All Questions
56 questions
2
votes
2
answers
97
views
I own an unpublished, bound manuscript (non-fiction/historical). Author is pseudonym, no citations. Can I cite/edit and assume some rights?
I have recently acquired a bound, typed, hand-finished (maps, ancient symbols) manuscript. The author has elected to use a pseudonym and I have exhausted hours of effort trying to find evidence to the ...
- 29
0
votes
2
answers
133
views
Publishing anonymously; using a "proxy" author
I'd like to submit a short story for publication with (publisher here).
However, I'm a very private person and I'm not entirely happy with the protections afforded by a pseudonym.
If I were to sell my ...
- 101
3
votes
2
answers
169
views
How do I choose a good pen name?
Is it fine if I choose a pen name that uses my own name with a surname of a different language?
- 31
2
votes
0
answers
103
views
Can I change my name after publishing? Do publishers take poorly to it?
I just published my first childrens book under my chosen name. However, I am gender queer which is why I have a chosen name and I thought publishing under it was the right thing for me but now that it’...
4
votes
2
answers
63
views
Correct authorship attribution for online resource published under usernames
I am currently writing my PhD thesis and found a very helpful illustration of the human brain which is distributed under a CC license. I made some minor changes to the image, but of course I still ...
- 143
0
votes
3
answers
158
views
Should I use a pen name? My name is Aviv Shener
I'm close to publishing my first novel, and I have mixed feelings about using my real name.
I'm not sure it's easy on the eyes, and it might seem too weird to the average reader.
I was thinking of &...
- 11
1
vote
3
answers
592
views
Is it possible to keep a pen name's identity anonymous today?
Given that a copyright application protects an author and has the "Pseudonymous" option, the legal claimant is always required in the form if you intend to have any legal protections, ...
- 1,122
1
vote
0
answers
42
views
Is Hyotan Rozu or Calabash Rose a bad publishing name? [duplicate]
Opening question got too long so I shortened it drastically, I like the name calabash rose as a publishing name but it struck me as gimmicky so I played around on google translate a bit and settled on ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
159
views
How to write under a complete separate identity - pseudonym, pen name - everything?
I want to write under an identity that is not traceable back to me, so that people may not scrutinize me from my writing - neighbors, employers, coworkers - you know. Is there any foolproof way in ...
1
vote
3
answers
107
views
Authenticity and writing under a pen name [closed]
My question is about marketing and using a pen name. Ofc I want to connect to readers, but I wonder if it's possible to be authentic if you're not revealing your 'true' identity. Is this a matter of '...
- 11
3
votes
5
answers
968
views
Can I use a real person's name as a pseudonym?
I don't want to use my own name when publishing my book - my pseudonym is the name of a German actress. Is it ok to use it? It's not a common name, but my book is in English, and the actress is German,...
- 31
0
votes
1
answer
109
views
How to Mention the Use of Pseudonym when Cold Pitching
I'm looking to gain experience writing for blogs. To do this, I plan on cold pitching a list of bloggers with guest post ideas. Only, I'd like to publish the posts under a pen name. I don't want the ...
- 306
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Real-world issues with using an alias
It's not so much that I dislike my real name, but I have a few issues that make me uncomfortable with using it.
This is mainly due to the fact that it's quite unique, and while that is an advantage, ...
- 53
3
votes
4
answers
495
views
What kind of name should a fantasy author go by?
I'm currently in the middle of writing several fantasy books and, even though I'm not done with any of them, I can't stop thinking about how my name will appear on my books once they are finished.
I ...
- 31
14
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Author changing name
Let us suppose an unmarried female author. She publishes something. Then she gets married, and chooses to change her surname to her husband's.
Obviously, she can choose not to change her surname. And ...
17
votes
5
answers
3k
views
English - Acceptable use of parentheses in an author's name
My legal name is Barbara but I have gone by Babs since I was in the 4th grade. I have written a children's book and wanted to list my name as Barbara (Babs) but my editor said that it might not ...
Babs Benge
3
votes
3
answers
273
views
How to pick a proper pen-name for online writing?
I have an ambitious idea of writing fantasy/erotica and turning it into a web comic (and get crazily rich, of course), for that I need a username/pen-name.
