Are pen names good or bad???

50 replies
I'm the type of person that I value my privacy. I don't want to be famous at all. I want to be anonymous. So say I'm selling an ebook that I've authored. Is it okay to use a pen name on both the ebook and the saleletter-website? Just debating that?

Your thoughts?:confused:
#bad #good #names #pen
  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    Plenty of authors use pen names. So long as you are not doing it to deceive people then should be fine.
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  • Profile picture of the author BloggingPro
    Pen names are fine. At least until you try to use one to defraud the government when tax time rolls around.

    I have many articles on blogs that I've written with a pen name. Usually for hire. Sometimes as an opinion piece. I've never used my real name. In fact even now when dealing with local businesses I use my middle name as my last name, simply because it is easier to spell and remember.

    Remember. Perception is everything.

    BP
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    • Profile picture of the author LilBlackDress
      Yep it is fine and common to use a pen name.
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      Pen Name + 8 eBooks + social media sites 4 SALE - PM me (evergreen beauty niche)

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  • Profile picture of the author veekay31
    It's very common to use pen names, especially if you have websites in one of the embarrassing niches.
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
      I have written books under pen name, and personas at EZA. Its always seemed to work out well for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author mgsmith
    Pen names are okay since you don't want to be that famous. You can always reveal your true identity in the latter part.
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    Mike

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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Franklin
    Pen names are fine! Just do a quality job with your ebook and you'll be ok no matter what name you use!
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  • Profile picture of the author wayneh
    I agree too. Pen names are fine to preserve privacy. It's only when you are using them to deceive others that it becomes an issue.
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  • Profile picture of the author johnben1444
    It's very okay to use pen names. Many of the author names you see ain't their real name.

    Just ensure you have a highly unique name as possible.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Google Richard Bachman and John Swithen. That should pretty much answer the question.
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      • Profile picture of the author David Edwin
        Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

        Google Richard Bachman and John Swithen. That should pretty much answer the question.
        Steven King

        D:
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      • Profile picture of the author wayneh
        Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

        Google Richard Bachman and John Swithen. That should pretty much answer the question.
        In the music industry its been common practice - 3 I can think of are Bob Dylan, Elton John, David Bowie. I don't think their pen names did any harm.
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        • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
          Wayne
          Bob Dylan, Elton John, David Bowie. I don't think their pen names did any harm.
          Or Alice Cooper. Real name: Vincent Damon Furnier.


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  • Profile picture of the author petkanov
    Pen names are very important. Just imagine that someone finds one of your websites, if you used the same pen name for all websites, they could find your profitable niches and as a result they might become less profitable.
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    • Profile picture of the author Christopher Fox
      Originally Posted by petkanov View Post

      Pen names are very important. Just imagine that someone finds one of your websites, if you used the same pen name for all websites, they could find your profitable niches and as a result they might become less profitable.

      I'm not telling people it is morally or ethically wrong, but this is the truth of it, not silly Stephen King comparisons.

      C'mon, you gonna put 'How to get laid', 'How to make your wee-wee grow' 'How to make your hair grow back', 'How to get your ex back', 'How to get rid of genital warts, Naturally', etc., next to literary works?

      From the likes of Stephen King? Perhaps 'ol Sam Clemens (aka Mark Twain)?

      I am not saying it is wrong to do. I am saying it is wrong to do it and then compare/justify it by comparing yourself to the likes of Stephen King. Laughable, in fact.

      The reason it is asked so many times, is because people intrinsically understand there is a difference between the pen-name of an author and a fake identity of an IMer.

      Look, advertising is lies. All of it. It is fantasy and fiction. Look at the TV. Hot chicks in bathing suits, non-exisitent perfect families peddling something, some etc. The point being, it is socially acceptable to do this.

      I don't take issue with the practice as much as I take issue with the silly comparisons to serious literary authors. The Information Age kicks ass, but there are things, like dilution, to be on guard for.

