Shopping for a new name

[arienette]

So, I've been in the mindset to start writing stories and I mean really writing - Not just putting something together and being done with it. However, I do not want to write under my own name because basically, I'm young and don't know where my future is going to take me. Because of this, I am in search of a pen name. I have been thinking about this all day and trying to come up with one that I like whole heartedly is hard stuff so I came here for help.

So far, I have Tegan O'Rourke, but I've been told it sounds way too "romance novel"-like and I don't want to come off as just that, either.

Other first names I've had in my mind so far have been Adrienne, Alex, Andy, Arianna, Casey, Devin and Imogen

As for last names, I am at a complete loss and need all the help I can get.
That's where you people come in.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

So, I've been in the mindset to start writing stories and I mean really writing - Not just putting something together and being done with it. However, I do not want to write under my own name because basically, I'm young and don't know where my future is going to take me. Because of this, I am in search of a pen name. I have been thinking about this all day and trying to come up with one that I like whole heartedly is hard stuff so I came here for help.

So far, I have Tegan O'Rourke, but I've been told it sounds way too "romance novel"-like and I don't want to come off as just that, either.

Other first names I've had in my mind so far have been Adrienne, Alex, Andy, Arianna, Casey, Devin and Imogen

As for last names, I am at a complete loss and need all the help I can get.
That's where you people come in.

See, that's where I've gone wrong all this time: I would have started with the story writing, and thought about the pen-name afterwards.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

As for last names, I am at a complete loss and need all the help I can get.
That's where you people come in.

Shakespeare. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Actually, Dr. S's suggestion makes good sense to me. What you plan and what comes out are often very different, so work done prematurely on the name could be wasted.

 

[arienette]

Shakespeare. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Actually, Dr. S's suggestion makes good sense to me. What you plan and what comes out are often very different, so work done prematurely on the name could be wasted.

Well I have some stuff done already, lately I've been getting more and more ideas in my head so I have the outlines for 2 more stories.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

As for last names, I am at a complete loss and need all the help I can get.
That's where you people come in.

Well, I was thinking of using Dirk Snively....but, if you want it, you can take it...no, really...no problem....

And there is no need to thank me, it's been my pleasure to assist where I can...

 

[Aurora Black]

Devin and Imogen really stand out for me. Adrienne, Alex & Arianna (as well as alternative spellings) have been used to death IMO.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

My first choice was Wendy Boner... but, believe it or not... it was taken

 

[Huckleman2000]

My first choice was Wendy Boner... but, believe it or not... it was taken

Isn't that the wife or daughter of the Majority Leader?

Oh wait, that's Boehner....

I like Wendy, though.

So, maybe Wendy Brees?

Or Hardy Boehner?

 

[JamesSD]

Other first names I've had in my mind so far have been Adrienne, Alex, Andy, Arianna, Casey, Devin and Imogen

I didn't know how commoon a name Imogen is in Australia until my neighbor named her daughter that.

I'll say that as a woman, using a man's name is a fairly bold statement. It's not good or bad, but people will tend to assume something right away about a woman named Alex, Andy or Casey (Rather than Alexis, Andie or ... I guess Casey is fairly androgenous)

Best of luck to you!

 

[Stella_Omega]

I was going to use my maiden name.
My father said "Please don't" So I had to create a name out of whole cloth. And now I'm Stella Omega forever, evidently.

Which is a problem, because the heroine of my novel (which may never be finished) is also Stella.

Should I change her name, or mine? I mean there must be something more... butch.. I could use?


Arienette, go for a very non-committal name, if you want my advice. Something that could be any sex, or writing genre.

A famous O'Rourke is (was?) P.J. O'Rourke, the scathingly funny, politically conservative, writer for National Lampoon and The Rolling Stone magazine.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

Every evening when I come home from work, my gorgeous 14-year-old son is chilling on his bed in his room, watching tv and playing on his psp.

I always greet him in the same, different way. "Hello, Gordon", or "Hi, Wilfred", or "Bless my soul it's Paul". I just make up a random name every day, which is my way of trying to get a reaction out of the dull-eyed teenage dolt. It works: Afteer a couple of weeks of this, he actually replies to me in kind.

Ah, the tricks of Identity we must play to get fresh reactions from dullards!

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Personally I like names that are one gender in one language but another in another. Mischa, Sasha, Vanya, all sound feminine to english ears but to russian are familiar masucline "nick names".

So Sasha Bliad ( Blehad) would be Alex the Whore

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Whatever name you choose, I'd suggest doing something to it so that you have a unique spelling.

