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Inklings Issue 6.01
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i n k l i n g s
Inkspot's newsletter for Writers on the Net
http://www.inkspot.com
Issue 6.1 *Happy New Year!* Jan.5, 2000
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<http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/issues/ink0601.html>
This issue features advice about style and release forms from
Charles Deemer (ASK THE SCREENWRIGHT) and an article about
using pseudonyms from Moira Allen.
This issue sponsored by:
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XLIBRIS exists to help authors publish. Promptly, permanently. You
retain control. We make it happen: your book in beautiful hard
cover and trade paperback editions, available on-demand, forever.
Call for a free information pack: 1-888-7XLIBRIS, email
info@xlibris.com or visit us online: http://www.xlibris.com/ink/
*****************************************************************
Did you know the experts who bring you Writer's Market have a
book club? Writer's Digest Book Club brings you 300+ of the best
writing books you can find -- all at huge discounts.
Join now and choose 2 books FREE plus get a FREE Gift! Check out
http://www.writersdigest.com/wdbc/join.asp for details.
*****************************************************************
ISSN 1205-6413. Copyright 1995-2000 Debbie Ridpath Ohi. See end
of issue for copyright/contact info. http://www.inkspot.com
*****************************************************************
CONTENTS THIS ISSUE:
From The Editor's Desk
Fresh Ink and Market Information
Ask The Screenwright
By Any Other Name: Writing Under a Pseudonym
Writers' Classifieds
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FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:
-----------------------
Happy New Year, everyone!
Many thanks to Surrey Writers' Conference for inviting me back to
speak at their event in October. This is an excellent conference
for writers in a beautiful geographical setting; I highly
recommend it.
http://www.vcn.bc.ca/swc/
What are your writing-related New Year's Resolutions? Are you
brave enough to post them where others can see (and to help
inspire you in the coming months)? If so, add your resolution(s)
to:
http://writers-bbs.com/inkspot/?forum=resolutions
- Debbie
*****************************************************************
FRESH INK
---------
PRIZE GIVEAWAYS: YOU CAN MAKE IT BIG WRITING BOOKS, HOW TO WRITE
AND PUBLISH LOCAL HISTORY
----------------------------------------------------------------
YOU CAN MAKE IT BIG WRITING BOOKS: A Top Agent Shows You How To
Develop A Million-Dollar Bestseller. By Jeff Herman, Deborah
Levine Herman, Julia Devillers. Prima Communications Inc., 1999.
HOW TO WRITE & PUBLISH LOCAL HISTORY: By Bob Trubshaw. Heart Of
Albion Press, 1999. Thanks to Moira Allen for donating this book.
Tips on creating, producing, and promoting a local history
publication. UK-based.
Deadline: Jan.16, 2000. For more info about these books and how
to enter, see: http://www.inkspot.com/admin/giveaway.html
Congratulations to Diane Rae, winner of BOOK MARKETING
by David Cole (Allworth Press, 1999).
Jobs For Writers
----------------
I've updated this Inkspot list of writing-related job boards.
http://www.inkspot.com/market/jobs.html
News, Media, Publishing Resources
---------------------------------
Part of Galileo Internet Resources. Impressive collection of
descriptive links.
http://www.peachnet.edu/galileo/internet/news/newsmenu.html
World-Publishing Industry
-------------------------
Another huge collection of links, all related to publishing.
http://publishing-industry.net/
Children's Writing
-------------------
Part of Suite101.com. Maintained by Sue Reichard. Articles,
links, discussion forums.
http://suite101.com/welcome.cfm/childrens_writing
Careers in Book Publishing
--------------------------
This article is part of The Publishers' Association site, a
resource for all book, journal and electronic publishers in the
UK.
http://www.publishers.org.uk/Publications/Careers.htm
Mystery Writers' Resources
--------------------------
This is a long page of links, many you've seen before in the
generic agents anc copyrights sections. But there's loads of
pointers to pages about forensics, law, guns, poisons, police and
organized crime. (TK)
http://www.zott.com/mysforum/links.htm
Eclectics.com Articles
----------------------
Articles on writing synopses, creating characters, perfect
settings and sensual romance. (TK)
http://www.eclectics.com/articles.html
TK: Tony King.