I need it to be catchy and memorable first ...
- 53
11
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Is it a bad idea to have a pen name with only an initial for a surname?
My name is Ana Novkovic and I'm about to start writing and all that. I really really don't like my last name Novkovic. It's so hard to pronounce and I worry it would just distract readers and not look ...
- 119
3
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Is it offensive for a mixed raced American of no Japanese descent to use a Japanese pseudonym, merely just because they like it?
I’ve grown up on anime, and with unrelated Japanese family. I very much admire their culture and just want to know if it would be culturally offensive if I used a Japanese pen-name (Kumo Espinosa) ...
- 95
5
votes
1
answer
200
views
Should I create a domain name using a pen name that is common with another person's domain name?
I'm considering a pen name to use, and I wanted to see if its firstlast.com domain is available, but it wasn't. So, I thought I could change the domain to something like firstlastwrites.com, ...
- 1,909
2
votes
1
answer
189
views
Publish the same book under two names
I have self-published books under a name that I used before moving to another country, where I partially changed my name. I'd like to know if I could publish them again with my new name, but not "...
- 61
4
votes
2
answers
139
views
Do I need to get a pen name?
I'm a self-published author, who is going to get a traditional publishing contract. They say it's my choice, but I have a doubt.
I have published a thriller novel, two mystery short stories, and also ...
- 61
5
votes
1
answer
193
views
Can using my name as author harm my book sales?
My name is Vinícius Morais, and I'm new to writing books. I have finished my first fantasy novel. But do I keep my name as the author or create a pen name? The main problem is there's a great poet and ...
- 247
20
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Can I give a lecture about my book without disclosing my real name?
I have a non-fiction book about language learning, entrepreneurship, productivity and personal growth in general. The problem is: I have published this book using a pen name (pseudonym). I would ...
- 706
5
votes
1
answer
144
views
Pseudonyms and Book signings
I use a pseudonym and was wondering what the decorum is for setting up a book signing or for signing some in-store copies if I happened to stumble across them.
I assume the stores have some minor ...
- 51
8
votes
1
answer
354
views
"Cease and Desist" for a pen name [duplicate]
Shortly after I published my first book, under my own name, somebody released a bunch of erotic fiction using my real name as their pseudonym.
It is difficult for me to point people at my books on ...
- 81
6
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Using a fake name for book [duplicate]
So I want to use a fake name for my book, not my real name. How do I ensure that editors or agencies don't take advantage of that or play a trick when it comes to the credits of the book? How do I ...
- 61
7
votes
2
answers
205
views
When a publisher buys the copyright for my books, does that include the pen name I used?
Years ago, I wrote many westerns under half a dozen names for a publisher. They bought the copyright and published them. Now I'm hoping to write for a different publisher.
Can I still use one of the ...
15
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Should I bother allowing images (headshots) for pen names?
Please bear with me, the question really is for writers. I'm authoring software that manages ebooks. I'm to the point of representing the "profile" of authors who choose to use pen names.
How ...
- 667
4
votes
1
answer
195
views
Can you publish an ebook as an Editor of someone else's writing under a pen name/pseudonym?
I have a collection of short notes and letters from someone I knew (who gave me permission to publish or share the writings) and I'm thinking if I can self-publish them as an ebook as "Editor" under a ...
- 41
8
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What to consider when choosing a pen name for a sci-fi novel?
I am writing a sci-fi novel with a female main character. My style is lo-tech, more about character development and a beautiful and unusual planet than about descriptions of technology. My target ...
user25668
14
votes
7
answers
676
views
Do I need a pen name? And how do I pick a good one?
Try having the name 'James Thompson'. It doesn't really sound like a name a professional writer would have, does it? Because I don't think so.
So here is my question: Should I have a pen name instead ...
- 141
32
votes
11
answers
9k
views
Is it a bad idea to adopt an 'English' pen name as an Asian American writer to reach a wider audience?
There is currently a dearth of Asian American writers on U.S. library bookshelves, and those few authors who are Asian Americans tend to write about things associated with Asian culture. Think of Amy ...
- 464
2
votes
2
answers
340
views
Does age matter if you want to publish a non fiction book?
