If you had a pen name...?

Question

If you had a pen name, created by you to express a previously unexpressed side of yourself and as a way for your voice to be heard by more people- but the name took on a life of its own and became bigger than you, what would you do?

You could keep them both alive by constantly hitting a switch inside yourself, one a recluse and one a public persona.

You could hold a little mock funeral for your nom de plume, then show up and speak in front of tons of people who have no idea who you are- but yet you would know more than anyone there about the "recently deceased" and you could deliver the most moving eulogy ever spoken without breaking into tears.

You could somehow find a way to merge the pen name back into you, but would people believe your other name is really you?

There are ways that are easier and ways that are harder, and either way you are either lying or you are revealing your lies. What would you do?

Answer 1

A pseudonym's the very same logic as wearing clothes. There are just some parts of ourselves we don't and shouldn't reveal to public. We only let our guard down and disrobe for our husbands/wives....well, sometimes, a doctor but not in a sexual way. I wouldn't see a pen name or pseudonym as living out a lie. If you'd to analyze all public personas, there's behaviour that people identify with in their personal lives as well. We wear clothes not because we are living out a lie. We wear clothes because some people can't accept naturalists. Similarly, we take on a public persona that may be quite different from what we are in private because we just want to be accepted socially.

Then again, we have people taking on pseudonyms to express their real or desired selves. Does Prince or Formerly known as Prince ring a bell.

Answer 2

Well if I had a pen name I and it grew beyond me. I would say that it is because people generally like "fake" better than reality. I try my best to be honest about everything I do and say. Sometimes I step back and look at people and all I see is "fakeness." I mean you can have any part of your body made to look pretty much how you want it through surgury. You can change just about everything on yourself to make you seem different in apparance. Even personality can be changed i.e. actors. So in my opinion the ultimite challenge would be to truly be yourself. Sure you could continue on the lies if it makes you happy then do it. Really it would all come down to what makes you happier, having people know you as you or to chance a opportunity with an persona you create. You can fail and suceed at both. Good luck to you

Answer 3

heavily, I merely %. up a e book if it seems captivating. i will no longer even understand the author's call till some years later while i'm staring blankly on the conceal, attempting to bear in mind what the e book replaced into approximately. i assume there are people who pay extra interest than me(LOL) so i certainly discover L.G Smith a solid call. For all they understand, "L" can stand for Lucy or Lucas. :) If it have been me looking up a pen call(which I could do quickly adequate), i could check out some thing unisex and catchy. i've got heard of a pen call like "Levon Lovelock" (L-eh-von). nevertheless to this day, I have not got any theory if this author is a guy or female. :P solid success.

Answer 4

Stephen King had this...His name was Richard Bachman...he decided to murder his pen-name and burry him...then resurect him at his whim (DESPARATION and REGULATORS...DARK HALF is an embodyment too as well as others).

Hey..if you are good enough your fans will absolutely love the charm and sociopathic nature of such a deal...if you're good enough.

Or if you are weird enough to be like SK.

Have fun and see where it takes you.

Answer 5

I kinda sorta have that going on with my name and my pen name (The_Raven). We are alike but one of us is much stronger than the other. I will never tell which one and dont be so quick to assume you know, either. But we have to be careful because that could lead to some "Cybil" like behavior. )

Answer 6

Did you just watch "Simone"? If my "alter-ego" made substantial money, that is pretty much all I would care about. Once the funeral was over I would let "him" stay dead, I'm in it for the fortune not the glory.

Answer 7

I'd go and write a book called "The Dark Half" and call myself Thaddeus Beaumont and try not to let George Stark best me

(If you haven't read it, try it - you'll probably appreciate it judging by your question)

Answer 8

I would probably hold a mock funeral, hire a few mourners, then go out and shoot myself.

Answer 9

I'd do what Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) did.

Answer 10

I would choose a name that I can handle.