** Please send suggestions for Fresh Ink to freshink@inkspot.com
*****************************************************************
GOTHAM WRITERS' WORKSHOP: Creative writing classes in Fiction,
Nonfiction, Screenwriting, Poetry, Children's Books, more.10-wk &
1-day classes in NYC and online for adults and teens. For free
catalog, call 212-WRITERS or visit http://www.WritingClasses.com
*****************************************************************
Advertise here! Send e-mail to sales@inkspot.com for details.
*****************************************************************
MARKET INFORMATION
------------------
Please get current, detailed guidelines before submitting to
publications if possible. Don't submit to email addresses unless
specifically stated. Include a SASE for surface mail replies.
More market info at: http://www.inkspot.com/market/.
**-----------------------------------------------------**
"FNASR": First North American Serial Rights,
"SASE": self-addressed, stamped envelope,
"simsubs": simultaneous submissions,
"mss": manuscript, "RT": response time,
"GL": guidelines.
Markets Editor: Sal Towse (ST). Research assistants: Shane Stacks
(SS), Margaret Shauers (MS), Kathie Meyer (KM), Jan Edwards (JE),
Jerri Ledford (JL).
MIDWEST TODAY
--------------------------
Midwest Today, P. O. Box 685, Panora, Iowa 50216.
Publisher/Editor: Larry Jordan. Associate Publisher: Julie
Campbell. An "atypical" regional magazine offering a
comprehensive view of life in the Heartland. Substantive content
and relevant features. Covers the region's people, challenges,
opportunities, problems and rewards. FREQ: Six times a year.
CIRC: ~170K SIZE: 56 pps. 70-to-30 editorial to advertising
ratio, trim 8 1/4 x 10-7/8. AUDIENCE: Readers, men and women,
generally a younger upscale audience of well-educated
professionals and families. NEEDS: Short fiction or short
true-life stories with a Heartland setting, particularly stories
which are uplifting or inspirational, with a positive outcome.
The magazine also covers news, politics, sports, entertainment,
arts, religion, poetry, fitness, outdoors, travel, interviews,
profiles, environment, nostalgia, economics, agriculture, humor
and consumer issues. LENGTH: Stories 2,000 wds max. Article
length can vary from a few hundred wds to 10,000 wds. RTS: FNASR.
Also buys reprints. PAY: On publication; $25-$350. RT: ~2 months.
SAMPLE COPIES: $2, payable in advance. Guidelines and information
available on the Web site. COMMENTS: "We receive on average more
than 300 submissions per issue, sometimes resulting in delays in
responding. We do not like to handle phone queries because we
have no idea of the quality of the writer's work without seeing
samples." SUBMISSION: A brief query should outline article idea,
why it's appropriate for a Midwest audience, and tell something
about yourself. Please include published samples of your work.
Mss should be typed, double-spaced and include a SASE.
Submissions without SASE's will not receive a reply or be
returned. Include day and evening phone numbers. Simultaneous
submissions are not accepted. Willing to consider original and
reprint submissions. Articles are never commissioned on a
speculative basis and kill fees are not paid. A three-month
moratorium is required on all pieces accepted. Address all
correspondence to address given above. ADDITIONAL TIPS FROM
EDITOR: Artists and photographers may submit samples. Do not send
originals, send only duplicate sets of photos or art. (JE)
URL: http://www.midtod.com/
GL: http://www.midtod.com/aboutus.phtml#guid
E-mail: midtod@netins.net
CRICKET MAGAZINE GROUP
----------------------
Cricket Magazine Group, P.O. Box 300, Peru IL 61354.
(815)224-6656. FAX:(815)224-6615. Marianne Carus, Editor in
Chief; Rod McCutchan, Senior Art Director.
*BABYBUG: Paula Morrow, Editor. Estab. 1994. CIRC: 45K. Babybug
is a board-book magazine published every 6 wks, aimed at being
"the listening and looking magazine for infants and toddlers,
intended to be read aloud by a loving adult to foster a love of
books and reading in children 6 months to 2 yrs." NEEDS:
World-around-you and general interest nonfiction of max. 10 wds,
adventure, humorous and other fiction for toddlers of 2-8 short
sentences, poetry 2-8 lines.
