forum Writers that write under a pseudonym: Why did you start and why did you pick said name?

Started January 18, 2018 by @TeganElliott

tune

I use mine for privacy reasons. I don't want anyone who reads my work to get involved with my personal life

I've never published anything but for anything writing-related I always use the name Alice O'Mally. Basically it's because I'm a coward and I have zero confidence in my writing so I hide behind a fake name XD

I started going by the name "Wren Stevens" online mostly because my given name, "Lauren Santistevan" wouldn't work well for writing purposes. My pen name is shortened and easier to recognize, I think. It's also my nickname, so there's that. A lot of writers choose a pen name to protect their identity, but I simply use mine because I want to, and let's be real, my family and friends know all about my manuscripts, from my constant rambling about them, so I needn't worry about that.

My pen name comes from my obsession with the stars as a little kid. Constance, for the constellations. Atticus, for the character from to kill a Mockingbird. And vivre, because the words I live by are 'Pas Peur De Vivre', which means not afraid to live in French.

For me, writing under a pseudonym helps me to get into a different mindset while I'm writing. As with most people, my life can get very hectic and it's hard sometimes to just put things aside and focus on a story without my mind drifting off to something else. I guess it's kind of like having an alter ego for when I write; a new person with nothing on her mind except the story, the characters, and the world she's creating.

I write with a pseudonym because my name is very long and unattractive (though don't get me wrong, I'll stand by it).
My pseudonym is Ambre Collins. I chose Collins after Suzanne Collins, not because she's my favourite author but because she wrote one of my favourite book quotes ever.
And I've always liked the name Amber, and I'm French, so I chose the French version of it.

I have several, actually. :P
The one you see, Oakie Dokie, is a play on words after my Warriors fanfiction pseudonym Oak Hamby, with my Warrior's name being Oakwhisker (if anyone has any idea what I'm talking about :P)
My others include:
Aaron Edwards (regular stories)
Samuel Bell (Furry Fanfics)
Kayleb Fulmer (LGBTQIA+/band trash)

^^ Love the Warrior name! Mine's Brindletail! Warriors all the way! I don't really go by Jynx, but i saw the name and loved the spelling, soo…!

I currently have an issue with this sort of thing.
I have a nickname that I like, and would like to go by
BUT
it's my main character's name and I don't wanna change either.
Help.

I mean, Samuel Bell and Aaron Edwards are both characters of mine, if that helps
and yusssss another Warriors fan ^^

I tend to use TheFantabulousPandemonium for most of my work, but one of my friends misread a shortened version of it and I've been using FantaPop ever since. ^^;

Though for actual publishing I use my chosen name and surname instead of my birth name because Alex is gender neutral.

I go by Turzelle or Nataterra online because I know that no one else would use it as a name (it’s my own creation). Otherwise, I use Myra Ellen so my initials would spell “ME” (but the idea was taken from Pseudonymous Bosch’s Secret Series).

If I were to ever officially publish anything, I’d probably end up using my real name though.