Originally, I used Lei instead of Smith because I thought my married name was a little too boring and ... NORMAL. That was my only reason. (Stephenie Morgan probably thought the same thing--but Stephenie Meyer doesn't seem too much more original, so I don't know why she used a pen name.)
I just wanted a name that sounded cooler. I tried to pretend like I had better reasons for it: "I don't want to get confused with all the other Smith's," "I want to keep my personal life separate from my writing life," "I want to 'recognize' my parents and my husband when I become famous one day," etc. These were all EXCUSES, not REASONS.
- It's nearly impossible in today's day and age to keep your personal life separate from your writing life. With the Internet permeating everything we do, people could find out practically anything about me.
- I'm pretty sure that no one will confuse me with other Smith's. My first name is Tiana for crying out loud.
- While I do want to recognize the effect (or is it affect? I never can tell...) my parents and my husband had on my writing journey, I'm pretty sure I can do that with a book dedication.
By using my real name, it will cause less confusion in the long run, and then I won't have to keep explaining how to pronounce both parts of my name. I'll still have to deal with people calling me Tee-anne-uh, rather than Tee-on-uh, but I'm used to that.
Pretty much, I've decided that pen names don't do any good, unless your name sounds like someone else famous and you are trying to avoid that. **Edited note - people have pointed out some good reasons in the comments, check them out. Though interestingly, a lot of the reasons are tied to writing Romance novels, which I don't write.**
Do you use your real name with your writing? I'm curious to see why you do or don't. Do you agree with my reasoning?
I haven't gotten to the query and submit stage in my writing yet, so I haven't put much thought into my name. I've considered pen names -- my name is Meika, which most people either mispronounce or misspell, followed by an unusual last name. I don't know if this would make me stand out or ostracize me. Something to think about...
ReplyDeleteHi Tiana! I did the same thing as you. I waffled forever about what version of my name I should use. I would've liked to use Gina Leigh becuz, like yours, I just thought it sounded cooler. I ended up using my entire name (including married last name) after I did a bunch of Google searches and realized there were lots of other people out there (even some writers) with all of the other versions already. So, to separate myself from the pack, I chose the long version. So, for better or worse, I'm going to stick with that. :)
ReplyDeleteI decided to use my real name, because when I see my book in print I'll be disappointed if it's a name I made up and not my own! So far its working out okay :) I like your name. Tiana is original enough that you can go with Smith and still have a nice originality to your name.
ReplyDelete@Meika - I like your name :) I'm not querying yet either, but I want to have an established web presence when I do (it's all I have going for me in the bio section!)
ReplyDelete@Gina - I think it's something we all go through as writers. And way to stick with it--I like it!
@Aubrie - I hadn't even thought of that, but you're right. When I get published *crosses fingers* then I would LOVE to see my real name.
Like you, I've spent a lot of time thinking about pen names. My current name is a pen name, not because I dislike my real name, but because it's very common and prone to misspelling.
ReplyDeleteIf I ever get published, the decision for a pen name will be in my publisher's hands, not mine, so I'm hesitant in using "Sandy Shin" to establish a web presence, because I might even be able to use it, ultimately. However, I really like it and am crossing my fingers.
P.S. Love your first name! It's so pretty!
I think it depends on why you choose it. For some, it's because authors mix genres and don't want to confuse/disappoint readers. It might be harder on a fan of a romance author to pick up a book with her name and find an epic fantasy. But people do it and do it well.
ReplyDeleteWhen I decided to start blogging, I chose a pen name. I'm a teacher and my board is pretty conservative. I'm currently writing a YA novel, but there is a romantic element in it - and I've got a romantic mystery marinating that I may try to do something with. My board would not be impressed :) So a pen name it is!
ReplyDelete@Sandy - I'm also leaving the final decision to my publishers (If I ever have one). I'm just anticipating that they probably won't care much for my excuses :)
ReplyDelete@L.T. - That's probably true. I'm not planning on mixing genres too much (how do you all do it? I have a hard enough time coming up with novel ideas for one genre let alone two!)
