Interesting conversation on writer names taking place over at Kristin Nelson's blog. It starts here and continues for a few posts.
I have to admit that this is a purely esoteric rant because ultimately, what author name you use isn’t that big of a deal. This is purely something that annoys me and really isn’t a huge issue in the grand scheme of things.
I want to talk about author names because ultimately, promoting your work and getting published is all part of one big package of professionalism.
And, I think writers are potentially too hung up on their formal names (as in using first, middle, maiden, and last name). [Uh oh….]
I wouldn’t blame you if you are scratching your head at this moment, so let me explain. If you write literary fiction, I think using three names is fine as long as there is a memorable rhythm to it (Jonathan Safran Foer pops to mind).
Otherwise, three names is overkill and potentially not in your best interest (in terms of name recognition, ease of finding you in the bookstore, etc.) It can sound pretentious and if you are writing a big, bad thriller, it’s potentially defeatist. It’s James Patterson, Lisa Scottoline, Iris Johansen, John Grisham, Robert Crais, Lee Child. Boom, boom, boom.
Oh dear. Well, I've spent a lot of time thinking about the name I want to publish under, which is really a cart before the horse approach, but it IS a career decision and I didn't want to give it too little thought at the last minute, if that makes sense.
I am not absolutely tied to using my real name, which really is Lynn Raye Harris. Lynn Harris is a total no go. There is an actress (nude pics available, apparently), a comedienne/author with a column on MSN, a personal injury lawyer, a gay black author (add an E. at the beginning), and who knows who else. My maiden name is worse. Hard to pronounce unless you're from Texas (there's a town of the same name, though different spelling) and just not too terribly attractive emblazoned across a book cover to tell the truth.
So I have considered a pseudonym. I have a few picked out, but actually deciding on one now and building a website–well, that really is shoving the cart over the cliff, isn't it?
Yes, I have a website (and this blog) under my real name. I mostly did that because I wanted to learn how to build a website before it was necessary. Changing things to a pseudonym isn't really that hard, and it's not like I have a ton of name recognition on the web anyway. Folks on blogs know LRH, but how hard would it be to introduce a new name if necessary? Not terribly, I think.
So, yeah, I'm open to a name change. I'll make the best business decision I am capable of. And it may be ditching the legal name for a fictional one. I haven't crossed that bridge yet, so no major decisions necessary. But I want to be prepared.
Am I upset about the idea of having books out and not having my real name on them? At least one person in the comments trail of some of Kristin's posts refuses to consider anything other than her real name. That's her decision. But I can take it. I really want to build a career, and if that means LRH may write literary fiction at some point and Betty Business will pen the romances, so be it.
What about you? To pseudonym or not, that is the question…..
I went through this too recently when I was deciding on a domain name. And I decided that I would stick with my real name but only my first and last name.
Your second name is lovely… mine is a very old fashioned name (named after my grandmother) and I didn’t want anything to make me sound any older than having two daughters in college and a son going into high school makes me feel.
The decision to use my married name rather than my maiden name was a simple one. My husband has been my biggest supporter over the years and for a long time was my only supporter. He deserves to see his last name up on the cover of my book when I finally do have one published.
I think each writer has to decide what works best for them. How we choose to refer to ourselves goes much deeper than simply what will look good on a cover or whether or not someone can find our book in the bookstore. One of my favorite YA authors is Weywyn Wilton Katz… and when I’m looking for a new book from her I have to check both W and K sections… but the point is that I do check both sections.
Aloha,
Sue
P.S. Loved the pictures from Kauai… we lived on Maui for four years and I miss the Islands so.
I seriously considered writing under my maiden name, but that was before I married. If only for my child’s benefit. Thought about her having problems in school because of either what I was, or possibly even because I did write — but that would require a certain level of fame, which I seriously doubt I’ll ever hit. Not that I’d be complaining if I did, mind you, but still.
Like Sue said, my husband has been such a strong supporter, I think it would hurt his feelings if I wrote under any other name.
My name’s not erotic, it’s not exotic, it’s not wild, nor does it have a strong dramatic flow, but I do think “Candice Gilmer” has an easy pronunciation and is not so long that it would overtake a book cover or a spine.
And at this point, what I write under is pretty much a moot point, as long as I write..
As you know Lynn… I never used my husband’s name… it just didn’t seem to fit. However, my real name has too many syllables. I have thought of writing under a pseudonym, but … that is not me. Ummm. I think that it will be either Cyn Bagley or the Bag Lady. 😉
And that is a thought.. why not write under “Lynn Raye?”
Thanks for the comments, everyone!
Sue, your name is really nice, so I don’t blame you for choosing it. I don’t think my husband cares if I don’t use his name, though he has been very supportive over the years. He was actually helping me brainstorm pseudonymns the other day. 🙂
I’m glad you liked the pictures. I keep meaning to add more, and more trip reports, but I keep getting sidetracked. I like Maui a lot, but I NEED Honolulu for the variety of activities and the culture. We’ve been doing First Fridays lately, and they are so much fun. It’s an art gallery walk in Chinatown, complete with food and wine tastings. 🙂
Candace, I like your name too! It has a nice ring to it. I think you’ll do fine under that name. It’s memorable and flows well.
Cyn: Cynthia Tune has a ring to it, for publishing anyway. You might want to consider it. 🙂 It’s very memorable. Or, much as you might dislike it, Cindy Tune. Diana Tune, considering what you told me about Cynthia and Diana in Greek. 🙂
I don’t really like Lynn Raye alone. It looks too much like a first and middle name to me. 🙂
Thanks for the discussion!
I kinda like Diana Tune.. But really, Lynn Raye… It has a nice punch to it… and Raye does not look like a first or middle name to me… 😉 LOL
Hi Lynn!
I think pseudonyms help to keep your business very separate from your personal. Especially if you’re someone who doesn’t necessarily want personal notoriety, just professional.
They’re also a big help when doing things on your own behalf. Like if you wrote as Linda Rae, or something, you could say, “Hi, I’m Lynn (Rae) Harris…on behalf of Linda Rae…”, etc.
Cyn, I like Diana Tune as well! It has a ring to it. And it’s different. 🙂
Millenia, great to “see” you again! Good points about keeping the two lives separate. And, something one doesn’t necessarily consider–though I’ve known a couple of writers this happened to–what if you use your husband’s name and he turns out to be a lying jackass who ditches you after you’ve written a book with his last name on it? Yikes!
Not that I’m suggesting that will happen to anyone here, btw! 🙂