Specifically, with some kind of psychological subject, and some theories and philosophies.
The book will have subjects people generally refer to as from people experienced in life, who have been ...
- 636
10
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Would there be any problems with choosing a pseudonym of another ethnicity and sex?
Taking some advice here
You might notice that pen names usually sound like names a real person would have. So when you want to make a writing career under a pen name, you might want to pick a less ...
- 1,042
6
votes
2
answers
517
views
Is it possible to self-publish with a pseudonym but still be approachable for offers?
I'm currently writing a book and intend to sell it to make some money on the side. Now I don't have any dreams of grandeur for this book such as it being an instant hit or anything like that and I'm ...
- 1,042
12
votes
2
answers
721
views
How to express copyright when you use a pen name
I am about to self-publish my first novel using a pen name. I will be registering the copyright this week.
My question is, on the first page of the novel where you put all the publishing/copyright ...
- 979
6
votes
3
answers
22k
views
How to introduce a fake name or alias for the sake of making a story clearer
I'm writing a scenario that describes what one person did when he worked for a company and want to use proper names for readability, but not use the real names of the people or company. But my ...
- 389
12
votes
5
answers
587
views
Is it foolish to pursue a writing career while desiring complete anonymity?
I am writing my first novel. When I finish, I'd like to try publishing it. I've read other questions regarding the publishing process and they suggest that an aspiring author must do things like book ...
- 374
6
votes
1
answer
270
views
Should I use a pen name so I don't get confused with other authors with similar names?
I have a common(ish) name, with at least one other writer out there with my exact name, although he writes in a different genre than I'm interested in, and another with a similar name that DOES write ...
- 1,574
5
votes
4
answers
702
views
How do writers differentiate personal beliefs from the messages of their writing in public discourse?
Hypothetically speaking, of course...
Let's say I write a work of fiction. It could be construed as highly disparaging to one or more demographics especially if you stop reading within the first few ...
2
votes
1
answer
617
views
Amazon question: Can different pen names under the same KDP account be publicly connected?
If I put two pen names under the same KDP account, is there any way for the public to find out that they are written by the same person? KDP says 'no', but sometimes the official version isn't the ...
- 21
6
votes
3
answers
255
views
Use Pen Name after Blunder?
Three years ago I published a novel on Kindle. 10K free copies went out before I realized the text was vertical! It is still quite painful to recall.
I unpublished it, got a new cover, waited 6 ...
- 61
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How to choose a good/suitable pseudonym
I write fantasy humour (fantahumour, if you will) stories but I have recently written a rather different story in the form of a horror.
Naturally, I want to associate myself with both genres, but ...
- 1,024
3
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What are the copyright limitations for adopting a fictional character's name as your Pen Name?
I wanted to use 'Dumbledore' as a part of my pen name. But I was told that by doing so I might, I just might subject myself to suing by J.K. Rowling (if she intends to).
Is that true? Can't I use ...
- 131
12
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Using a pen-name: possible legal issues
My question is about publishing under a pen-name.
Does it have to be registered as a trademark?
If it's not registered as a trademark, can someone sue a writer for using it? Because every name you ...
- 121
8
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Promoting your books when you've written under a pseudonym/pen name
I know this question could be considered a "list" question, or "subjective", but I think that it is a valid question and can be quite helpful for a lot of authors.
My question is, as a self-published ...
- 141
2
votes
2
answers
630
views
When self publishing, are there benefits to making a company to represent your books? Is that then a publishing house?
Is it possible to create a company that acts like a publishing house?
I imagine registering a company and contracting the novels I write under its name, and then putting them on Amazon and ...
- 407
22
votes
5
answers
28k
views
Can a self publishing author use a pen name/pseudonym?
I know that an author can use a pen name/pseudonym instead of a true name when publishing the traditional way. This is done by signing contracts with the publisher/agent using the real name ...
- 407
5
votes
2
answers
405
views
Should I use different pen names for different audiences (non-fiction)?
I am working on three separate works for three different audiences. All are non-fiction. One is for children ages eight to twelve, another is for teens ages fourteen to twenty, and the third is for ...
- 53