Tuesday, April 16, 2013

[Linkage] N is for Nom de Plume

Note: My A-Z theme is linkage. Every day (at 7:00 a.m. EST), I'm going to list three helpful industry links per letter, and then I'll ask for suggestions in the comments—that way, we can pool our resources! :)
N is for Nom de Plume:

Do you use a pen name? How did you make your decision?

P.S. You'll have to excuse the poor timing, but it's not every day I get to say this: I was interviewed by USA Today! Check it out. :)

P.P.S. Apparently, the print edition has my face and cover. Ahhh!

51 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Congratulations on the USA Today interview!

Nick Wilford said...

I want to use my real name so I can rub it in the face of everyone who thought I was a loser.

I'm kidding... but only a bit. ;)

USA Today? That's great news! Off to have a look.

JeffO said...

Congrats, Carrie! I don't know. When--yes, when!--I'm published, my impulse is to go with my real name. It's kind of awkward and easy to make fun of, but I've never seen another one on the shelves.

Melissa said...

You're one of the few who knows the real me. LOL

Congrats on the interview! :D

ilima said...

So cool about the interview! I think I'd like to use my real name.

Michael Di Gesu said...

I may have to use one at some point because my writing styles vary from m/g fantasy to EDGY Y/A . I also have an adult Film noir novella started. SO I may have to have a different name for the adult work.

We shall see.

Thanks again for the links Carrie.

cleemckenzie said...

Congrats on the interview!!!!!!! I vacillated on the name thing. I wanted my fictional writing to be separate from my academic stuff, so came to a compromise. I kind of used my real name, but not quite. Now I'm not sure it mattered that I keep my two worlds apart.

Mark Means said...

Wow, congrats on such great print...that's very cool! :)

I did a post on this, about a year ago, interestingly enough, and figured that I'd want everyone to know it was -me- , if I ever hit the big time :)

Besides, my real name sounds made up, anyway...

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I must check out the interview! Way to go chick!

Elizabeth Seckman said...

You did a great job in the interview. I am so impressed!

Donna K. Weaver said...

Yeah. I've wondered if I should have gone with one of these.

Guess what finally got to the top of my to-read list last night. And I started? =D

Samantha May said...

I thought about it, but then decided that my name was fine. After all, I don't know anyone else who has a month for a last name :)

Congratulations on the interview! Off to check it out!

Writing Through College

Nancy Thompson said...

YAY on the USA Today article! So proud of you! As for the name thing, I never even considered a pseudonym. But if I ever write in ta different genre, maybe I'll have to... NAH!!

Ella said...

I bought it this morning and flipped through and said Wow, I kinda know her, lol! ;D
I know of you...

Congrats on the fab interview!
@>--------

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Alex! :D

Carrie Butler said...

*Grins* Hey, that's not a bad reason, if you ask me...

Thank you, Nick!

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Jeff!

Yes! "When" is the keyword. None of this "if" business around SYAW. ;)

bobeager said...

Thanks for the info. There is just times when writing under a nom de plume makes more sense. Interesting links.
Congrats on your success.

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Pen Names are important to write a variety of work. The decision is yours in the end.

J.L. Campbell said...

Hi, Carrie,
I'll be stalking your posts going back. Good theme and useful links. I should go read Rachel's article. I wish I hadn't gone that route with one of my books 'cause now it's out there like an orphan child who doesn't get much attention.

Carrie Butler said...

It's like being trusted with the secret identity of a super hero (or grammar goddess)!

Thank you. :D

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Ilima! If I were you, I'd totally use my real name. It's very memorable. :D

Carrie Butler said...

That makes sense, Michael. Maybe you can just twist your name around for the adult work. D.G. Michaels! ;)

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Lee!

I happen to love your altered name. It sounds very author-ish. :D

Golden Eagle said...

I use a pseudonym/nom de plume/pen name for personal reasons; I'm not comfortable putting my real name on the internet. Just because you don't know who exactly is going to read what you put up.

Golden Eagle said...

Oh, and the USA Today article was very cool!

LynnRush said...

I picked a pen name since my real name is so hard to spell. But I picked it for another reason, to honor my mother-in-law, Lynn. She died from cancer. So I get to see her name out there with all my books!! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Mark!

That's a good point. If you're writing in one genre, you might as well! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Elizabeth! :D

Carrie Butler said...

I appreciate that so much! Thank you. :)

Carrie Butler said...

Oo, really? I hope you like it! :D

Carrie Butler said...

I always assumed it was a pen name! That's so cool! :)

And thank you!

David T List said...

Interesting post on pen names. I think I may don one... or maybe two.

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Nancy!

*Grins* Why mess with success? Nancy Thompson all the way!

Carrie Butler said...

We know each other now! :) Thank you so much, Ella!

Carrie Butler said...

You're very welcome, bobeager! I hope they come in handy. :)

Thank you!

Unknown said...

I don't have a pen name, but I do have a pen theme in my story.

Congratulations on the interview!

Carrie Butler said...

It certainly is!

Carrie Butler said...

Hi, J.L.! I'm so glad you're finding my theme helpful. I love sharing resources with other writers. :D

Eek. I never thought about that!

Carrie Butler said...

That makes perfect sense to me, especially at your age. I'm still not comfortable putting my "real self" out there, but it's something that kind of comes with the territory. *shrug*

Thank you, Eagle!

Carrie Butler said...

I have always admired your reasoning for a pen name. It's such a wonderful tribute! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, David! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you very much, Jenn! :)

Aldrea Alien said...

I do use a pen name, largely because I've a very common name and also share it with several authors already. No point muddying the water there any further.
The other reason is, with Aldrea Alien, I'm the first thing to pop up in a google search.

Carrie Butler said...

That's pretty smart, if you ask me. :)

Stina said...

A agent tweeted the article yesterday. I grinned when I saw your name, Carrie.

Carrie Butler said...

Really? That's so cool! :) Thanks, Stina!

Carrie-Anne said...

I've been using my pen name for 20 years this May. Had I been older than 13, I definitely would've chosen something more distinctive and in line with my classical eccentric/classical unusual naming tastes, like Persephone, Octavia. Rowena, or Xanthe. But I've really grown into my pseudonym, and couldn't imagine using any other. At the time, I just didn't like my dull as dirt real name (the most common female name in history, across most cultures, after only Mary), and wanted a name from a song. I was just getting into oldies and classic rock at the time, and so had a very limited pool. It was dumb luck that I ended up with a name from a Hollies' song, since they're still one of my favorite bands 20 years later. Brown came from the Herman's Hermits song, and two years later, I added -ian to the end after I became an Armenophile. I guess I figured that if I used a real Armenian name, like Arshagunian or Zouranjian, I might be accused of misrepresenting myself and cultural appropriation.

Carrie Butler said...

Wow! That's quite the history. Personally, I think it's a great name... but I'm a little biased. ;)

Unknown said...

Interesting discussion... I have a last name that is quite well known in the UK where I am asked, "is that one 'p' or two?" However the same name appears to present difficulties in the US, where I get, "Ble...Ble...Ble... can you spell that please?" Still considering what to do! www.hjblenkinsop.co.uk

Carrie Butler said...

Welcome, HJ! :)

I definitely see your dilemma there. Do you see your market being larger in the UK or US?