Pen Names

If you had a story to publish, would you keep your own name or would you invent a pen name?

 

Knowing me, I'd invent a new name as a pen name. I'm not too fond of my real name anyways. Always getting called Jerricho.
How about you?

 

I'm keeping my own name. My last name is quite rare, but even if it wasn't... it's me.

 

Haha my whole name is quite rare. First, middle and last.

 

I publish under Matthew S. Dent. Which is a version of my real name.

I played with the idea of using a pen name, but decided that I quite liked my real one.

 

Hmm. I would love to go by my real name. It's worth all my effort. I just can't imagine myself hiding at the end if I have to put in a lot of time and energy to getting published.

 

Everyone I know calls me by my middle name so I'd probably publish under my first name and surname.

 

I don't really have a desire to be famous one day. I mean, if I ever were to get something published, of course I would subscribe to a pen-name. That way I could blog and run a website under the pen-name for all of the fans, but not get noticed outside of that medium.

 

I've considered it but I actually quite like my name.

 

I like my name.

Using a pen name makes me feel like I'm writing someone else's book. Weird, I know.

 

I'm far too proud to be published under anything other than my own name - I'd even go as far as to say that if I were married but then got published, I would use my maiden name. I've got quite an uncommon surname anyway, and yea, pride would make me use it :redface:

 

Pen name.

 

Pen name and you're looking at it too.

J.P.Clyde

Jene Perry Clyde

 

I've known a few people who do that.

I wouldn't give up my name, should I ever get married.. I'm open to the idea of a hyphenated name though.

 

New wave. Hipster. Conservative jargon. ;D

 

I use a pen name for professional reasons.

As for pride, hard work, &c being reasons to use a real name, the only people to whom your real name is going to have any significance in the first place are those close to you who know who you are. The readers walking by the book shelf don't know you from Chairman Mao. Those to whom your real name has any meaningful significance will also know your pen name, and both still serve to indicate you are the writer.

So it comes down purely to personal preference or whether you have other considerations that favor a pen name.

 

As a writer I don't think I'd want to use a pen name, I prefer sticking to my real name.

 

I would use my real name for my general fiction writing, but a pen name for my erotic antiques roadshow fan fiction.

 

If I'm ever fortunate enough to be on the precipice of publishing, I'll opt for a pen name.

Pallas Wordsworth, haha.

 

That's probably the best idea. ;D

 

So how are the erotic antique roadshow groupies supposed to find you?

 

I'd use a pen name for some writings. My real one doesn't sound good on the cover of science fiction or fiction book. (I hate using the label "fantasy" for my writing)

 

...Pen name. My last name is 'Meyer'. ...I don't want to be associated with a certain author.

Plus, I get to choose a cool name.

 

I've considered a hyphenated name, but it would depend on what his surname was, because some names just don't go todether.

For me it's not just about people recognising my name (although it would be nice to be recognised by people who I went to school/college/worked with etc). For me, it is a case of, it is my book and I want my name on it - not a fake name. I know, not the most logical reason, but like you said, I guess it's just personal preference.

 

That's understandable. I suppose I view my pen name as my name also. One I've chosen for myself. And it does have significance to me, as I've combined names that have been in my family. It serves to designate a work as coming from me