*LADYBUG: Paula Morrow, Editor. Monthly. Estab. 1990. CIRC: 134K.
Ladybug wants quality writing-quality literature, no matter what
the subject, for children 2-6. Nonfiction for "Can You Do This"
of 1-2 pages, and "The World Around You" of 250-300 wds. Fiction
to 850 wds. Poetry to 20 lines. Fillers of anecdotes, facts and
short humor.
*SPIDER: Laura Tillotson, Editor. Monthly. Estab. 1994. CIRC:
87K. Spider introduces 6-9 year-old children to "the highest
quality stories, poems, illustrations, articles and activities.
It was created to foster in beginning readers a love of reading
and discovery that will last a lifetime." Needs nonfiction of
many types from 300-800 wds. Also needs photos, 35mm to 4x4
transparencies, and 8x10 prints. Captions, model releases and
full identification required. Uses fiction of 300-1000 wds. No
romance, horror or religious. Uses poetry of up to 20 lines,
fillers of puzzles, mazes, games brainteasers, math and word
activities.
*CRICKET: Deborah Vetter, Editor. Monthly. Estab. September,
1973. CIRC: 74K. Age range is 9-14. Fiction of 200-2000 wds,
nonfiction of 200-1200 wds, poetry of up to 50 lines. Cricket
publishes "original stories, poems and articles written by the
world's best authors for children and young adults. In some
cases, Cricket purchases rights for excerpts from books yet to be
published. Each issue also includes several reprints of
high-quality selections."
*CICADA: Deborah Vetter and John D. Allen, Editors. Estab. 1998.
Bimonthly. Cicada publishes fiction and poetry with a genuine
teen sensibility for high school and college age students. Short
stories of about 5000 wds and novellas of up to 15,000 wds (one
novella per issue). Nonfiction (6 per year) relevant to
coming-of-age experiences of about 5,000 wds. Poetry to 25 lines.
Plea here is, "Please don't write for a junior high audience."
Cricket Magazine Group general information. SAMPLE COPIES: Cicada
$8.50; $5.00 each for the other magazines (Send "International
Reply Coupons," available at the post office, if you live outside
the U.S.). These publications are not open to email queries or
submissions. All are open to beginning writers. All want complete
manuscripts, rather than queries. This group also wants an exact
word count (not including title and byline information) given on
all submissions. A bibliography is required for all nonfiction.
PAY: On publication. Up to .25/wd for articles and
fiction. Up to $3 per line for poetry. The exception is Babybug,
which pays $25.00 for stories and articles. Manuscripts are
published about 18 months after acceptance. RTS PURCHASED: This
group buys 1st publication rights in the English language on
previously unpublished material and requests the right to reprint
the work in any volume or anthology published by Carus Publishing
Company upon payment of half the original fee. They also purchase
2nd North American publication rights for previously published
material. Fees vary, but generally are less than for 1st rights.
For recurring features within the magazines, they purchase
material outright for a flat fee. Also associated with the
Cricket group are:
*CLICK Magazine, 322 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL
60604. John Grandits, Art Director. Published 10 times a year.
Estab. 1997. Click is a nonfiction publication for children 3-7.
They seek articles and photo essays that explain the how and why
of something in a friendly, engaging, perhaps humorous way.
200-400 wds, and stories of up to 600 wds. Each issue is built
around a central theme that introduces children to ideas and
concepts within the natural, physical, or social sciences; the
arts; technology; math; and history. They are open to unsolicited
submissions, but it would be wise to request a theme list.
*MUSE Magazine, Department G, 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100,
Chicago, IL 60604. Diane Lutz, Editor. John Gradits, Art
Director. Carol Parden, Photo Editor. Estab: 1996. CIRC. 100K.
Muse is a joint publishing venture between The Cricket Magazine
Group and the Smithsonian magazine. 10 times a year. They have a
science aim for children of 8-14. All material is COMMISSIONED,
although you can submit possibilities to the Cricket Magazine
Group address. These will be forwarded if they are deemed
possible. Payment for commissioned work runs about the same as
for the other magazines when writers are inexperienced.
