Can you write under a pen name and if so, how do you get paid?
Steenie Harvey's answer ... her run-in with lunatics... and a
confession... below...
Lori Appling
Director, AWAI's Travel Division
P.S. You can meet Steenie Harvey, here:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tpi/countup1
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The Right Way to Travel
January 27, 2007
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STEENIE HARVEY'S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET: DEALING WITH LUNATICS... AND HOW
TO GET PAID IF YOU'RE USING A PEN NAME
By Steenie Harvey in Ireland
One question that surfaces a lot during our workshops is about
pen-names. I guess, I'd better 'fess up: Steenie Harvey is not my
real name. It's a figment of my imagination.
My real first name is boringly ordinary. (Not that you'll learn it
here - see my notes about lunatics below.) But when I started
freelancing 16 years ago, I was thoroughly pretentious. To me,
"Steenie" seemed more likely to catch an editor's eye than my own
name.
I soon realized that it's your work editors' buy -- not the name you
put on a cover sheet.
Even so, having a pen-name suits me. Here's why...
(continued below)
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COURTING CONTROVERSY... AND TROUBLE
You see, if you write anything controversial, you're almost begging
for trouble.
Of course, if you can justify the claims you've made, no writer should
be concerned about criticism. But unfortunately there's normal
criticism -- and abnormal criticism.
Of the zillions of lunatics roaming the world, a fair few read
"International Living" and the other publications I write for.
As you may know, I write for its print issue and website -- and I'm
forwarded all the psychotic rants. (Note: When Jennifer Stevens says
"try to imagine your reader and write to that person," I imagine Jack
Nicholson in "The Shining.")
A postcard about Scotland's Rosslyn Chapel carvings convinced one
crank that I'm the "Whore of Babylon."
Another snippet about the disgusting bus station toilets in Athens
resulted in an abusive spiel about my pampered ways. (It would have
been helpful if he'd explained how women can use squat toilets without
peeing over their trouser hems -- but he never did.)
Set out to deliberately provoke, and things get worse. I knew writing
about my bullfight lust was probably a mistake -- but the chance to
get IL's more politically-correct subscribers agitated was
irresistible.
My "Los Toros" postcard from Madrid brought tons of feedback. Many
readers loved it -- nobody dares mention bullfighting any more -- but
there were just as many squeals from infuriated animal lovers.
Apparently bullfighting is staged "only for the pleasure of warped
minds." Warped minds, huh? I adore causing outrage!
NOM DE PLUME: USEFUL IF YOUR READERS ARE AFTER YOU
Usually, if emails are in any way sensible, I reply via the
publication -- not my own address. Raving nutters always get ignored.
My advice is: Do the same -- and never make yourself too available to
readers. Before I got an unlisted number, one American woman tracked
me down by phone. It was creepy to think how much digging she must
have done. The original number -- in Ireland -- was actually listed
under my husband's name.
What next? I had a vision of animal activist maniacs arriving on the
doorstep, gleefully intent on chopping me into pieces. I know it
sounds paranoid, but if you're also a bull-fight enthusiast -- and
intend writing about it -- using a pen-name might be wise.
HOW TO GET PAID IF YOU USE A PEN NAME
Regarding pen-name practicalities, changing your name legally isn't
necessary. Your byline -- the name an article appears under -- can be
whatever you choose.
The bad news is that setting up a bank account in a nom de plume is
now quite difficult in most countries. (Things were far easier in
Ireland in 1988.)
What you should do is inform the editor that although checks must be
made payable to your real name, you wish articles to appear under a
pen-name. Some contracts even make provision for this.
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