@Jemi - Ha ha, I hadn't thought of that either. I guess it's a good thing that my profession doesn't have that kind of pressure ... also a good thing that I write YA fantasy and only that ... :)
I used to have a pen name. It was very cool, but people didn't know who I was when I came to writing events. So I go by my real name now. =)
ReplyDeleteLike Jemi, if and when I ever get to querying/publishing, if I have the choice, I'll go incognito, for the same reasons. Plus, I really don't like my married last name. *grins* As for my blog presence, I like the one-named thing. It puts me in good company, right? (Cher, Madonna, Bono, et al.) :-)
ReplyDeleteI use my real first name (Shelley) and a made-up "last name" (Sly is similar to my real last name), but this is just for the blogging world. If I get published, I'll most likely use my real name.
ReplyDeletei really like this post. so few people touch on it! pen names can be tricky but so useful. i'm going the initialed route: (T. H. Mafi), but i feel weird using anything but my own real first name. so i still put it out there. i guess i'm not sure how easy it is to separate work and personal life either.
ReplyDeletei guess we'll see what happens :D
great blog, by the way! love the colors and the layout!!
@Carolyn - I had the same problem. When people met my husband, they thought he was Mr. Lei. I laughed :)
ReplyDelete@Summer - I thought I could go with the single name, but it turns out there is already a singer named just Tiana. C'est la vie.
@Shelley - I wanted to start building my platform with blogging, so I figure it's best to just start using my name now rather than later.
@Tahereh - I still used my real first name, I agree, it would be weird to go with a completely different name. And thanks :)
I go by my first and middle name because that's what I've used for all my theater and screen things since I starred as dancer number 2 and a nazi admiral in our high school production of The Sound of Music. lol.
ReplyDeleteI thought I pronounced your name T-ah-nuh, but I've never been that great at grammer and english.
Hi Tiana (or maybe it should be Princess Tiana, ha).
ReplyDeleteI've thought about whether to use my "real" name or not but then you're right if people really want to find out who you really are -- they can do it.
I don't work in a conservative industry so using my real name wasn't an issue (plus my real name is SO common -- good luck finding out which Karen Strong I really am, ha) but I could see why people would want to use another name if their day jobs may see a conflict in their writing.
In the end, do what's right for you. :)
Figuring out which name to put on the cover of your book are good problems to have when you have to make that decision.
I love your name. And I'm glad you got to a place where you could feel comfortable using it. :) Because it's all about doing what's right for you.
ReplyDelete@Brad - I changed the phonetics, so hopefully it makes more sense now :) I don't actually know what the correct way to spell it would be ...
ReplyDelete@Karen - Can you tell that I'm anxious for that day to come? No, not at all :)
@Sarahjayne - Thanks! I agree, I used a pen name for a while, but now it's time for me to go a different way.
You have some solid reasoning for your decision. Lei's a pretty name, but Smith's a good name, too.
ReplyDeleteI spent a lot of time not wanting to tell people I was writing, because I thought they'd laugh. So, I didn't tie any of my writing to my legal name. Still, I used a name I knew meant me.
Tiana ~ First off, Tiana (which I love)sets you apart by itself. Secondly, your writing will do the rest, whatever name you go by.
ReplyDeleteSecondly ~ I use my real last name but I go by my initials because in addition to writing mysteries I have been known to craft a few romantic short-stories for competitions. Using DL makes me gender-neutral (my wife would love that one) and thus avoid any gender bias. :)
@Dominique - Thanks :) I've been telling people I wanted to be an author since I could pick up a pen (or point ant peck at the keyboard). I'm so glad I never had to hide it!
ReplyDelete@DL - Now I am very curious about what your name really is ... ha ha. I agree, people don't really care about the name, they care more about the writing. Interesting about the gender-neutral thing--I typically hear about women writers wanting a more gender-neutral name, not the other way around! It would make a very interesting case study...
It is so interesting to me how many of my blog friends use a pen name (or used to). I would have never thought there would be this many! Now I'm questioning how well I know any of you at all :) (Well, how well can you know someone through the Internet?)
Love the new site! Isn't it fun to shake things up?
ReplyDeleteMy main reason for developing a pen name is that my real name is also the name of a famous porn star. Not exactly the kind of identity I'm looking for. Eek. I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with it though.
ReplyDelete@Jamie - Thanks! I'm always up for change :) I think I'm like a lot of writers, I'm a perfectionist and I'll keep tweaking things until I'm 100% happy--which is never...
