Questions tagged [pseudonym]

This tag should be used for questions about pseudonyms, for example about an author choosing not to reveal his real name to his audience by using a pseudonym when publishing. Pseudonyms are also sometimes called pen-names.

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12 votes
4 answers
4k 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 ...
Jackie's user avatar
  • 121
10 votes
5 answers
2k 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 ...
Memor-X's user avatar
  • 1,042
16 votes
7 answers
3k views

Why shouldn't I use a pen name?

I don't like my name. I feel like seeing my name on the cover of my novel will be an embarassment more than a moment of pride - I just can't take things I've written under my own name seriously, for ...
Yamikuronue's user avatar
  • 1,167
13 votes
7 answers
845 views

Writing different genres

I like to write many different genres in my fiction writing but I think that this would be confusing as an author's name becomes somewhat of a brand. Is it therefore a good idea to invent pen names ...
Jeff Yates's user avatar
19 votes
13 answers
1k views

Why do writers use pseudonyms?

It's common enough -- recently I was looking for Seanan McGuire's newer book only to find it was published as "Mira Grant". Why would an author do this?
Billy ONeal's user avatar
14 votes
4 answers
3k 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 ...
Galastel supports GoFundMonica's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
742 views

Is it easy to change genre?

I read somewhere that one should choose ones genre carefully, as it is hard to change later. Although there are exceptions, most writers, even established ones, find it hard to change genre, and have ...
Shantnu Tiwari's user avatar
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 ...
Roger's user avatar
  • 61
6 votes
2 answers
455 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 ...
Memor-X's user avatar
  • 1,042
6 votes
1 answer
236 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 ...
DoWhileNot's user avatar
  • 1,574