The dreaded pen name bug has bit me. I don't want to be Rusty Webb anymore. I think I'm going to start writing under a pen name, at least I think I am. I'm not sure. But something happened at work the other day and I realized that I wasn't so sure I want my professional life (ha!) and my online life colliding.
I'm not sure how much work that would be, I'd have to change the blog, my twitter, my publishing stuff. I don't know. Anyone have any opinions on the matter they'd like to share?
Also, this is my third post this week... that's not happened in a while.
17 comments:
Be a little late to change what you have now, wouldn't it?
Author Elizabeth Craig writes under her name and a pen name. So does Hart Johnson. They would be the ones to ask.
Sorry you're having issues between work and writing.
I write under my own name. I haven't run into issues, yet, though. I can imagine the struggle you are facing and if you think that the pen name would be the better choice, go for it. I do know that even with a pen name, with the internet it is very easy to connect the dots. I wish you all the best with your decision.
I had lots of friends advise that I should write under a pen name. I thought about it. Alas, I am me. I think Melissa is right. If you want to find out who someone is, you can on the internet.
The only problem with a pen name in this day and age is you have to make a separate Twitter or Facebook accounts to help promote the book.
You're smart to think this through, Rusty. Your employers are supposed to be evenhanded, but they're not.
Co-workers, from what I'm told, can be brutal and vindictive or supportive and kind. The supportive and kind ones aren't a problem. The others can impact your career.
Think about this- start with a pen name to protect yourself, then, when you're famous, pull a Stephen King and re-claim your earlier works under you're real name.
When you're famous, you might be able to protect yourself a little better or have enough money you can tell them to take a hike.
Hmm... that's a tough question. Generally speaking, I don't see the point of a pen name since there's no actual way to keep it secret if someone wants to find out. Of course, when you're not famous, the likelihood of someone wanting to find out is small.
Of course, I also have your name all over my stuff as the artist, so I'm kind of invested in you being you. :P
I say if you can come up with a name you love, do it.
For security a pen name is worthwhile.
It's a tried and true way of getting around all those assumptions made by others.
It's hard to say what to do because I need more details about what happened at work. I lean toward you just staying Rusty for now. It's not like you write erotica. Maybe someone at work found your blog and knows you like to write and that you want to get more work published..so what? Writing and publishing is an accomplishment. I think you just tend to be shy as I've never seen a picture of the real you..at least I don't think I have??
I write under my maiden name. So, it's a little of both. But as some say, not hard to connect the dots if you want to.
You need to do what's right for you. Think long and hard about that. Whatever you decide, I'll support you.
I use a pen name, sort of. M. L. Chesley. The M is for me, Mel. The L is for my husband Larry, who helps me write these books.
A pen name can be good if you don't want your two worlds colliding. Depends on how bad the collision was...
It won't take long to change your online names, blog, twitter, etc. Depends on how badly you want to go incognito.
Change your name to J.K. Rowling. That way you get some awesome sales.
I think if it's causing problems at work and you need to keep your day job, you should do it.
I think in these days of technology pen names are a waste of time.
I write under my own name, but I haven't published anything under any name yet ;)
P.S. Love Michael O.'s suggestion ;)
I write under a pen name, but it's just a derivative of my real name, so it's not too off the wall.
I have a pretty visible/high profile job, so I do have to keep them totally separate.
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