Just curious if anyone uses a pen name or just goes by their birth name? Are there, really, any advantages either way?
I was using a pen name because I got divorced and didn't know what to do. Then I got remarried and realized my married name was pretty cool. Now I use a combo of both, because I am stubborn.
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My Plum name is Prunus subcordata.
Bryan Howie is my pen name. I also plan on writing under the name "Chavez Jones" because last names as first names tickles me.
The advantage to using a pen name is so your co-workers don't find out about your erotic dragon novels.
Bradley, did you find my erotic dragon novels? Don't tell my boss. She's scared of dragons.
Also, try explaining Horsepower to your mom. Not an easy sell.
^ is my real name/initials. I tried using a pen-name, but the first time a story I put that name on was accepted for publication they used my real name instead (I guess they got it from the email.)
I started dating my girlfriend after reading her erotic dragon novel. So they aren't all bad. :D
There is already a published writer with my name, so I use a pen name.
I'm thinking of changing mine from M.L.Hall to Nom De Plume. Yes, my pen name would be Nom De Plume. I think it'll really stick it to the man.
Yeah, my given name is Diana Prince.
Had to be changed.
I'm not serious.
Woo hoo!!!
Kyle Rayner is a Green Lantern.
My birth name was Veranda Velveeta. Sufficing to say, it was either change my name or become a Monday afternoon stripper. I made the right choice.
I love that name. Shit, I'd never change it.
Xuan-Uyen
Monday afternoon stripper"
Ha! The b-squad.
The girls who give the handies. Those are the best girls around. They actually care about you and your problems and nod appreciatively while they tug you off.
I hear.
Those girls have to pay for cosmetology school somehow.
FUN FACT!
Mary Magdalene is the patron saint of prostitutes and hairdressers.
Amen.
Thoughts on the symbolism?
Is she taking an anatomy class so she can reassemble Zombie Jesus?
^ hahaha
-- Also the matron saint of CSI's: she's doing reconstructive facial extrapolation
Thought about a Norwegian name, dragon tattoo like. Such as: Laarg whenharde. Considered using, Dan Gleebals or Chris Peacock too.
I use my real name. I shouldn't, though, because there's some asshole musical hack using it who's already famous. Hence the middle initial... but that's a bit thin. Regardless, I've already started down this road, so I just take it as a challenge to see if I can displace him someday. My hope is eventually to hire him as my butler and pay him obscene amounts of money just to vacuum my mansion. Though the reverse is probably a lot more likely.
I use my real name, although there is a sci fi writer named John Hemry who wrote a series under the name Jack Campbell. I actually talked to him about it through email. I wanted him to know that I wasn't claiming to be his son or anything like that. He is from this area, and there was always a chance we might run in to each other. He seems like a nice guy. He wished me luck and said he hoped to see my name next to his on a shelf very soon.
My birth name was Veranda Velveeta. Sufficing to say, it was either change my name or become a Monday afternoon stripper. I made the right choice.
Why in the world would you ever change that beautiful, beautiful name?
I just made the decision to use a nom de plume, mainly because my full given name is very dull and common (at one point there was a facebook army of us over 600 strong). I prefer to go by Emma (short for Emily), and McMorran is my grandmother's family name.
Hetch, it was a translation issue. From English to English I didn't want to be "Porch Cheese."
Pane, Chester Pane.
I always go back and forth on this, mostly because I just hate my name. I've got three last names and no first:
Mckay York Williams
I've used William Mckay, York Williams, M. York Williams and finally just gave up and use my real name.
I only published under another name once, as Gordon Hurstgreen, at Sideshow Fables. I was working with Paul Eckert there and he needed some web content, so I set up a false email and sent him off a story. I got in.
Pane, use a period not a comma. That would push it from cool to awesome.
And shouldn't it be "nom de plume"?
Oui. Plume
I'm lucky (?) that no one else (listed) in the U.S.has my given name. So if one Googles me, it's either me, an obscure Scottish marching band regiment, or a small brand of Belgian beer that I've been trying to get my drunken mitts on for quite some time. But the coworker thing can be a problem, yes, so I have several different levels of privacy set up on my Facebook acccount to exclude certain shares.
I use a pen name in most aspects of my life except legal documents - mainly because if people googled my real name, they might find my record, and former friends/victims might be able to find me. Plus, there isn't a chance in hell that another David Aghabekian exists in this country. It's my maternal grandfather's name, and he's my hero, so it only made sense. I might even change my name to that legally soon, if felons are allowed to change their names.
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