Not only does this enable people to Google up your stuff and not get a list of 500,000 identical names, but it allows to to copyright your unique name. That's a good idea these days with internet piracy and changing intellectual property laws.

My next opus, tentatively titled, How Hot Were My Underpants, will be published under the name of Moe Fungus Butterfuckfartdish(C). Watch for it.

 

[Liar]

I always thought that authors, jounalists and artists who just used their first initials instead of a name were über cool. You could call yourself something generic like TC McGraw and when asked what TC stands for, refuse to answer and give them a smug look.

 

[neonlyte]

I too like Imogen.

Story titles usually come easy to me - when they don't, they get the working title - Imogen's Story

ETA: Ref Mab's post - searching 'Imogen' elicites 5.4 million web pages, searching 'Imogin' brings 142 precisely.

 

[ImpureThoughts]

I knew someone named Imogen. She was, like, 96 years old and ran a home daycare. Not to rain on anybody's parade, but -- for me, at least -- the name brings up images of old ladies and yarn.

 

[TheEarl]

Actually, Dr. S's suggestion makes good sense to me. What you plan and what comes out are often very different, so work done prematurely on the name could be wasted.

Hey, I'm in no danger of getting published and I already know what my erotica penname would be - Connor Earl*.

I kinda like Arianna, but I think it's gonna be a personal thing. Just keep tossing things about until one hits you right.

The Earl

*Not my real first or second name, or even particularly indicative of my nationality!

 

[arienette]

Thank you everyone for helping out a bit, you all seem a bit better at this than I do. I'm still leaning towards a gender neutral name, I like them and have been searching weird first names for a last name; same as I do when naming characters.

 

[glynndah]

So, I've been in the mindset to start writing stories and I mean really writing - Not just putting something together and being done with it. However, I do not want to write under my own name because basically, I'm young and don't know where my future is going to take me. Because of this, I am in search of a pen name. I have been thinking about this all day and trying to come up with one that I like whole heartedly is hard stuff so I came here for help.

So far, I have Tegan O'Rourke, but I've been told it sounds way too "romance novel"-like and I don't want to come off as just that, either.

Other first names I've had in my mind so far have been Adrienne, Alex, Andy, Arianna, Casey, Devin and Imogen

As for last names, I am at a complete loss and need all the help I can get.
That's where you people come in.

I seem to be in the minority, but I happen to like Tegan O'Rourke. The first name is just different enough and a bit "ambisexual". The last name could be modified to just "Rourke" to make it a bit sharper sounding and get away from the romance angle. A name where the gender isn't readily apparent could be an asset.

Please, please, please don't mess around too much with the spelling! As I said in EL's Victoria Blisse thread, a spelling that's too odd, especially with random apostrophes and hyphens thrown about willy-nilly, is pure torture to those library drones (me) who have to type Le'Sleigh Shmytth, or its equivalent. There are several romance novelists who still name my teeth clench whenever I see their book covers.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Whatever name you choose, I'd suggest doing something to it so that you have a unique spelling.

Not only does this enable people to Google up your stuff and not get a list of 500,000 identical names, but it allows to to copyright your unique name. That's a good idea these days with internet piracy and changing intellectual property laws.

My next opus, tentatively titled, How Hot Were My Underpants, will be published under the name of Moe Fungus Butterfuckfartdish(C). Watch for it.

I like Moe Fungus, actually...

 

[Aurora Black]

Thank you everyone for helping out a bit, you all seem a bit better at this than I do. I'm still leaning towards a gender neutral name, I like them and have been searching weird first names for a last name; same as I do when naming characters.

Well, you are naming a character. THE character: You as a professional.

 

[Aurora Black]

There are several romance novelists who still name my teeth clench whenever I see their book covers.

Like who?

 

[glynndah]

I can't remember right now, but I do recall she wrote bodice rippers. I think it started with an S and had an totally unnecessary apostrophe right in the middle. Step'Hanie or Se'Bastien. The second one is closer. I remember looking on the copyright page and that name didn't have one - just the cover. The library received a paper bag full of her books! Precomputer, so I had to make multiple cards for all of them. I think I threw away as many cards as I typed correctly.

 

[Aurora Black]

I haven't seen many apostrophes in author names, but they definitely turn me off when used for characters.

But that's a whole other topic.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

I haven't seen many apostrophes in author names, but they definitely turn me off when used for characters.

But that's a whole other topic.

Actually, I'd say it's not a whole other topic, probably about 20-30% of one.