Experienced writers earn more. More information can be found at
the GL URL given below. (MS)
URL: http://www.cricketmag.com
URL: http://www.musemag.com
GL: http://www.cricketmag.com/cgi-bin/cricket.cgi?tpl=guidelines
EXTREMES 2, 3, & 4
---------------------------
Extremes Anthologies. Lone Wolf Publications, 13500 SE 79th St.,
Oklahoma City, OK 73150. Editor: Brian A. Hopkins.
Author-Publisher cooperative ventures on CD-ROM, with 20
contributors, an artist, and the editor/publisher all sharing the
profits. NEEDS: Fantasy and horror stories set in the following
"mini-genres": From the Ends of the Earth (outside the
continental U.S.), Darkest Africa, and Terror on the High Seas.
In all cases, location should be integral to the story and
specifics should be researched and realistic. GL: "Submissions
will be accepted at the postal address above. Submissions may
also be emailed (any format, embedded or as an attachment) to the
Lone Wolf Publications email address at lwpub@aol.com. No need to
specify which volume you are submitting for; I'll figure it out.
Queries can be sent to me at my normal email address,
brian_a_hopkins@sff.net. No word limit. No taboos. No reprints.
Simultaneous and multiple submissions okay, but do not attach
more than one file at a time to your email... Be sure your email
address is on the manuscript itself because I don't save the
original email... Don't bother with a bio. All that matters is
the story, not who you are or where you've been published." RTS:
First Publication Rights. PAYS: Royalty/share to be determined.
Contact editor for more information. RT: Approximately one month.
NOTES: "How fast each volume fills up will determine which volume
is published first and the exact schedule for each, though the
first of these will likely be produced before the end of the year
and the latter two will be produced in 2001." TIP(S): "For each
volume, do your research. Capture the location. Simply plunking a
horror story down in a suitable location is not enough. Reading
the story, I should know what it's like to stand in that locale:
sights, smells, people, etc." (SS)
URL: http://www.dm.net/~bahwolf/extremes2.htm
E-Mail:
Queries: brian_a_hopkins@sff.net
Submissions: lwpub@aol.com
MYSTERYNET.COM
----------------------------
MysteryNet.com 139 Townsend Street, #101, San Francisco, CA,
94107. (415) 284-5400. FAX: (415) 284-5401. Internet site
dedicated to everything mystery (includes TheCase.Com,
NancyDrew.Com, etc). FREQ: Weekly. NEEDS: Fiction -- mysteries
and mini-mysteries. Nonfiction -- articles, essays and interviews.
(MysteryNet's needs are quite diverse, please email
editor@mysterynet.com for their GL, and a truly in-depth
breakdown of what they're looking for). GL: Submit via postal,
email, or fax. Authors *must* complete and send in MysteryNet's
submission agreement form before submitting any work (inquire
with editor). If by postal or fax, use standard ms format. If by
email, include in body of email (*no* attachments accepted). All
submissions: include a 10-20 wd story "teaser", 20-30 wd author
bio, and publication info (i.e. has the story been published
before, where published, etc.). PAYS: $25-$1000/published piece,
depending on type, length, etc. RTS: Purchases all online rights.
Author retains copyright and can publish story with other
magazines, etc. Furthermore, if MYSTERYNET.COM sublicenses story
out to another website, author will receive 50% of that profit.
TIP: "Please follow the Writer's Guidelines when submitting a
mystery or essay to NancyDrew.com, TheCase.com, TheCase.com/Kids,
MysteryNet, or one of our other websites. If you have not done
so, please check our websites to see examples of what we are
looking for." FOLLOW-UP NOTE: "At this time we're not seeking new
submissions to NancyDrew.com or TheCase.com/Kids." (SS)
URL: http://www.mysterynet.com
GL: E-mail, write, or fax to request (briefly outline previous
writing experience)
E-Mail: editor@MysteryNet.com
CONTEST: INSCRIPTIONS MIDNIGHT CONTEST
------------------------------------
Inscriptions e-zine. Editor Pamela Wilfinger. The weekly e-zine
for professional writers is hosting a "midnight"
essay/poetry/short story contest. CIRC: 3K. WHAT TO DO: Write a
500 wd essay, poem or short story about midnight, aka 12 a.m. or
the "witching hour." All entries in English please. Entrants from
all over the world are welcome. Submissions accepted via email
*only* to Contest@inscriptionsmagazine.com. Paste directly into
body of e-mail and send with "Midnight Contest" in the subject
header. Enter as often as you like, but send one entry per email.
