Pen names mid writing career

Okay, this might sound crazy, but I feel very differently than I have in the past about pen names. I kind of want one. But how does something like this workout after you've been published several different places? I'm thinking mainly about short stories and author bios. Do you basically start all over in terms of credentials? I think I'm okay with that because I would still mention these things in my cover letters, right?

I would at least like to make the switch to a pen name for my novel when it gets published. I've only got a rough draft done at this point.

Do you guys have any thoughts or advice when it comes to pen names in my situation? Thanks in advance.

 

The publisher needs to know your real name to pay you. So you make your pitch with your real credentials and your real name and note the product is to be produced under a pen name.

 

I changed pen name recently, it wasn't working for me. I'd sold perhaps a dozen short stories to anthologies and magazines, and wanted to leave the name behind (it was my family name, and using it always left me feeling a little bitter).

So when I started submitting stories to anthologies/magazines under the new pen name, I made the conscious decision not to mention any of my writing credits under the old name. I just wanted to start again, really. And I assumed I wouldn't get anywhere because it was hard to get my foot in the door the first time; why wouldn't it be just as hard the second?

But I got stories accepted fairly quickly, and now I'm back up to that dozen-ish that I was at when I made the decision. I don't think it would have made a difference mentioning my writing credits those first few times; in the end, it came down to the writing. Must have done, at least. I had improved and gotten better at writing in my time writing as Name One, so when I started as Name Two, it was different. Apparently I was in a position where I could rely less on previous credits, and more on the quality of the current submission. Now I'm lucky enough to have a few credits on my side, too.

What I mean to say is, go for it. If you want to go for a name change, a lot of people will tell you it'll mess you up. But you're not back to square one: you're standing on the same square, sure, but with different experiences that'll make it easier to get to square two.

That said, if you wanted to include your previous pen name's credits, there's no reason you shouldn't, I suppose? Like Catriona said you'll need to include your legal name anyway. So it just depends on whether you want to alert potential publishers to the fact you're changing your name (if they see that you are, might they question why? Might it suggest that your writing under one name hasn't been very successful? Might it suggest that what you're submitting now is different enough to what you've had published that those credits are irrelevant? etc.) or whether starting entirely anew would be a good thing.

 

Giving this some more thought, my fear with this whole thing is starting over or at least having it look that way. It has taken me a decade to earn the credits I do have, and I really don't want to let those go. Would I still be able to list my past pubs and MFA in a bio that would be published in a journal that is publishing me? I'm talking about the author bios that are in the back of each issue. I really don't want to start over. But at the same time if I take on a pen name, I do want to put distance between my writing self and self self.

I have published in several of my dream publication over many years. I might not have a ton of credits, but I feel like I do have some good ones. I also worry about losing the connections I've built using my real name. This just seems more complicated once you have established yourself a bit. I'll have to give the whole thing some more thought.

Thank you both @Catriona Grace and @The Piper for replying.

@Catriona Grace -- Do you know how a switch to a pen name would affect listing credits in a bio that would be published in the back of a journal? I mean, readers aren't going to be able to look me up and find those older publications (not that I know if that's ever happened). And the publications I've been in in the past aren't going to recognize my pen name, and I do't want to look like a liar. I think this is where it might get tricky.

I've also been paid to speak at universities. Is that something I would have to stop doing? These schools approached me because of where and what I had published. Speaking arrangements aren't something I have done a lot, but the pay is really good, especially for a hour or two in front of students. Again, my credits are important here. I'm really not sure how to handle something like this. I wouldn't want to just come out and say my real name and my new pen name are the same. That would sort of defeat the purpose.

@The Piper -- A dozen publications is a pretty big deal. I mean maybe it depends on where you were published. I'm surprised you didn't want to still mention your credits during the submission process since you would still have to give them your real name for purposes of the contract, payment, and also where to send copies. I can understand giving up a name (I'm thinking of doing the same thing), but the idea of giving up my publishing history is a hard one.

Damn, I'm really not sure if I should do this even if I want to. Thank you both for responding.

 

I don't know, rats, but I'm perfectly capable of pondering the subject anyway. Take the following with some salt and a raised eyebrow because it is conjecture.

Are you going to be writing in a single field/genre/style under both real name and pen names, or will one name be devoted to science articles, one to fiction, one to erotica, etc? The latter is pretty straight forward since people reading Mary Roe's books on hyperspace aren't likely to care about the sweet romances written under her pen name of Valerie Von Henzaugh. However, if you are famous for writing high end literary novels under your real name and now decide to write high end literary novels under your very protected pseudonym, yeah, you might have to establish a whole new set of credits for the new identity. Once you are found out (and you probably will be eventually), it'll set your fans to wondering, WTH?

For decades I've written articles on needlework and natural science under my own name. Faced with publishing a novel in the next year, I'm seriously considering a pseudonym. My name is unique and that makes me easy to find. I value my privacy and don't want to be found. Right now, I'm still figuring on using my real name or intials, but...

Ooo, look. The horns of a dilemma.

 

I'm not famous and I don't see myself having a fanbase or really care too much about those things. But I would still be writing literary works just as I am now. Just like you it's sort of a privacy thing for me. I don't imagine myself in a situation to be found out, considering I'm mostly a short story writer and essayist in literary journals. And I don'y imagine even my novel generating so-called fans, looking into my past and caring much if at all where I had previously published under a different name.

I just have been thinking about this and, for my own mind's sake, I like the idea of a little separation a pen name can give authors. I felt the complete opposite way for a really long time. And I have worked really hard to build up the credentials and publishing history I have attached to my real name. I think this is something I have to give more thought. Thanks for your comments.

 

But that would defat the whole purpose of now wanting to write under a pen name, no? I don't plan on ever having a website. And I also don't want to have social media. It's just not my thing. And I don't really think I need those things to help me as a writer. I will state again here that I write literary fiction and I have always published with places that already have their readership and aren't looking for me to bring them more readers. Even with a novel, my focus in terms of profit is all about the advance.

I don't want anyone who googles me to find much at all if anything. I guess I was just wondering if I can keep some credentials but ditch my name. I guess it's sort of a tricky situation.

That's just where my mind's at right now.

 

Thanks for bringing up the subject. I've been thinking about it as well.

 

You're totally right. It's common sense. I think I would have to give up listing everything. I'll even take it a step further and say I don't think I would be able to list anything credits in a bio. I think it really does mean starting over. I feel a little stupid here.

Actually, I feel really stupid for asking this question in the first place. And why does that stuff even matter? I mean, I don't think readers are even going to care what my publishing history is. I feel silly for even acting like it was really all that important. My life is kind of shit right now, and I think I was trying to grasp at something that I thought gave me a better sense of self worth, but it doesn't really.

@The Piper -- I completely understand the points you made and your approach. I think you were right. Thanks for posting about it here.

 

This is a very good thread with some good questions. I'm actually going to create another thread to expand on these ideas.

For what it's worth here is my list of benefits of having a pen name:

- Complete freedom of starting over, you are untethered from your style, your reputation and your history so you can start from scratch with zero expectations from the readers. You are free to experiment with a new writing style, new genre and new ideas
- Your pen name is a throw away resource because it's not linked to your name, you try it out and if you see it not working, you get rid of it without any reputational loss
- Your identity is protected so you can write about more controversial topics than you would under your real name

I will try to add some detriments in the new thread

 

I would point out that Frederick Schiller Faust had a dozen pen names; he typically used a different one for different genres, though not always. For his newspaper columns, he used his real name. His westerns and the Dr. Kildare series were under "Max Brand" for example. His "Tizzo" - an Italian swashbuckler series - was under "George Challis".