If you decide to use another name when you write...?

Question

Do you have to go to court to make it legal? Or can you just use that name with no problem? I want to use another name because my first and last names are both so common

Answer 1

Using a pen name or pseudonym is perfectly acceptable for an author. If you check the copyright info on the back of a title page in a book, you'll frequently see the author's legal name since getting a copyright is a legal process. There are authors who write several different genres and use a different name for each genre. Jayne Ann Krentz is a prime example -she uses Amanda Quick for historicals, Jayne Castle for paranormals, and Jayne Ann Krentz for contemporary romantic suspence. And there are male authors writing romance books using a female name so that they're more accptable to female readers. In fact, romance author Tori Carrington is actually a husband/wife team - you can bet they didn't legally change their names to use that pen name.

Answer 2

You submit it under your own name. When the contract is offered, you mention the pen name.

Keep in mind that easily spelled and easily remembered names are a PLUS. People will be able to remember you.

If your legal name is also in the first half of the alphabet, there's another advantage.

I debated using pen names for years and I do have a couple I use, but the majority of my work is published under Ellen Anthony (I love being shelved next to Piers). My legal name was actually the best name I could have gotten.

Oh, and I'm also Mary Paige Turner and George Summit and Harry Bones.

Answer 3

I think it's called a Pseudonym. Or you could do what S. E. Hinton did, she made her first name hidden so people would like the book more if they didn't know a girl wrote The Outsiders.

Answer 4

You can choose an alias and that does not require you to go to the court. You may choose any name you like.

Answer 5

You can just make it up, but if you get paid for your work, you need to be clear what name the publisher should put on the checks.

Answer 6

You can but I would speak to your publisher. If you write a biography you use your name. An autobiography as well.

Answer 7

for OFFICIAL work that requires a name then you HAVE to use ur real name, if your like writing a book i guess u can use a alias

Answer 8

yep.. you can call yourself whatever you want. and if you use it enough it will end up on your credit report as an alias!! my husband has a wierd name so he started calling himself Ray for short and it ended up on his credit report! funny huh! just dont file taxes with it or use it for insurance purposes.

Answer 9

you can just use your name as long as the editor is awar of what your doing

Answer 10

ask ur publisher...I think you could do that...because it doesn't become ur legal name....like Mark Twain didn't do it when he wrote...