Include your real name, pen name (if applicable), mailing address
and email address at the bottom of the email. All entries must
also include a word count. Entries sent in other formats
(including attached files) or with the incorrect subject heading
or without the aforementioned items will be disqualified and your
chance for fame and glory will go down in flames. If you do not
receive confirmation of your entry within 48 hours, please resend
your entry. DEADLINE: January 21, 2000, 5pm EST. PRIZES: First
place: $50 Amazon.com gift certificate (or cash alternative) and
publication in Inscriptions. Second place: $30 gift certificate
to Amazon.com (or cash alternative) and publication in
Inscriptions. Third place: $20 gift certificate to Amazon.com (or
cash alternative) and publication in Inscriptions. Winners will
be announced in the February 6 weekend edition of Inscriptions.
(KM)
URL: http://www.inscriptionsmagazine.com
Email: Contest@inscriptionsmagazine.com
Please send market news to Sal Towse, towse@inkspot.com.
*****************************************************************
Ask The Experts
---------------
*** Please put "inklings question" in the subject header. ***
Judith Bowen (ROMANCE WRITER) JudithBowen@poboxes.com
David Breeden (POET) dbreeden@schreiner.edu
Charles Deemer (SCREENWRITER) charlesd@inkspot.com
Mark Fowler (LAWYER) askthelaywer@inkspot.com
Ken Jenks (ELECTRONIC PUBLISHER) MindsEye@tale.com
Ginger Knowlton (AGENT) agent@inkspot.com
Michelle Sagara (SF/FANTASY WRITER) Michelle.Sagara@sff.net
Lee Wardlaw (CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITER) lee@inkspot.com
Marcia Yudkin (FREELANCE WRITER) yudkin@inkspot.com
Columnists may be unable to reply privately to every message,
but will answer selected questions in future issues of Inklings.
Please keep your question BRIEF and send it to *one* columnist.
*****************************************************************
ASK THE SCREENWRITER
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Charles Deemer <charlesd@inkspot.com>
Is it standard practice to request a release form?
--------------------------------------------------
Q: My friend and I wrote a screenplay. After sending out a few
query letters, an agent requested to see the manuscript but asked
me to sign an "agreement evaluation" form first. Is this standard
practice?
You are referring to "a release form." Yes, the first time a
screenwriter reads such a document, s/he breaks out in sweats of
fear and trembling. It's like a pact with the devil: you seem to
be giving away everything and getting nothing in return. But
here's the rub. Signing a release form is standard procedure for
screenwriters who are not represented by an agent. If you don't
sign it, you won't get read; it's that simple. You can check the
generic release form at my website (www.screenwright.com) to see
if the one you are being asked to sign is even more horrific.
(The reason the terms are so open is because producers are
protecting themselves from being sued by writers, often without
cause since you can't copyright an idea, only its particular
expression.) My advice is: grin and bear it and sign the release
form.
How do I create my own style?
-----------------------------
Q: How do you write 'style' into a script? Will it ultimately
come across in the reading by prospective producers/directors?"
Given the minimalist rhetorical constraints of the screenplay,
creating a personal literary style is probably the screenwriter's
greatest challenge. I suggest you begin by looking at the genre
of your story -- and then match your rhetorical style to that
mood. In a light comedy, let your action writing be light as
well. In a swiftly paced action story, tell the action in
fragments, rather than full sentences, creating vertical movement
through the script. The style of the movie, of course, is the
director's concern, determined largely by cinematic concerns, but
you can go far in creating a "style" for the reader by letting
the genre of your story create the "voice" of your writing,
particularly your writing in the action element of the
screenplay.
