If you had to use a 'nom de plume', what would it be?

If I were to use a pen name, I think it would be... Nathan Dangerfire.
For interviews I'd wear a scarf, and a cape, and also thigh-high leather boots like those musketeers in movies have.

On a little more serious note, can the name of the author make a difference to whether a book does well or not? George Orwell, Lewis Carroll, Joseph Conrad, Josephine Tey, Mark Twain and many others used pen names... I imagine it was to be more marketable.

 

They chafe like hell.

As a pen name I would go for two initials followed by a name, like C.S. Lewis and J.K Rowling. I just think it looks great on the spine of a book

 

There is something about initials that lend a kind of importance to the name... my initials are I.M., so not so much in my case.

 

I don't like initials unless they are marked in tiny letters at the corner bottom of a painting. But that's that. Just two initials without a full surname.

There are writers that have many pseudonyms. Depends on the genre and style they are writing I assume, in order not to attract readers just by name when it comes to writing a different kind of story. When the writer wishes not to mislead the expectations of the reader when he or she has followers. I respect that.

How about making things more minimal? How about one name? For example just "Sparrow" or "Titus" or "Whatever". Has this been done before? I think it's way more memorable.

Btw, if you are going for initials, I.M is not so bad. I. M. Sparrow can be read as "I am Sparrow" or if you switch the initials to M. I. it can be perceived as the infamous British intelligence agency. Just saying...

 

I would totally use R.J Donovan, even though there is no j in my name.

 

Arcadeus. In my picture I would be wearing a wizard's robe with a pointy hat and struggling to pull a sword from a pile of game of thrones books.

 

And there is this I found out about the Expanse series of books I've been reading... snip'd from wiki, "James S. A. Corey is the pen name used by collaborators Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. The first and last name are taken from Abraham's and Franck's middle names, respectively, and S. A. are the initials of Abraham's daughter. The name is also meant to emulate many of the space opera writers of the 1970s."

I think Daniel Abraham wrote mostly Fantasy before hitting it big with the Expanse books, epic Space Opera. I think it must have been as you say, the writer not misleading expectations and wanting a fresh start in another genre.

I sort of like I. M. Sparrow now that I see it on a page. A bit highfalutin for my blood, but I'd rather be a Sparrow than a Snail, yes I would if I could I surely would, I'd rather be a Hammer than a Nail, yes I would if I could I surely would... old song from another time.

 

Upon first read, your name reminded me of one of my favorite protagonists. He used to be an angel and quite pissed off.

And I'd rather be a forest than a street. Hm.. You think? Got a nice ring to it. Forest.

 

I had an Angel character once for a short story who was banished from heaven. The whole story was based on him looking upon G-d and realizing his failure, while falling to Earth and losing his wings in the process. Blood, dirt, feather. It was a pretty vivid story. Can't remember if I named him Arcadeus or not. Though I will eventually use the name for something important.

I like the idea of having a character from a novel as a pen-name.

 

Anatol? Is that you?

 

Anatol?

 

I'm kidding (obviously). Anatol France - The Revolt of the Angels. Although his story was satirical mostly. Not so much about wings and blood.

 

Hmmm, I think I'd use...

Iain Aschendale.

It's partially an homage to my favorite writer, and "Aschendale" is a word that I made up. At the time I could only find one other reference to it on Google. It doesn't, IMHO, sound "fake", and starting with "A" puts it near the top of alphabetical listings.

If I were to use one, that is.

 

I use variations on my middle name plus either a family name or personally significant geographic location for my pen names. Not terribly original, but they get the job done.

 

I use my initials TRR. Though I like to own my work, and am proud to do so.
But I know I suck compared to most, at least I am willing to own it, seeing as
it won't be over hyped with its skirt blown up by all the bells and whistles of
editors and such.

Not that any of you give a shit.

 

Is the Iain part... as in Iain Banks?

 

Bingo!

Not that I keep my fan boy status much of a secret.

 

Killing Swallows, by Ioanna Forest & Angus McKinnon... we sound like two characters from an Agatha Christie novel.

And nice pic for your new avatar!

 

His Culture books are the best SF I've read, ever.

 

Lol. Indeed! Hahaha!