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livingdebHearing about a person named Chip Queso reminds me of the question of pen names. If you wrote for publication, would you use a pen name?
If so, what kind of name would you use, and why?
I sort of like the idea of a pen name because I don't like the idea of fame. I could go around using my real name in real life and total strangers wouldn't interact with me so much. Of course my real name is very common, so I get free anonymity that way. And my name doesn't sound like that of a minority and is easy to spell and pronounce, so I get the benefit of not turning off racist people and people who like to be able to pronounce the names of their favorite authors, at least in English-speaking countries, although my name could still turn off sexist people. Using your real name makes it look like you're not hiding anything, plus the list of publications on your curriculum vita makes more sense.
I really like slightly silly names like Lemony Snickett, though. Of course if you are writing nonfiction, this may not be the ideal choice.
Some people just rearrange their names a bit. Living Deb could have pen names such as Liv Debson, Doug Lively, or L. Debbo the Ving.
I've also seen co-authors merge parts of their names to sound like one author. I don't like that--it makes it harder to find additional works by either of the authors.
Some people use different names for different genres. (Ha! I don't have any genres!)
Well, Moira Allen's article Should You Use a Pseudonym? brings up the real issues better than I have. It implies that there's a sneakiness about pseudonyms that doesn't interest me. You are hiding behind a fake name. Oh well.
Still, there are many ways to use your real name. Most people don't use all their names--how do you decide to abbreviate it?
In real life, I use my first name, middle initial, and last name for all official purposes unless they have no room for a middle initial or specifically ask me for my full name. I use a nickname based on my first name plus my last name for basically all situations where I expect people to recognize me on sight. That's how I introduce myself at parties, at work, to landlords, etc. And of course I use Livingdeb, a stupid near-pun, as my journal name. I also have a "camp name" I used when working as a camp counselor.
It's nice when people call, I can tell whether (or how) I know the person by which name they use. Obviously someone calling for Firstname; Mrs. Lastname; or my favorite, Mrs. Lastnameofmaleroommate, is a different kind of caller than a person asking for me.
When I first got business cards, I did the old Firstname M. Lastname format, but I soon realized that the people I hand business cards to will start talking to me, asking for me, and introducing me to people, so now I use the Nickname Lastname format on business cards.
So I guess if I were going to get something published, I should use the First M. Lastname format if I want to follow the pattern I have set for myself.
If so, what kind of name would you use, and why?
I sort of like the idea of a pen name because I don't like the idea of fame. I could go around using my real name in real life and total strangers wouldn't interact with me so much. Of course my real name is very common, so I get free anonymity that way. And my name doesn't sound like that of a minority and is easy to spell and pronounce, so I get the benefit of not turning off racist people and people who like to be able to pronounce the names of their favorite authors, at least in English-speaking countries, although my name could still turn off sexist people. Using your real name makes it look like you're not hiding anything, plus the list of publications on your curriculum vita makes more sense.
I really like slightly silly names like Lemony Snickett, though. Of course if you are writing nonfiction, this may not be the ideal choice.
Some people just rearrange their names a bit. Living Deb could have pen names such as Liv Debson, Doug Lively, or L. Debbo the Ving.
I've also seen co-authors merge parts of their names to sound like one author. I don't like that--it makes it harder to find additional works by either of the authors.
Some people use different names for different genres. (Ha! I don't have any genres!)
Well, Moira Allen's article Should You Use a Pseudonym? brings up the real issues better than I have. It implies that there's a sneakiness about pseudonyms that doesn't interest me. You are hiding behind a fake name. Oh well.
Still, there are many ways to use your real name. Most people don't use all their names--how do you decide to abbreviate it?
In real life, I use my first name, middle initial, and last name for all official purposes unless they have no room for a middle initial or specifically ask me for my full name. I use a nickname based on my first name plus my last name for basically all situations where I expect people to recognize me on sight. That's how I introduce myself at parties, at work, to landlords, etc. And of course I use Livingdeb, a stupid near-pun, as my journal name. I also have a "camp name" I used when working as a camp counselor.
It's nice when people call, I can tell whether (or how) I know the person by which name they use. Obviously someone calling for Firstname; Mrs. Lastname; or my favorite, Mrs. Lastnameofmaleroommate, is a different kind of caller than a person asking for me.
When I first got business cards, I did the old Firstname M. Lastname format, but I soon realized that the people I hand business cards to will start talking to me, asking for me, and introducing me to people, so now I use the Nickname Lastname format on business cards.
So I guess if I were going to get something published, I should use the First M. Lastname format if I want to follow the pattern I have set for myself.