**------------------------------------**
Charles Deemer is the author of "Screenwright: the Craft of
Screenwriting," which has been called "the bible of screenwriting
for the novice." Details at
http://www.teleport.com/~cdeemer/book/index.html
Also see the Screenwriters' and Playwrights' Discussion Forum:
http://writers-bbs.com/inkspot/threads.cgi?forum=screen
Copyright (c) 2000 Charles Deemer.
*****************************************************************
BY ANY OTHER NAME...WRITING UNDER A PSEUDONYM
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Moira Allen <moira@inkspot.com>
As a writer, you naturally want to make a name for yourself. But
what if that name isn't the one you were born with? Writing
under pseudonyms or "pen names" is a fine and honored tradition;
many of the greatest names in literature were "invented," and
many of today's bestselling authors use pseudonyms as well.
Should you?
The answer may depend on why you wish to do so. As with any
writing decision, there are good reasons and bad reasons to use a
pen name. Let's start with some of the bad reasons:
1) "I'd like something more exotic." This often involves an
assumption that editors (or readers) will be more "impressed" by
a more interesting name. They won't. Let your writing impress
them, and soon your name will be considered "impressive" in its
own right.
2) "I'd like a name that reflects my inner self." This depends
on who your inner self happens to be. While a name like "Merlin
Firecat" or "Lady Starshine" may reflect something deep within
you, it is likely to convey an impression of amateurism to an
editor. If you want a pseudonym, keep it professional.
3) "I don't want anyone to know that I'm the author." Most
editors have little tolerance for writers who want to "hide"
behind a false name. If you're presenting a controversial
opinion, you should be willing to defend it. If you're writing
in a genre you fear others won't respect, keep in mind that this
is their problem, not yours. And finally, if you're writing
material that you feel ashamed of, it's probably better to change
the material than to change your name.
4) "I don't want my relatives/friends/coworkers to know that I'm
writing about them." A pseudonym won't protect you from the
legal repercussions of writing about other people -- e.g., from
charges of slander or libel. Rather than disguise your own
identity, it would be wiser to thoroughly disguise the identities
of your subjects, so that no one will think you are writing about
"them" in the first place.
5) "No one will respect me because I'm a ------ (fill in the
blank)." The days of having to write under a male pseudonym
simply because you're a woman are long past. Today, there is no
need to call yourself "George Sand" when "Aurore Dupin" will do
just as well. Nor, theoretically, should you feel it necessary to
conceal your race, ethnicity, or culture behind a pseudonym.
However, your own experience may be the best determinant in this
regard.
There are also a number of very good reasons to use a pseudonym:
1) Your writing could interfere with other aspects of your
career. Sadly, some careers don't mix well with the writing life.
If you're a well-respected literature teacher by day and a
writer of torrid bodice-rippers by night, you may have good
reason to use a pseudonym. Many writers find a pen name to be an
excellent, and necessary, way to separate their writing careers
from their day jobs.
2) You write in more than one genre or field. Writers who have
tried to "cross genres" often find the results disappointing.
Agents and publishers also may prefer that a writer use different
names for different genres; Dean Koontz, for example, has used
several pseudonyms in the past (but no longer does so). Rather
than confusing your readership, it may be better to develop
separate and distinct followings.
3) You write in a genre that has "expectations" about its
authors. When was the last time you saw a romance novel by "Jake
Hammersmith" or a hard-core thriller by "Felicity Valentine"? In
certain genres, writers often prefer to conform to reader
expectations (or may be required to do so by their publishers).
4) You have a history of failure. More than one writer has
penned a series of flops, and gone on to write bestsellers under
a different name. If an editor or agent is likely to associate
your name with previous failures, it might be wise to try a
different moniker. Just don't try to reissue those "flops" after
your new name becomes successful!
5) You have the same name as an existing author. If your name is
Stephen King, Anne Rice, or J. D. Salinger, your publisher may
require you to "change" it to avoid confusion. Sometimes you can
get away with a variation on your name -- for example, by writing
as S. B. King or A. Gloria Rice (presuming those are actually
your middle names).