      Just 'cause you and your high school friends can now actually record, print and distribute a music CD from your parent's garage, well, that doesn't make you a musician.

      The filters for being a 'real' musician have been reduced/eliminated, so that anyone can, for money and equipment, record an album and call themselves a musician.

      You see the analogy to self publishing? A lot, lot less 'authors' in the world than those calling themselves that, these days.

      Again, if you are looking for moral justification to create a fake identity to help you sell stuff and make money, look around you. Turn on your TV and look at the Bullsh&!t launch off your screen at you. Completely fabricated identities pitching you stuff, people pretending to be Dr.s, lawyers, specialists, etc. People pretending and swearing this product has changed their life and will yours, too It is all made up. If the product is good, people don't care and accept it.

      So, go for it. But, this silly Stephen King comparison stuff for justification, puuuuuuhleeeeeeeease ...
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      • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
        Ignore everything written on this page below my response... it's some
        of the worst advice or analysis I've ever seen.

        Originally Posted by Christopher Fox View Post

        I'm not telling people it is morally or ethically wrong, but this is the truth of it, not silly Stephen King comparisons.

        C'mon, you gonna put 'How to get laid', 'How to make your wee-wee grow' 'How to make your hair grow back', 'How to get your ex back', 'How to get rid of genital warts, Naturally', etc., next to literary works?

        From the likes of Stephen King? Perhaps 'ol Sam Clemens (aka Mark Twain)?

        I am not saying it is wrong to do. I am saying it is wrong to do it and then compare/justify it by comparing yourself to the likes of Stephen King. Laughable, in fact.

        The reason it is asked so many times, is because people intrinsically understand there is a difference between the pen-name of an author and a fake identity of an IMer.

        Look, advertising is lies. All of it. It is fantasy and fiction. Look at the TV. Hot chicks in bathing suits, non-exisitent perfect families peddling something, some etc. The point being, it is socially acceptable to do this.

        I don't take issue with the practice as much as I take issue with the silly comparisons to serious literary authors. The Information Age kicks ass, but there are things, like dilution, to be on guard for.

        Just 'cause you and your high school friends can now actually record, print and distribute a music CD from your parent's garage, well, that doesn't make you a musician.

        The filters for being a 'real' musician have been reduced/eliminated, so that anyone can, for money and equipment, record an album and call themselves a musician.

        You see the analogy to self publishing? A lot, lot less 'authors' in the world than those calling themselves that, these days.

        Again, if you are looking for moral justification to create a fake identity to help you sell stuff and make money, look around you. Turn on your TV and look at the Bullsh&!t launch off your screen at you. Completely fabricated identities pitching you stuff, people pretending to be Dr.s, lawyers, specialists, etc. People pretending and swearing this product has changed their life and will yours, too It is all made up. If the product is good, people don't care and accept it.

        So, go for it. But, this silly Stephen King comparison stuff for justification, puuuuuuhleeeeeeeease ...
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        • Profile picture of the author Christopher Fox
          Originally Posted by Tsnyder View Post

          Ignore everything written on this page below my response... it's some
          of the worst advice or analysis I've ever seen.
          Well, I don't know that I was giving advice, other than what pretty much everyone else is, which is - go ahead and do it. Don't know how that is bad advice.

          As far as my analysis, well, what, did I hurt your feelings with the truth?

          Are you this arrogant in person? Or just trying to puff yer chest for the newbs, make 'em think yer cool and all?
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          • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
            Christopher,
            C'mon, you gonna put 'How to get laid', 'How to make your wee-wee grow' 'How to make your hair grow back', 'How to get your ex back', 'How to get rid of genital warts, Naturally', etc., next to literary works?
            I was referring to the practice, not the product.


            Paul
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Originally Posted by Christopher Fox View Post

        I'm not telling people it is morally or ethically wrong, but this is the truth of it, not silly Stephen King comparisons.

