Use Pen Name after Blunder?
Asked by: Rich Ferguson
How do you legally use a pen name?
Under U.S. law you can’t copyright a name, real or fictitious. Copyrights protect authorship, such as short stories, poems, or novels. You can register a manuscript under a pen name at the copyright office (www.copyright.gov). You’ll have to provide some information, including your real address.
Why you shouldn’t use a pen name?
Pen names can complicate social gatherings, especially if you forget and introduce yourself to someone under your given name, or fail to respond when someone calls you by your pen name. Also, conferences and signings may become challenging if you’re juggling two names.
Why would someone use a pen name?
They can’t publish under their real name.
Today, many writers may use pen names to disguise their true identity for their day jobs, not wanting their bosses or colleagues to know that they write a particular genre and be subject to scrutiny or embarrassment.
Can I use a pen name when self publishing?
For instance, if you are self-publishing on Amazon’s Kindle platform, you can enter the pen name you want your new book to be published under, and that is separate from the author’s account (established under your real name) that you get paid under.
Can I copyright something under a pseudonym?
Many often wonder if authors who use pen names or pseudonyms can still copyright their work. The answer is yes. As detailed by the U.S. Copyright Office, a work is considered “pseudonymous” if the author is identified on copies of the work by a fictitious name.
Should I trademark my pen name?
Having your pen name trademarked doesn’t mean other people can’t use it at all. There may be people whose legal given name is your pen name, and they aren’t infringing your trademark. However, trademark registration does mean you can prevent someone else from using the same name as their pen name.
Why did JK Rowling use a pen name?
Why the name Robert Galbraith? I chose Robert because it’s one of my favourite men’s names, because Robert F Kennedy is my hero and because, mercifully, I hadn’t used it for any of the characters in the Potter series or The Casual Vacancy.
Why did female writers use pseudonyms?
Many female writers have adopted male nom de plumes, or otherwise gender-ambiguous pseudonyms, for a number of reasons: to publish without prejudice in male-dominated circles; to experiment with the freedom of anonymity; or to encourage male readership.
Can I publish a book under a fake name?
Yes, authors can self-publish using their pen name or nom de plume. If you’re self-publishing a book, you can definitely use a pseudonym when writing and publishing your book. In fact, many indie authors use a pseudonym or nom de plume when they publish books in several different genres.
Can you blog under a pen name?
Can you start a successful blog using a pen name? The answer is yes, you absolutely can! Authors have successfully used pen names for generations, and blogging is no different. In fact, Google has publicly stated that they’re OK with you blogging under a pseudonym.
Are there any anonymous authors?
The most commonly claimed authors are Arthur Desmond or Jack London. Supernatural Religion: An Inquiry into the Reality of Divine Revelation by Walter Richard Cassels, originally published anonymously. Tales of the Dead, translated by Sarah Elizabeth Utterson, published anonymously.
Why do authors go anonymous?
For readers, the anonymous author holds a simple and compelling promise. Here is someone who – by concealing their identity – can reveal the complete and shocking truth. Many anonymous authors say this is precisely why they’ve chosen to remain hidden.
Why do people write anonymously?
Using a consistent pseudonym allows readers to group together your body of work. Publishing your work anonymously means that the reader has no context at all about the author, other than what is within the pages of that particular text.
Can I publish on Amazon under a pseudonym?
Yes, you can publish on Amazon with a pseudonym , to preserve your identity, for whatever reason. You can do the same thing on Nook, iBooks, Smashwords and Kobobooks.
How long does a copyright last if you use a pseudonym?
For works created on or after January 1, 1978, the copyright in a pseudonymous work expires 95 years from the year of publication or 120 years from the year of creation, whichever is shorter.
Can I have multiple pen names?
Amazon will only let you have three pen names under one Author Central account. It isn’t TERRIBLE to have multiple pen names (more on that below), but if you can keep things easy, DO. If you’re writing books that are related or might have a larger crossover audience, then don’t do a pen name.
How do I make a fake author?
How to Choose and Set Up a Pen Name
- Research the name. Search the internet and bookselling sites. …
- Buy available domain names. You will want to buy a website domain for your pen name.
- Claim the name. …
- Use the name. …
- Be open with your publisher. …
- Register your copyright.
What is JK Rowling’s real name?
J.K. Rowling, in full Joanne Kathleen Rowling, pen name of Joanne Rowling, (born July 31, 1965, Yate, near Bristol, England), British author, creator of the popular and critically acclaimed Harry Potter series, about a young sorcerer in training.
How do you trademark a pseudonym?
You can use your trademark on all of your work legally. Go to the website for the United States Patent and Trademark Office and use the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) to check that the words or name you want to trademark are available. The system will let you know if your pen name is already being used.
Do I need a DBA for a pen name?
No, you don’t need to use a DBA for a pseudonym/”pen name”/pka/”professionally known as” name, but you can if you want to. You can also register your literary works under…