6) You are writing a collaborative work. Often, collaborative
authors will invent a pseudonym to convey the impression that a
book was written by a single author. For example, Robert
Silverberg and Randall Garrett collaborated under the name
"Robert Randall."
7) You are using a publisher's "house name." Some pseudonyms --
such as "V. C. Andrews" -- are owned by the publisher. In this
case, the pseudonym is generally a trademark. Authors who write
under such house names are usually creating works-for-hire (i.e.,
you won't be able to claim such a work under your own name at a
later time).
8) You hate your name. Under some circumstances, having a
"rotten" name can be reason enough to use a pseudonym. For
example, if your name is Lila Latrine or Barnaby Backhouse, you
might want a more literary nom de plume. The same might apply if
your name is difficult to pronounce or to spell (and therefore
difficult for readers to remember or "ask for" at the bookstore);
for example, Dennis Max Cornelius Woodruffe-Peacock sensibly
chose to write as "Max Peacock."
The Logistics of Pseudonyms
---------------------------
Often, writing under a pseudonym is as easy as putting the phrase
"writing as" on your manuscript. For articles, short stories,
and poetry, you can simply put your real name in the upper left
corner of your manuscript (or on the cover page), and list your
pen name as your byline beneath the title. However, to ensure
that your editor publishes the work under the "correct" name, you
may want to remind the editor in your cover letter that you are
"writing as" your pseudonym.
The Copyright Office offers several ways to register pseudonymous
works. The first, and safest, is to record your legal name under
"name of author," followed by your pseudonym (e.g., "Mary Smith,
writing as Marianne Carmichael"). You should also check "yes" to
the question, "Was this author's contribution to the work
pseudonymous?" If you don't wish to reveal your identity, you can
either provide your pseudonym only and identify it as such (e.g.,
"Marianne Carmichael, pseudonym") or leave the author space
blank. You can also use your pseudonym in the "copyright
claimant" line, though the Copyright Office warns that using a
fictitious name here could raise legal problems regarding
ownership of the copyright and suggests that you consult a lawyer
first.
Unfortunately, it is no longer as easy to keep your real name a
secret from your publishers. In the past, one could often use a
pseudonym for all editorial correspondence, and simply make an
arrangement with one's bank to have checks deposited under one's
pen name. Now, however, publishers are required to inform the
IRS (via Form 1099) of payments made to writers, which means that
they must have your social security number and your real name.
However, if you are using an agent, you may be able to handle
such payments through your agent and not reveal your identity to
publishers.
The final thing to keep in mind when using a pseudonym is that it
will not protect you from any legal action that might result from
your writing. A pseudonym has no existence as a "legal" entity;
no matter what name you put on your work, the ultimate
responsibility for that work always rests on you.
For more information on using pseudonyms:
Library of Congress Copyright Office -
http://www.loc.gov/copyright/circs/index.html#fl Go to this page
and look for "Pseudonyms," then click on the PDF link to download
the Copyright Office (Adobe Acrobat) fact sheet on using
pseudonyms. Or download the file directly by going to
http://www.lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/fls/fl101.pdf.
Speculations Feedback: Pen Names -
http://www.speculations.com/rumormill/topic49.htm
Some interesting discussion of the use of pen names in
speculative fiction.
To find out who wrote what:
Author Pseudonyms - http://www.myunicorn.com/pseudos.html
Author Pseudonyms: Sources -
http://www2.gol.com/users/steve/books/pseudsrc.htm
A list of links to various pseudonym lists and directories
Directories of Pseudonyms of Mystery and Suspense Writers -
http://www.hycyber.com/MYST/pseudo_dir.html
Historical Novel Authors Pseudonyms List -
http://www.uts.cc.utexas.edu/~soon/histfiction/pseudo.html
Pseudonyms (speculative fiction) -
http://ebbs.english.vt.edu/20th/etudes/swenson/pseudonyms.html
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Moira Allen is the Associate Editor of Inklings and Editor of
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She is also the author of "Writing.com: Creative Internet
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Copyright (c) 2000 Moira Allen.
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