        C'mon, you gonna put 'How to get laid', 'How to make your wee-wee grow' 'How to make your hair grow back', 'How to get your ex back', 'How to get rid of genital warts, Naturally', etc., next to literary works?

        From the likes of Stephen King? Perhaps 'ol Sam Clemens (aka Mark Twain)?

        I am not saying it is wrong to do. I am saying it is wrong to do it and then compare/justify it by comparing yourself to the likes of Stephen King. Laughable, in fact.

        The reason it is asked so many times, is because people intrinsically understand there is a difference between the pen-name of an author and a fake identity of an IMer.

        Look, advertising is lies. All of it. It is fantasy and fiction. Look at the TV. Hot chicks in bathing suits, non-exisitent perfect families peddling something, some etc. The point being, it is socially acceptable to do this.

        I don't take issue with the practice as much as I take issue with the silly comparisons to serious literary authors. The Information Age kicks ass, but there are things, like dilution, to be on guard for.

        Just 'cause you and your high school friends can now actually record, print and distribute a music CD from your parent's garage, well, that doesn't make you a musician.

        The filters for being a 'real' musician have been reduced/eliminated, so that anyone can, for money and equipment, record an album and call themselves a musician.

        You see the analogy to self publishing? A lot, lot less 'authors' in the world than those calling themselves that, these days.

        Again, if you are looking for moral justification to create a fake identity to help you sell stuff and make money, look around you. Turn on your TV and look at the Bullsh&!t launch off your screen at you. Completely fabricated identities pitching you stuff, people pretending to be Dr.s, lawyers, specialists, etc. People pretending and swearing this product has changed their life and will yours, too It is all made up. If the product is good, people don't care and accept it.

        So, go for it. But, this silly Stephen King comparison stuff for justification, puuuuuuhleeeeeeeease ...

        I am sure (maybe I could be wrong) but I think it is possible that people like Paul Myers or Rod Cortez or Alexa Smith may have dabbled in Niches like the rest of us. Maybe not 'wee- wee growth' but other Niches with e-books .. However, why do they not have the credentials to use a Pen name ??

        Who said only authors of literacy work should be considered only?

        Just seeing them Post and the quality posts they have contributed here in Warrior pretty much ,in my mind, gives them a deservedly green light to use one.

        I don't know Rod very well but Iam sure, if they haven't already, both Paul and Alexa could write a literary Novel and a pretty good one.

        So do not be so presumptuous about IMers.

        Iam not into it (pen names) but I definitely will not judge in anyway those people here who use them. And do it in such a crass manner as you did.


        Robert
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        • Profile picture of the author Christopher Fox
          Originally Posted by discrat View Post

          So do not be so presumptuous about about IMers.

          The dilution I spoke of is real. Not presumptuous. It is all around you for you to see. The reduction of barriers is real (and often a good thing). Not presumptuous. The vast, vast like (99%) of these things called 'ebooks' (where a 15 pager is called the same thing that Stephen King produces - a book) would never even make to an editor's or publishing house's slush pile. And although I am pulling 99% outta my rear, the concept and base statement is not presumptuous.

          There are several people on here that are talented writers, capable of competing in the 'literary realm', if we use that as our only qualifier. I am trying to insult no one, nor tell anyone they are doing something wrong. Merely my take of what is really going on in this section of 'writing and publishing'.

          There is a reason this thread comes up as often as it does, and that reason supports everything I have stated - many people intrinsically understand that what Eben Page does (to use an example of a 'pen-name user) when he puts out an ebook on dating with a pseudonym and what Stephen King and many other, less well known, authors have done, are NOT the same thing.

          That's been my only point - the inaccurate ( I beleive ) comparison. Accurate comparisons to use for justification of fake names in IM are found in other advertising and marketing examples not works of literature. Turn on your TV, there is all the moral or ethical justification you need - nothing put fake people, people pretending to be people they are not.

