I've tried millions of times to come up with just one. I always tell myself this will be the one I stick with and I inevitably never ever settle on it. I can never come up with one I like and stick with. How do you pick a pen name and stick with it?
For you people that have settled on a pen name, how did you do it?
Also, is there a way to change your username?
I'm usually up for a critique and I encourage you to ask me in a PM.
Doug Dargel
I understand several of the "big fish" (including Mr. Hubbard) use(d) several pen names, including their real name, so why couldn't you?
Do you have a childhood hero? You could keep your forename and use their surname.
If I kept changing pseudonyms, I guess the one I got my first sale with would be the one I'd stick with.
35: - R R R | 36: R HM R R | 37: HM HM HM SHM | 38: HM HM HM HM | 39: HM HM HM SHM | 40: HM R SHM SHM |
4 SHM / 12 HM / 7 R
When Dave Wolverton read a review about his books being at the end of the aisle, or the back of the store on the bottom shelf, he created a pen name using his mother's maiden name Farland. Now Dave Farland's books are closer to the front of the store.
My mother's maiden starts with a b so I have picked that for a pen name I plan to try someday.
Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships
I suppose I'd be parked next to Douglas Adams...
I recently saw an author with the name Nick Cole. I wonder if that's a pen.
Might go with Paige Turner...
Helen Back?
Yeah, I'd probably do something goofy.
Career:
1x Win
2x NW-F
2x S-F
9x S-HM
11x HM
7x R
I suppose I'd be parked next to Douglas Adams...
I recently saw an author with the name Nick Cole. I wonder if that's a pen.
Might go with Paige Turner...
Helen Back?
Yeah, I'd probably do something goofy.
If I was Welsh and wrote comedy, I'd call myself Dai Laffyn.
35: - R R R | 36: R HM R R | 37: HM HM HM SHM | 38: HM HM HM HM | 39: HM HM HM SHM | 40: HM R SHM SHM |
4 SHM / 12 HM / 7 R
I didn't feel like I had a choice.
My name is the same as a famous criminal and even though it's been four decades, I don't want someone searching Amazon and seeing biographies of THAT guy.
My maternal grandmother's maiden name is pretty cool and I really admire the sculpture of Agathon Leonard (which is also an assumed name). The two seemed to fit.
Therefore, I use Agathon McGeachy. I use that name for all my creative endeavors now.
Agathon McGeachy
Figure Sculptor, Mechanical Designer, Reformed Rakehell, Writer
Vol 37, Q2: HM
Vol 37, Q3: HM
Vol 37, Q4: HM
Vol 38, Q1: R
Vol 38, Q2: R
Vol 38, Q3: HM
Vol 38, Q4: HM
Now in print: NIWA 2020 Anthology 'Escape' and NIWA 2021 Anthology 'Forbidden' available on Amazon