My name is African, but I don't know the specificity of it. It's pretty generic, and can be taken as unisex by north americans, so I'll probably stick with that for my normal works. If I felt a need to write erotica, though, I'd use an initial and last. Something vague like C.F. Banks, because I think erotica is so... specific and serves such a defined purpose that the author's identity shouldn't be anywhere near the mind the reader. Try a random name generator, or perhaps names from fiction that resonate with you.
I am not sure as to the origin of my name, but I think it stems from the ancient practice of spinning chins. Despite exhaustive research I haven't been able to uncover many details on this.
So I've decided on a few possible surnames, but I don't know which one to pick! they are all polish words (the translation is next to them) Kaczka - Duck Klucze - Keys Bratek - Pansy Kokos - Coconut (tree or fruit) Rekin - Shark Lalka - Doll Sowa - Owl Morze - the sea Iskra -Spark
^ Do not call yourself 'Bratek' unless you want the Polish to laugh at you/think you're absurd. Apparently according to some people on different forums, my writing style is on par between Dan Brown and George Lucas. Ergo, I've decided on the following possible pennames: #1- Dan Lucas #2- Lucas Brown The trouble with the above, however, is that I might instinctively write it as 'Dan Brown'/'George Lucas', and I really don't want to risk that. What if I did it by mistake and pissed off the real Dan Brown/George Lucas? The risk is too great here. On the other hand, I've come up with this: John D.L. Brown. Though I'm not sure what sort of genre you'd expect someone with that name to write in. Fantasy? Sci-Fi? Mystery? I still like it, even if it looks a tad generic. Oy, and I thought picking names for your characters was hard.
Doyle would have written as John Wattson, because the style was epistolary and Wattson was the writer of what were supposed to be letters to the editor. Which is kind of the point. Chester Anderson, in his groundbreaking psychodelica-sciencefiction The Butterfly Kid, writes in the forward that it always bothered him when he was reading a book written from the first person, when the name of the author and the name of character narrating were different. So he wrote The Butterfly Kid as Chester Anderson in the first person, and it's kind of an "in" joke for authors who have read the book. David Wong, I know, and more I'm certain. Edited to add: If no one can name a psychodelica-sciencefiction published before 1967 I'm going to continue saying that The Butterfly Kid was the first of the genre.
I thought boxing. Hit a guy hard enough in the chin, and as his head spins, his chin spins. Then he collapses to the canvas, is hospitalized, and you go away with a championship belt and a very large check.
For me that would be David Morgan, which is certainly reasonable as a name at least. I know a woman who gave herself the middle name Lilith because she didn't have a middle name and she thought that fitted her personality. My actual name is the same as that of a Chinese American comedian, so if I publish anything (or get my name in the credits of anything) I will probably use my full name or my mum's double-barrelled surname (although I don't think Mark Arnold-Britten really works too well).
That's pretty good advice! I don't plan on using a psuedonym but that's a good thing to bear in mind. Middle name and street I grew up on - let's see. In my case, it would be Ka-Yan Cottesmore lol I once accidentally came up with a very nice name - don't remember how now. I was discussing some steampunk idea with my co-author and on FB chat I sent her a steampunk cat sticker. We joked around a bit and then this name popped up. If ever I do use a pen name, I'll use that one
Frankly, I don't think I'd use a pen name unless I didn't want people to know who I was. It would probably be for naught as, if I got famous through writing, people would find me out. But, I think if I'd write a book, based on the content I plan for it to have, I would want to hide behind a pen name, or only let a few select people know that I published a book. I was thinking I could just use my forum name, but a published book with the author name of Beastly Beast would come across as quite prideful or arrogant, I'd imagine... not the best idea.
Or it'd slant readers' impression of your genre. "Buy the latest inspirational romance by Beastly Beast!" Nah, don't think so.
Just like to remind everyone your user name is not your pen name. I'd have a hard time getting published if I signed it under "Stormcat".
Personally I would want a pen name, that way I could keep the part of me that might, at a stretch, become moderately famous separate from the part of me that likes to be an arsehole without appearing in the papers. I think I'd go with Nick Cage if it's not already taken.
I'm using my real first name and an old family name from generations back: Alexander Munro. I like it much better than my real surname, which in addition to sounding ugly is also an amusing colloquial nickname for... well, if I tell you, you'll know my name! I haven't published anything yet but I will be in the near future.
Rae H... well, it's concise. I'm sure if I ever end up published (ha, ha,) I'm going to need a pen name. My real last name is three-word-long mouthful, and my maiden name is German in origin and doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. I'll probably use either my initials, D R, because I actually like that it's gender neutral, or my middle name, Rae, because it is short and easy to remember but either way I'm going to need something to tack on to the end. I once had the brilliant idea to try translating both my maiden and married names to English, with hilarious results. Probably I'll just end up lopping off two-thirds of my name and using what's left.
I don't know whether to write using my name as seeing my last name on a published book (if it ever happens) would make my grandad really happy, but part of me wants to use a pseudonym. How many of you lovely people use a pseudonym, how did you decide on what call yourself?
You can find a recent discussion on this topic here: https://www.writingforums.org/threads/coming-up-with-a-pen-name-whats-your-story.137747/page-2#post-1317457
