Pen Names

[sarillia]

How do you go about choosing a pen name? I don't know where to start.

I've been going back and forth for a long time about whether I would want to use a pseudonym if I ever actually got published. I finally decided yes because I don't need to worry about my bigoted brother seeing the shameful empathy towards things he disapproves of in my writing and judging me, even if I know that it's unlikely that they would google me and find out that I have a few stories that a handful of people have read. True story: his girlfriend once refused to lend me a book because she had discovered since buying it that it was "immoral" and said that she regretted lending me other such books in the past because she shouldn't be enabling me in poisoning my mind with such things.

Anyway, pen names. Do you have one? How did you choose it?

I kind of feel like I'm getting ahead of myself, but in my defense, I did write today.

Comments

[inkdust]

I've gone back and forth about it too, but I've nearly always ended up in the pen name camp, even when I was just leaning toward something JK Rowling style. More recently for me the bottom line is twofold: on the one hand, I don't really feel a connection to my given name. The only reason I wouldn't change it is that I'm used to it (and changing it would probably hurt my parents). On the other hand, I suspect that seeing my given name on a book cover somewhere would make me feel very self-conscious even if no one in the store knew it was me (high hopes here, lol). So basically I want to use a name that I feel I identify with without it feeling so personal. So I can be like, hey look that's me, and feel proud, but also sort of direct the pride at a third party I can detach from. If that makes sense, that was a ramble. I don't intend to hide my pseudonym from anybody - if I manage to get published, conservative grandparent discomfort with my lesbian romance is going to happen and they can get over it.

Anyway, I've been set on the first name for years, going with a nickname one of my friends started calling me in high school that's an actual different first name. A number of friends have used it over the years and I "feel" like that name and feel proud of it in a way I don't with my given name. The last name I've never been as sure about. A couple years back I decided I wanted to just pick one that I really liked and would like being referred to by without a first name, like in newspaper articles and stuff (more high hopes, lol) and at that point I chose Quinn. That was when Glee was still reaching its peak and I realized Quinn could be a girl's name and I thought it sounded very pretty. But that seems like sort of a dumb reason to choose the most significant half of my name, so I've never felt like that one was set in stone. I think part of me is still waiting to stumble across something that feels indisputably perfect. I don't know if that'll happen.

[sarillia]

I don't feel much of a connection to my given name either, but I surprised myself by realizing that I do feel a connection to the first initial for some reason. So I want to keep that at least.

Quinn actually makes me think of Daria instead of Glee.

[inkdust]

Ah, never watched Daria.

Keeping the first initial is nice, that could also give you a good springboard to narrow the vast array of options out there.

[caecilia]

I can see you as a Quinn. Quinn Mc-something.

I'm probably gonna think of you as that from now on.

[inkdust]

Hah, that works for me. Though I'm planning Quinn as the last name.

[caecilia]

Awwww.

Well maybe I'll use Quinn Mc-something then.

[inkdust]

XD