          You can do the same, but to compare yourself to the practice of pen names in the literary field is just silly. My opinion of course, which is fully laid out. Nothing more to say about it and for me to continue in this thread will just turn it into an argument, so I shall respectfully bow out now, and anyone can quote and respond to my posts at will ...
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Darn, Paul beat me to it, but this is an interesting read nonetheless:

    Richard Bachman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    RoD
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      uhmmm...........wondering if Rod Cortez and Paul Myers could be pen names

      Just saying cause you never know for sure on the internet right ?


      P.S. I just use my first and middle name a lot of times. Thats it. All this having a female name for that niche and then a male Russian name for this other niche would be to damn confusing for me to implement. I aint smart enough to keep it that organized .. lol


      Robert
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      • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
        Originally Posted by discrat View Post

        uhmmm...........wondering if Rod Cortez and Paul Myers could be pen names

        Just saying cause you never know for sure on the internet right ?


        P.S. I just use my first and middle name a lot of times. Thats it. All this having a female name for that niche and then a male Russian name for this other niche would be to damn confusing for me to implement. I aint smart enough to keep it that organized .. lol


        Robert
        Roderick Cortez is my middle name and I have used that as part of my PUA / Dating persona now for many years; it's also one of my Kindle pen names. Paul uses his real name btw.

        RoD
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        • Profile picture of the author discrat
          Originally Posted by Rod Cortez View Post

          Roderick Cortez is my middle name and I have used that as part of my PUA / Dating persona now for many years; it's also one of my Kindle pen names. Paul uses his real name btw.

          RoD

          Oh okay......(As I swiftly close out of Warrior Site and book it on over to EZA to see what articles I can find under that name )
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          • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
            Christopher,
            There is a reason this thread comes up as often as it does, and that reason supports everything I have stated - many people intrinsically understand that what Eben Page does (to use an example of a 'pen-name user) when he puts out an ebook on dating with a pseudonym and what Stephen King and many other, less well known, authors have done, are NOT the same thing.
            Sure they are. Different people might do it for different reasons, but the act is what it is.

            The 'barrier to entry' question is a whole other aspect of the thing. I am frequently appalled at the things some people churn out while calling themselves writers. Jim Straw used to describe those people as self-described authors who "couldn't write a decent shopping list."

            It disturbs me to see so many folks who clearly can't write well being told to sell articles as their first means of making money online. Talk about setting someone up to fail!

            But, it's cheap, and there's no-one to hold them to any standard of performance, so...

            All that aside, the literary merits of someone's work have little to do with the ethics of the use of pseudonyms.

            Just as a point of information, the real reason this keeps coming up is that so many people are concerned about maintaining their privacy. Not any desire to do anything unscrupulous. I've seen this discussion and had the conversation so many times that I am quite confident in that assessment.


            Paul
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            • Profile picture of the author discrat
              Paul,
              Here is a very debatable situation that will surely elicit some emotion in some people.

              Say we have an IMer, 'Joe MindQuacker' , who enters in the panty hose niche and uses the pen name 'Carla Smirnoff' or something like that.

              I have seen it happen and actually many Warriors have come out and said they do this to put off the aura of 'belonging' and being able relate to the audience in their Niche. And vice versa

              To me that is borderline being unscrupulous. No ? If not altogether being unscrupulous........ and actually just bamboozling unknowing and innocent participants.

              Robert
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              • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
                Robert,
                To me that is borderline being unscrupulous. No?
                That gets into one of the areas where pseudonyms step over into something else.

                It's perfectly okay to create entire personas in telling a story, as long as the parts that are material to the sale (if there's one involved) are true.

                You can't claim to have lost 50 pounds using XYZ diet as part of a recommendation from which you benefit from a resulting sale unless you really lost 50 pounds from using that product.

                Legally and ethically, any stated facts which are material to a person's decision to act or not are significant. The rest are just story.

                Men cannot promote a product based on how it eased their pain during childbirth. Very few men, relatively speaking, can legitimately endorse panty hose based on personal experience.


                Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    It all depends on whether it is a good pen name or a bad pen name.
    Artists use pen names to make themselves more memorable and
    acceptable.

    This is an interesting read: Is Your Name CEO-Worthy? | Inc.com

    -Ray Edwards
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    • Profile picture of the author WriterWahm
      Originally Posted by Raydal View Post

      It all depends on whether it is a good pen name or a bad pen name.
      Artists use pen names to make themselves more memorable and
      acceptable.

      This is an interesting read: Is Your Name CEO-Worthy? | Inc.com

      -Ray Edwards

      What Ray said.

      It's okay to use a pen name particularly if you're writing in different niches. I used a pen name of the romance book that Harlequin published and for that type of writing, I'll keep using that pen name. They know it's a pen name though and that's cool.

      Some people have more than two pen names.
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  • Profile picture of the author automationhero
    Pen names are fine. Just look at even a lot of the Hollywood actors and singers. They don't use their real names. Just go with what you feel works best for you
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyTorrents
    I also value my privacy which is why I don't usually use my full name when conducting business online. Pen names are fine, but I think it is better to stick to one in order to make it easier to market yourself.

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author NicoleBeckett
    You'd be surprised how many anchors and reporters on your local newscast are using pen names every night. Some of them have names that are too hard to pronounce. Some names are just ugly-sounding (an executive producer I know almost didn't hire the woman he thought was the best, simply because he thought her name sounded too harsh). Some names are just really long, and they figure no one will be able to remember them.

    As long as the credentials behind the name are honest and legitimate, the name you use really doesn't matter. If you're planning on calling yourself "Joe Stone" and listing all of the accomplishments/professional background that you've got under your belt, that's fine. Calling yourself "Joe Stone" and making up an entire resume is a whole 'nother story
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  • Profile picture of the author Thohir Wijaya
    Its really good. I use pen name in two different categories of my book. Imagine, if you are reader and find out that 2 book with different categories are created with the same person. What are you thinking? In my oppinion, how this people can write 2 books with 2 or more categories? Is she/he really can master in that categories? Is she/he really that smart to write a book?
    That's why pen names is so useful.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    That's been my only point - the inaccurate ( I beleive ) comparison. Accurate comparisons to use for justification of fake names in IM are found in other advertising and marketing examples not works of literature. Turn on your TV, there is all the moral or ethical justification you need - nothing put fake people, people pretending to be people they are not.
    The TV example doesn't do much to bolster your point. And using Eben Pagan and Stephen King as examples are not being used as any soft of justification, they are clear linear examples. Let's face it, both of them ARE marketers and both of them engage in marketing via the Internet. So the examples are perfectly valid.

    Bear in mind that many people value their privacy and using a pen name provides some of that, of course, that's only one reason on why people use pen names. There are various reasons behind that, but I will use myself as an example.

    I am a VERY private person and it has nothing to do with being shady or trying to hide anything. Anyone who knows me or has done business with me already knows this about me and know that I only do business ethically and with integrity. I prefer to use a pen name in the different niche businesses that I have for many reasons, but one of them is privacy; it also makes it more difficult for competitors to know what I'm up to.

    I run my businesses the way I want to and try to keep it as separate from my personal life as possible. That doesn't mean I don't share little tidbits here and there, so I can appreciate a marketer wanting to use a pen name for that reason.

    In my different niche businesses, I am branding different pen names and one of the biggest benefits is it allows me to keep these businesses separate and it allows me to track them a whole lot easier. Some people think that's shady and they are entitled to their opinion, but in reality, there is nothing shady going on.

    Now that doesn't mean other marketers aren't doing it, they are. I've seen it, but that doesn't mean they all are. There are people in this very forum who have written "If you're using a pen name, you're doing something shady" and that's a silly conclusion to come to without looking at the marketer and how they run their business. Blanket statements are rarely true.

    So I disagree with your conclusion.

    RoD
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    My pen name is Bic Papermate.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mark Hess
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      My pen name is Bic Papermate.
      Not bad...