ReplyDelete@Taylor - Oh my! Ha ha, I can see why you don't want that image.
You have so many followers Tiana! You are already famous and you haven't even published yet! My friend was telling me she wanted to publish a book her daughter wrote recently and I immediately thought of you and all of the craziness it has been! Just wanted you to know that you're the best and I think about you a lot! Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI used to blog under a pseudonym because I wanted to talk smack about people without being google-able... but when I decided to take writing seriously I went with my actual name. Considered using my first and middle names instead of first and last (for personal father-related reasons), but decided that was weird.
ReplyDeleteI plan to use my real name. I don't have a specific reason. I guess people will find out at some point.
ReplyDeleteLilah Pierce is my writing name. I use a different name bc of security and bc my last name isn't pronounced how it looks so readers would never know how to say it.
ReplyDelete@Shannon - I'll write you an email, cuz I don't really think my writer friends want to hear me reminisce about the days we used to play princess and witch ... :)
ReplyDelete@Whitney - Ha, we really do think alike, don't we?
@Christine - I like your name. It's unique enough on it's own.
@Lilah - I love your profile pic :) You should see the pictures from my last Halloween ... I totally sympathize that pronunciation can be hard, people always get my name wrong!
Great post and I love, love, love the new look! Whenever I decide to do a website, you will be designing it! We have the same taste! Okay, so as of right now, I use my real name. But, I have thought about using a pen name if (when- positive thoughts, kellly) I ever get published because of the whole privacy thing. But, point taken on the internet. I had no clue Stephenie Meyer was pen name. Learn something new everyday!
ReplyDeleteI think your name is perfect! Your first name has style and goes well with your second name. I'm not excited about my family name, but it's better than my maiden name. LOL
ReplyDeleteMy biggest concern is that people won't be able to find me easily. So, I'm thinking my business name will be a semi nom-de-plume.
I've given you a blog award in thanks for all the help and encouragement you've been giving me. Don't worry about doing the blog thingy. I know you're busy. Just accept my thanks.
I love your unique first name! I don't think you have to worry about Smith being too common. I have an unusual first name, too (Guinevere). I used to plan on using a pen name when the time came because my long, ethnic last name sounded odd with Guinevere, but then when I actually had my first publications in journals, I just went with my last name after all. Then I made sure to marry someone with a lovely last name that flows with Guinevere, so I'll be using my married name as my pen name.
ReplyDeletePen names just seem a little pointless in this day and age when everyone is going to know who you are anyway!
@Kelly - Ha ha, well, I had a designer do most of the basic work this time around because I did not want to deal with it. But believe me, I know a lot about blogger design and tricks, so if you have questions, feel free to ask.
ReplyDelete@Mary Anne - My married name is better than my maiden name too... Yeah. I'll just leave it at that ... :)
@Guinevere - I agree, and plus, when you have an original first name like we do, I don't think people will notice our last names as much. I could be wrong though.
Like your new website design. As for the nom de plume issue - I've been grappling with it the last few months too - since an SCBWI illustrator's event where web domains and names were discussed. I'm an illustrator too and there's a well established painter with a similar name who popped up conspicuously when you Googled my name. So I decided to use another diminutive of my first name and my mother's middle name. My mother was a writer and it's nice to have a link to her. Your name's very pretty - good luck with it!
ReplyDeleteGo with what works for you.
ReplyDeleteI never considered a pen name, but I almost changed my real name.
Before I got married, my last name was Brown - nice and simple. But then I took the married name Milstein, which caused questions because it's a Jewish last name with a Christian first name. I wanted the same last name as my future children, so I kept it. But for a time, I almost changed my first name.
Megan - Thanks :) See, here's the thing about web domains. All those Google results, you can change them. Believe me, I know. I work for SEO.com. I completely understand if you don't want to go through all that work, but if you really want to use your own name, then you should just knock that other girl out of her place! Though, I'll admit, it's harder said than done. It is nice to remember your mother with your name though.
ReplyDeleteTheresa - Interesting. I would never have considered actually changing my legal name. It's funny, but I don't think people think about their names as much as we think they do :)
found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later
ReplyDelete