Nom de plume

[wishfulthinking]

I was thinking about the very important question if I ever wanted to get published - what would be my pen name?

- my dog's name and my mum's maiden name?
- a mix up of my middle names [I have 3]?
- names I really love, but wouldn't do that to my children?
- something incredibly stuck-up with 5 syllables?
- my real name?

How are you guys handling/handled this question?

 

[BlackShanglan]

I currently write under three names - one for poetry, one for non-fiction, and one for erotica. Should I actually be published in erotica, I think I might go for Dubh Shangliu - which is simply my name here in Gaelic.

Shanglan

 

[gauchecritic]

I'd choose Wishful Thinking

 

[Boota]

I publish under my real name, but I'm considering a pen name for a children's story I'm working on. I wouldn't worry about a pen name unless you're planning to write in different genres or if you have a really bad name. (Like Agnes Glutz or something.)

Feel free to use Agnes Glutz if you'd like.

I agree with Gauche. I know that I would pick up a book written by Wishful Thinking.

 

[carsonshepherd]

A "getting out of contractual obligations by a musician" name is your middle name and the street you lived on when you were five years old.

Which wouldn't work for me because the road was named after my family. So it would be Carson "My Last Name" Lane!

 

[Guest]

If I ever get published on real paper I'll use Mex Chick.

Perdita

 

[matriarch]

I chose my pen name years ago.......not that its ever likely to happen........Just<real name> Mother's maiden name.

Which basically is a pointless piece of information, all the important pieces are missing.

Ignore me.

Perhaps I should just stick to Matriarch.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

My Original pen name was Shaeffer Felt-Tip.

 

[matriarch]

My Original pen name was Shaeffer Felt-Tip.

http://www.addis-welt.de/smilie/smilie/lachen/stuhl.gif

 

[cantdog]

Wishful Thinking is a really good one. No foolin.

I have used my own name so far, but I haven't published any porn.

 

[wishfulthinking]

I thought you guys were messing with me! But I still think I'm going to pinch Mex Chick!

 

[Boxlicker101]

I think I would use Ernest Hemingway. I don't remember where I have seen that name before but it sounds writerly.

 

[Evil Alpaca]

I tend to try and keep the same moniker (sp?) whenever I post, thought admittedly I only post on two sites (rapidly becoming only one).

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

I was thinking about the very important question if I ever wanted to get published - what would be my pen name?

PUBLISHED? What's that?

Rumple Foreskin

 

[rgraham666]

When I get published, I'll do it under my own name.

It's my stuff. I want responsibility for it.

 

[oggbashan]

I'd ask the advice of my publisher's marketing dept.

The choice of a name decides where you would be placed on a bookstore or library's shelves. There are pros and cons of a name early in the alphabet, an instantly recognisable name, a distinctive name, etc.

The choice depends on the genre. There is a whole pseudo-science about marketing a brand name (which is what your nom-de-plume actually would be).

Og

 

[Guest]

I'd go with my real name. I do when I publish on my site and I plan to if (when) I ever get paper published. I have to hold on to that dream.

My real name (as a lot of you know) is Katie Spicer, which I think is a pretty good name for erotica/erotic horror and so on.

It doesn't bother me (obviously) that anyone who knows me knows what I write. It's me, and I'm proud of it.

Lou

 

[rikaaim]

I was thinking of that myself. I thought about using my real name. I'm not sure though.

I do like Rika. Maybe something with that.

Rika Gallant.

That used to be a character in one of my role playing games and I like it a lot.

 

[Sabledrake]

I use my real name for grown-up books and my initials for the kiddie books. But I'm always holding "Serenity Townshend" in reserve for when I decide to finally write that cheesy bodice-ripper

That street-name thing wouldn't work for me, either ... we lived on 39th St.

Sabledrake

 

[rikaaim]

That street-name thing wouldn't work for me, either ... we lived on 39th St.

Sabledrake

I used to live on Bellemonte. Now that's a good street name.

Xavier Bellemonte. I like that too.

 

[Guest]

I thought you guys were messing with me! But I still think I'm going to pinch Mex Chick!

Do you mean you'd steal Mex Chick, or that you'd actually pinch me? Big diff. You can have MC, I was kidding. I have a fine real name, very fit for a writer.

Perdita

 

[BlackShanglan]

I'd ask the advice of my publisher's marketing dept.

The choice of a name decides where you would be placed on a bookstore or library's shelves. There are pros and cons of a name early in the alphabet, an instantly recognisable name, a distinctive name, etc.

The choice depends on the genre. There is a whole pseudo-science about marketing a brand name (which is what your nom-de-plume actually would be).

Og

Good points, Og. I rather thought "Lemony Snicket" a nice choice.

Shanglan

 

[gauchecritic]

But I'm always holding "Serenity Townshend" in reserve for when I decide to finally write that cheesy bodice-ripper

Sabledrake

Then people can walk into the bookshop and shout "SERENITY NOW"

 

[BlackShanglan]

Then people can walk into the bookshop and shout "SERENITY NOW"

Damnit. I'm going to go mad for the rest of the day trying to remember where that's from.

Wait a moment. My plan for the rest of the day is to work frantically at, well, "work" things interspersed with equally frantic housecleaning in preparation for guests.

Madness will be a lovely break. Thank you, gauche.

Shanglan

 

[Guest]

Sh., don't go mad. Hint: Frank Costanza. P.