So I am going to begin the querying process soon and I was wondering about agents and what they think about pen names. Should I sign my query as my pen name (which is my first name, with a false last name as I share my real last name with an ex president) or my real name? Are pen names brought up later after I have actually been offered representation or what?
Sorry if this question doesn't make much sense...
Thanks for the help.
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Pseudonyms and querying
- boswellbaxter
- Bibliomaniac
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I would think that you would query with your real name, since that is what you would be signing any contracts with. If you're offered representation, you can then discuss pen names.
Susan Higginbotham
Coming in October: The Woodvilles
http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/
http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/blog/
Coming in October: The Woodvilles
http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/
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- Julianne Douglas
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I queried with my real name, then once I accepted representation, discussed pseudonyms with my agent. She sends the book out under my pseudonym. I don't know what happens when you sign a contract--I would think you'd have to sign papers with your legal name.
I think some people sign their queries as "Jane Doe, writing as Marlene Thomas."
I think some people sign their queries as "Jane Doe, writing as Marlene Thomas."
- N. Gemini Sasson
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- Miss Moppet
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[quote=""boswellbaxter""]I would think that you would query with your real name, since that is what you would be signing any contracts with. If you're offered representation, you can then discuss pen names.[/quote]
Might the publisher want to put their oar in about the name you write under? I've always heard that J.K. Rowling would have been credited as Joanne Rowling, but the publisher felt an author who wasn't obviously female would have a wider appeal. She didn't have a middle name and J. Rowling sounded a bit abrupt, so she added the K to honour her grandmother Kathleen.
Might the publisher want to put their oar in about the name you write under? I've always heard that J.K. Rowling would have been credited as Joanne Rowling, but the publisher felt an author who wasn't obviously female would have a wider appeal. She didn't have a middle name and J. Rowling sounded a bit abrupt, so she added the K to honour her grandmother Kathleen.
- MLE (Emily Cotton)
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- Preferred HF: Currently prefer 1600 and earlier, but I'll read anything that keeps me turning the page.
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- Miss Moppet
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