Alex Kane's picture
Alex Kane from west-central Illinois is reading Dark Orbit November 18, 2011 - 10:41pm

I've been using my middle initial since I began sending out my work, and I've been published five times under the name Alex J. Kane. Whaddoya think? Should I drop the "J.," or does it add a sense of authority?

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts November 18, 2011 - 11:23pm

It looks good on a byline and it makes you more googleable, so there's that.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin November 19, 2011 - 8:09am

It adds authority.

Chester Pane's picture
Chester Pane from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz November 25, 2011 - 10:27am

@Alex. Yeah, what Rennie said. I googled plain Alex Kane and came up with a smattering of 'em. Then I googled Alex J. Kane and your blog was in the pole position. I suppose though, if you become famous enough then your name would be on the top of the Alex Kane list. On the other hand, being able to be in that pole position already with Alex J. might help you become known faster because fans will be able to find you easier.

Decisions, decisions.

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig November 27, 2011 - 12:48pm

I made a small amount of headway with name recognition, and then I got a divorce and changed my name back. It upset me, so I chose a pen name. Got married again, had a couple things in the works to be published, decided I didn't want to use it anymore, got my copies of the stuff in print and GODDAMIT, I had completely forgotten I put them in under the pen name. So, yeah, I've got one.

Renee Pickup is a pretty memorable name but my pen name is Renee Asher.

I have considered writing erotica for the money, or a long running joke/pipe dream is to take 8 weeks to write a romance novel and send shop it as-is. If I ever do either, I'll probably use a pen name for my pen name...and it would be something not connected to my real name at all.

Nick's picture
Nick from Toronto is reading Adjustment Day November 30, 2011 - 6:27pm

Nick Michalak is phonetically similar to Chuck Palahniuk.  So I can't blame shit on my name.

Chester Pane's picture
Chester Pane from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz December 1, 2011 - 9:29pm

@Renee: Asher is a cool name.

@Nick: so is Michalak

Nick's picture
Nick from Toronto is reading Adjustment Day December 1, 2011 - 9:46pm

thanks! unless you're this guy:

www.michalak.org

if anyone ever googles me, I hope they don't mix us up

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig December 1, 2011 - 9:52pm

@Chester--oddly, I have a nephew (through marriage) named Asher (first name)

@Nick-it shouldn't be too hard to set yourself apart from that guy...do you have an iota of taste? You'll be fine.

 

Brian Ingham's picture
Brian Ingham from Stillwater Oklahoma is reading There is No Year by. Blake Butler December 4, 2011 - 7:55pm

When I first started writing I would use the name Thomas Winters, but recently I've been thinking about using that as a characters name instead. Should I stick with my real name and use Thomas Winters somewhere else down the road, or stick with Thomas Winters? Or scrap it all together?

 

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated December 5, 2011 - 8:47am

The vast majority of people who see my name assume I'm black which creates some odd situations, and there are 3 guys writing under it already so Dwayne Anderson is out.
http://www.amazon.com/Duane-Anderson/e/B001HPU4OY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevan...
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevan...
There is also a pastor/singer in Las Vegas, a guy who plays basketball in Germany, and a muslim who did a short story about his conversion becoming Daud Ahmad. Sigh.
http://www.reverbnation.com/ministerdwayneasaphanderson1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Anderson
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Short-Stories-American-Converts-to-...
I'm think maybe my full name Dwayne Edward Anderson, or just D. Anderson?

 

 

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. December 5, 2011 - 3:08am

Or you could own the blackness and publish a novel about being African American in America.  That would make for some awkward book signings though.

Dwayne's picture
Dwayne from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updated December 5, 2011 - 9:05am

@alien - that was the first thing I've read to make me really laugh out loud in a long time. I get enough awkward though every time I meet folks who heard my name but haven’t seen my picture. I could probably do a short story about that.

misskokamon's picture
misskokamon from San Francisco is reading The Moonlit Mind December 5, 2011 - 1:53pm

I found a guy I sort of fancy. I checked his last name, and it sounds great with my first name. I may marry him just so I can have a cool name for my stories. Hmm... now if I can overcome my shyness and ask him out on a proper first date... 

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters December 5, 2011 - 2:01pm

Awww.  That is the perfect reason to marry someone!! 

My (real) name is the same as a somewhat famous historical figure.  Go made fun of a lot.  Do I get the premise of marrying for the last name. 

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words December 5, 2011 - 2:39pm

I should probably do more writing and less contemplating pen names. I don't typically post my real name online, so I've got loads of silly pseudonyms floating around.

My initials P.D., when said in French, are slang for pederast. Lots of fun growing up in Quebec I tells ya.

I've been toying with a multicultural name combination like Paolo Hashimoto.