Hi,

I'm new to this forum and I'm also a first time writer. I've just finished my first novel and plan to send it off to agents next month. I'm not sure whether or not I should go by a pseudonym. There is already an author with a similar name to mine and many people using my middle name. I can't shorten my name either, so it seems the best thing I can do is come up with a new first name. I've thought of that name already but it will be rather strange hearing people call me that at the ripe old age of 30. What are the drawbacks of using a pseudonym and what are the advantages?

Many thanks for your help.

Remy

Hi and welcome to WW.

I would submit under your own name, and then take your agent's advice on this. There are lots of authors who share a name with someone else, so it wouldn't automatically be a problem. You may want to write under it, but it doesn't mean that people would call you by it - everyone callse John LeCarré David, and presumably Barbara Vine gets called Ruth and Ruth Rendell Barbara, if you see what I mean.

Emma

Hi, Remy, and welcome to WriteWords

As Emma says, don't bother with a pseudonym at this stage in the game; leave that to the marketing dept of the publishing house to worry about.

If you need any help navigating the site, just give us a shout.


- NaomiM

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- the disadvantages are the agents won't take you seriously if you ask them to use a pseudonym at the submission stage.

Hi Remy

Welcome to WW; I hope that you are enjoying the support etc on belonging.

Also thank you for asking this questions as I've been thinking about it too. My situation is slightly different as Im not aware that anyone else has a similar name. I was wondering about using a pseudonym to keep the two 'branches' of my writing seperate - ie one name for my childrens stories and another for adult novels.

I agree with Emma and Naomi's comments that its too early to decide/using a pseudonym and that the best people to give advice are your eganet/publisher once you've got to that stage. At least this is one of my questions that can now happily remain of the backburner for a while - now just got to deal with other 5926!

GOod luck with your writing, and remember no matter what people call you, you're still you - if you get my drift.

Nicci




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Suffering from jet lag and don't think I can spell or type today - sorry!