Comments on: A rose by any other nom (de plume)

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:15:46 +0000

I was torn too but then I realized I’m already trying to lead two lives so I might as well embrace it. I’m not really guarding the other identity though so for anyone who knows or finds out my real name, that’s cool by me. I just feel like I need to keep two streams of conversation separate so as not to muddy the waters? I guess it’s all a matter of what you as a writer feel comfortable with in the end. Maybe you’ll guest post about your writing on the other blog? It’s really great to know there are so many people I know who are working on their own YA projects!

By: L-A

L-A — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:47:54 +0000

I like that there are a couple of us in the city writing YA. It makes me feel a little less odd for having chosen it (or maybe YA chose me… hard to say). I’m still undecided about if I’ll use my name as is. Partly because I sometimes get annoyed when I find out an author is using a pen name and they won’t tell me what their real name is. And partly because I have a really long name that would take up most of a book cover (should I ever manage to get published).

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:54:11 +0000

BKienapple: Thanks, B! It’s a little less daunting now that I’ve come out and said it. Lots of lovely people being super supportive.

Natalie: This online voting is an experiment but I figure who better to help me pick my pen name than the people who might actually be reading the novel in the end? When I do start my writing blog, I hope to continue to involve people in the process. In the conversations I’ve had online, I think opinions are divided so it’s tough to decide. Fun to hear another local person I know is writing a YA novel too! Have you checked out #yalitchit on Twitter?

Colleen: As a teenager, the last name Kruger was kind of the bane of my existence for the very reason that it’s associated with the supernatural. However, I’m certainaly seeing the appeal of it as a writer of the genre now..!

By: Colleen

Colleen — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:31:18 +0000

I think the last name Kruger will work well for anything suspenseful/supernatural.

By: Natalie Joan

Natalie Joan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:29:00 +0000

I’m having a similar issue. My full name is associated with my day job, and the blogging I do there. My first & middle name associated with my business & online presence. I am now writing a novel – also young adult – and no idea how to associate myself with it. I could just use my initials & last name. I could use my husbands last name (did not change name when I married). Also considered re-branding the business and sticking with Natalie Joan as my writing name. So many options.
(Also, the egotistical side of me thinks, if I am published, and my book is amazing and best selling and prize winning, I want it in my name, not a nom-de-plume, so everyone knows it was me.)

By: BKienapple

BKienapple — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:12:08 +0000

You’re writing a novel! Congrats!