      You can find your porn star name, gangsta name, pirate name, Mexican werestler name, cutesy pet name, taxi driver name, mafia name, or vampire name here: The Porn Star Name Generator

      This is how you end up with a really great pen name...
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeff Schuman
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      My pen name is Bic Papermate.
      I think I know you Bic. I assume you are a descendant of the Frawley Oak Papermate family

      My pen name is Les Wilson. When I did telemarketing 30 years ago we would go to happy hour and then come back and cold call. I would introduce myself as "More or Les Wilson" and never once on thousands of call did anyone question my first name.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kurt
        Originally Posted by Jeff Schuman View Post

        I think I know you Bic. I assume you are a descendant of the Frawley Oak Papermate family

        My pen name is Les Wilson. When I did telemarketing 30 years ago we would go to happy hour and then come back and cold call. I would introduce myself as "More or Les Wilson" and never once on thousands of call did anyone question my first name.
        Ancestry.com (and OfficeDepot.com) shows Bic Papermate is a decendant of Ink N. Quill.
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        • Profile picture of the author Jeff Schuman
          Originally Posted by Jeff Schuman
          I think I know you Bic. I assume you are a descendant of the Frawley Oak Papermate family

          My pen name is Les Wilson. When I did telemarketing 30 years ago we would go to happy hour and then come back and cold call. I would introduce myself as "More or Les Wilson" and never once on thousands of call did anyone question my first name.

          Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

          Ancestry.com (and OfficeDepot.com) shows Bic Papermate is a decendant of Ink N. Quill.
          I stand corrected.
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          • Profile picture of the author Bexy
            If you're using a pen name for the right reasons (which I believe you are), it's a great idea to use one.
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Originally Posted by Jeff Schuman View Post

        I think I know you Bic. I assume you are a descendant of the Frawley Oak Papermate family

        My pen name is Les Wilson. When I did telemarketing 30 years ago we would go to happy hour and then come back and cold call. I would introduce myself as "More or Les Wilson" and never once on thousands of call did anyone question my first name.
        Mine was Bobby Babylon back 23 years ago when I did telemarketing ( Working out of a Tennessee office and raising funds for the Arkansas Chief of Police Children's Fund)

        To get ready for our daily cold calling we smoked 'the funny stuff' on the top of the roof of the office, me and the manager, and afterwards proceeded downstairs with our telephone books in hand.

        lol...those crazy boiler room telemarketing days
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    • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      My pen name is Bic Papermate.
      I knew it!

      RoD
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      "Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."
      - Jim Rohn
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ten
    I like using a pen name. It is not a good fit for everyone though.
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  • Profile picture of the author aceshigh888
    hmmm good to know. Not everyone is named John Smith so you don't exactly want to use your real name or people will be calling your house at 3am probably. Yes, about that course you're selling....I'd like to place my order since I know who you are, where you live, what your kids and dogs name is and if I don't like it I'm gonna break your legs.
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    EXERCISE: Take a deep breath, hold for 10 seconds, release. ..... There see you feel better now???
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  • Profile picture of the author goguy
    There is nothing wrong in using a pen name, you said you don't want to be famous, why is that? You need to change that mindset, you want to be successful with your book don't you?
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  • Profile picture of the author SuperKC
    Pen names are AWESOME.. but mkae sure you can get the .COM for the name you choose..
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  • Profile picture of the author mojoogden
    Originally Posted by aceshigh888 View Post

    I'm the type of person that I value my privacy. I don't want to be famous at all. I want to be anonymous. So say I'm selling an ebook that I've authored. Is it okay to use a pen name on both the ebook and the saleletter-website? Just debating that?

    Your thoughts?:confused:
    Look at Mark Twain, he used a pen name and most people don't even know his real name. I think it depends on the person. If you hit it big a pen name isn't going to hide you! Me personally, I like using my real name because it gives me a sense of pride. It really just boils down to how you feel! Good luck.
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