The only thing I ever submitted to anywhere I submitted under the pen name 'A.E Skinner'. A&E being Accident & Emergency. My last name was Skinner until I changed it by deed poll. I'm not sure if I would submit under that pen name again. Even if I used my real name it would be gender neutral anyway, which pleases me. It's tempting to use the nickname my friends use, but who would buy a book written by Toaster Town? xD
Probably just C.S. Turner my first two initials then last name, or maybe some alias, like Mr. Smith, yeah probably Mr. Smith, so mysterious yet common.
One is often tempted to write under something like Mssr. S.P. Francoise-Drake Williams, Esq.; one likes dramatic flair and impressive titles. But no, normally I either write under my real name or an anagram.
I'm looking for a pen name that will look good ahead of ...the Unmerciful or ...the Master. Dorky names like Marty the Unmerciful or Willy the Master just don't work. I need something with strength to match the name extension...LOL
I have no reason to use a pen name. They bring me nothing but bad luck and accidental associations. I thought about doing a goofy play on my real name by having my first two initials J.C. followed by Monkk, which would play off of my real last name which is Abbott. Problem is that J.C. Monkk sounds blatantly religious, especially when you factor in that J.C could be interpreted as Jesus Christ. Additionally, when I went to art school for a brief period to become a game designer, I thought it would be fun to name my future company Fighting Abbott Games. Then I discovered what the acronym for that would be. Not too flattering. Fortunately I figured that one out on my own before I'd used the name in any projects.
I don't use a pen name, but I have two names, anyway, one in Gaelic, one in English. The one I use depends whether I'm writing for a Gaelic or English magazine.
in my old write-for-money life i did use a couple of pen names... but for good reasons... one was for when i didn't want to be instantly id'd as a woman writer and the other was for xx-rated stuff that i wanted a suitable by line for...
I don't have a pen name, but I have a pen with a name. His name is Oliver. He's a 1932 Parker Vacumatic in laminated pearlized jade celluloid. An all around class act.
Ahhhhggggggg, Wrey beat me to it! When I saw the name of the thread I was going to say “no, I never name my pens.” Oh well. I wouldn’t use a pen name. I’d be proud to be published, and proud of what was published.
Pen names rather appeal to me, but I'm not sure if I will use one. The situation in which it would really appeal to me is if I could have this for a cover: TITLE AUTHOR Picture a solid red cover with simple white bold text - Title by Author. I've been considering a pen name, though - perhaps I should see if I can find a really good one. It would be fun. Cheers, lav
Interesting question. I think that when I publish something, I will do it under a different name. Perhaps Kimberly Ann Hariss, although I have a hunch it's been taken, as I remember it from somewhere.
I want to use a pen name, but I don't know what it will be yet. My real name is boring and it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Also, I may not want some people to know it was me