N. Kognito

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”--William Shakespeare, of course.


Mmhmm. Right.

I’m here to tell you that, sonnet-worthy or not, the brain-strain involved in concocting a PEN NAME, can be anything but rosy, my friends. And I’m finding the process particularly . . . thorny.

Which is exactly what my esteemed Critique Partner said of my first choice of a nom de plume: Candy Bramble.

“Hate it. Too thorny.” She pronounced.

Prompting me to admit to her that . . . ahem . . . it is my actual given name.

The same way, I argued, that Archibald Leach was a real name, until it was changed to Cary Grant.

She rested her case.

The fact is, that I’m currently writing a proposal for a novel that is not a mystery. And (cross fingers, toes, and spit over my left shoulder) when an editor acquires this work, he or she may very well suggest that I use a pen name to avoid confusing readers.

Plenty of authors do use pen names, for reasons like:

1) Their real name is difficult to pronounce, or . . . something like . . . Harold Butts. Whose friends call him Harry, and . . . you get it. Not bookspine-worthy.

2) They are seeking anonymity. As in a grade school teacher who stays up nights, writing Erotic Paranormal Romance.

3) They must compete in a gender-based genre. (Like mystery--or so says Sisters in Crime). Hence the common use of “neutral” initials in place of first names, like: J.K. Rowling J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts)

4) Or they are prolific writers in a multitude of genres.

5) Or (as I am) they are breaking into a new genre.

How about these notable pen names:

Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski ~Joseph Conrad

Pearl Gray ~Zane Grey

Karen Blixen (Out of Africa) ~Isak Dinesen

A.M. Barnard ~Louisa May Alcott

Samuel Clemens~ Mark Twain

Or--the incredible pseudonym list of bestselling author Dean Koontz: David Axton, Brian Coffey, Deanna Dwyer, K.R. Dwyer, John Hill, Leigh Nichols, Anthony North, Richard Paige, Owen West, and Aaron Wolfe.

So, obviously, using a pen name is common and acceptable. The problem is lies in inventing one that “suits” you.

And complying with the cautions about using any surname beginning with a letter beyond “M,” since bookshelves are mostly alphabetical--and customers may be reluctant to stoop.

And--also because of the alphabetical aspect--the advice to choose a surname close to the spelling of a bestselling author.

Like Stephen King, Candy Kink. Mmm . . . maybe not . . .

Gad, so much to consider.

But then, why not simply toss caution to the winds, and use this online Name Generator: http://generator.chucklehound.com/

Which, of course, makes me . . . Tyron Riberdy.

So, how about you--using a pen name? How did you choose it?
If not, what name would you choose, if you had to?

By the way, William Shakespeare was a pen name.