ann Flynn sounds more Gaelic.

Yeah... But that's my actual name... not really pen... (well my middle names and last name anyway)

Slyc's right - S M Baird is old man'ish.

How about Anna Flynn? Short & sweet.

That's a thought....

Nice one!

Okay Slyc wins...

For what it's worth:

Leighann Hawke = Ahnika Glenhew

OOOOOOOOOOOO....

I really like that...

 

[impressive]

Just some random thoughts ...

(1) As suggested, Google your options. You don't want to be connected with a serial killer.

(2) Look at the bookstore in the section where your work would be shelved to see who'd be sandwiching you alphabetically. It wouldn't suck to be shelved next to Nora Roberts, for example.

(3) Avoid cutesy "pun names" (Dreama Faire, for example).

(4) Long pen names are a bitch for cover artists. Just sayin'

(5) Initials, in my opinion, are kinda nice -- 'cause they obscure gender for bookstore browsers who have a bias. (J.D. Robb, for example.) They've gotta pick up your book to determine who you are, and getting a reader to pick up a book and flip it over to read the back cover (or, online, to click the link to read the blurbage) is half the battle.

 

[Guest]

OOOOOOOOOOOO....

I really like that...

I'm a "jumbled" kind of guy...

 

[only_more_so]

I don't think S.M. Baird sounds like an old man, but it does sound like a pretentious writer's pen name. Double initials are often a bad sign, and Baird is too similar to Bard.

 

[secretme]

Just some random thoughts ...

(1) As suggested, Google your options. You don't want to be connected with a serial killer.

(2) Look at the bookstore in the section where your work would be shelved to see who'd be sandwiching you alphabetically. It wouldn't suck to be shelved next to Nora Roberts, for example.

(3) Avoid cutesy "pun names" (Dreama Faire, for example).

(4) Long pen names are a bitch for cover artists. Just sayin'

(5) Initials, in my opinion, are kinda nice -- 'cause they obscure gender for bookstore browsers who have a bias. (J.D. Robb, for example.) They've gotta pick up your book to determine who you are, and getting a reader to pick up a book and flip it over to read the back cover (or, online, to click the link to read the blurbage) is half the battle.

Thanks, good advice...

I'm a "jumbled" kind of guy...

It works...

I don't think S.M. Baird sounds like an old man, but it does sound like a pretentious writer's pen name. Double initials are often a bad sign, and Baird is too similar to Bard.

Baird is Gaelic for Bard... well missing the beginning part.

 

[gauchecritic]

Coleen O'Flaherty

Wimble Hooligan

Clarrisa Claire

Morgan Strombold

Dylllis Kupan

Theresa Kowalzyk

Semple Winnibago

Terleen Tureen

Floella Huyke

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

What kind of connotation/association do you want the name to convey?

 

[sweetness6280]

Caveat... this advice comes from a reader's perspective.

First, I don't think S.M. Baird sounds like an old man. Must be a mostly guy thing.

I like Anna Flynn. Leighann Hawke is... well... too much like the "cutesy, artsy fartsy" names I do not like. Personally, the flowery, oh-so-obvious names that scream "I write (romance, erotic, etc) novels" turn me off. But that's just me.

Oddly enough, I don't pay attention to an author's name when I am scanning for books, unless it is a name I immediately recognize. I (and most of the people I know) scan the TITLE of the book for something that catches the eye. If I am looking for a good new fiction piece, I will take at least 20 or 30 books down to scan. I don't even read the back or the inside covers for the blurb. I read the first few pages of Chapter 1. If the author gets my attention, I buy the book.

We actually had a discussion in class last week about how we choose books, and most of the people in the class said the same thing. They will spend time reading the first few pages of the book, paying little or no attention to the author's name or the blurb.

OK, admittedly, most of them are book nerds like me, so we may not be your average reader. But, my "bored housewife" friends who also read a lot, don't really pay attention to the name either. They look at the title, cover art, and *gasp* read the back of the book.

The only times I look for an author's name are if he/she is a particular favorite, if it's an assigned book for class, or if someone else recommends the author.

Which is why Imp's advice is so good. Where you will be shelved is very important. Your book is more likely to be noticed if it rests next to a well-known author.

 

[impressive]

OK, admittedly, most of them are book nerds like me, so we may not be your average reader. But, my "bored housewife" friends who also read a lot, don't really pay attention to the name either. They look at the title, cover art, and *gasp* read the back of the book.

I'm not a bored housewife (nor am I your average reader), but I do that ... and in that order. THEN, however, I open the book and read the first paragraph. I'm looking for decent vocabulary, a first sentence hook, and action verbs. If the first paragraph contains more than a couple instances of "was" or "had," I've lost interest. No sale.

If those tests are passed, I'll read on.

This is SOP for "cold" titles -- when I'm just browsing -- not for stuff that's been recommended to me by trusted sources.

 

[secretme]

What kind of connotation/association do you want the name to convey?

I write a lot of stuff with Gaelic or Medieval theme. But that's not necessarily important in the name.

And as for the rest...
I don't really know.
Just haven't found anything that strikes my fancy yet...

 

[voluptuary_manque]

S.M. Baird doesn't sound old mannish to me and I are one. When I saw it on the cover I giggled

"S&M Bared" is the connotation I picked up on. But then, I like puns.

 

[secretme]

What kind of connotation/association do you want the name to convey?

S.M. Baird doesn't sound old mannish to me and I are one. When I saw it on the cover I giggled

"S&M Bared" is the connotation I picked up on. But then, I like puns.

That is not the intention I had...
But,
I don't know whether I find it funny and want to keep just cuz you're not the only one who saw it that way...
Or if I don't really want to go there...

Hmmmm...