What's In A Name?

I've never been exactly happy with the name that my parents chose for me. After all, it's difficult to overcome a name that rhymes with "booty." So when I thought about creating a pen name for myself as an author, I figured it would be an easy task. Wrong!

At first I sat down with pencil and paper and began writing down all the ideas for pen names. I thought about Paige Turner, Louisa E. Anna, Pearl E. Gates, Amber Waves. I think you get the picture. I was getting nowhere fast.

Frustrated, I turned to the internet for ideas. I searched articles on "How to Choose A Pen Name" and "Why Choose A Pen Name" and, the best one of all, "The Pen Name Generator." Their advice was to choose a name that's in the middle of the alphabet so that our book is placed on the middle shelf in a bookstore. "You don't want your book located on the top shelf," one article noted. "Nor do you want your book located at the very bottom. After all, no one wants to bend down or reach on their tippy toes to choose a book. They just want to stand there and look at the middle shelves. It's easier."

Then there was the whole question of how long or short your name should be. "If it's too long," the article states,"people can't remember it. If it's too short or common, people won't remember it, either. Or worse, they will remember part of it and find another book with the same first or last name and take that book instead." Horrifying thought, let me tell you.

Some of you may be asking, "Why not just use our own name? Wouldn't that be better?" That's the tricky part. I read an article about a woman named Patricia O'Brien who had her book "The Dress" rejected 13 times. She changed her name to Kate Alcott and it was published. So, in her case, the name was very important. It made all the difference to the publishers.

For me, the plan is to write in different genres. My first book is a young adult, and I intend to write under my real name for this genre because I'm a middle school teacher, and I want my students to be able to find my books with ease. However, for my adult books, I don't think it's a good idea to use my real name as they may not be suitable for my preteen students. Using a pen name will differentiate between the two.

So, I ask you, what's in a name? Shakespeare said, "... a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I would have to agree with Shakespeare, but then look at his name. It's pretty catchy.

What's the secret to finding that perfect pen name that everyone will remember? A Pen Name Generator, of course!!! It's fast and easy! However, is it effective? Here's what popped up for me. I will let you be the judge.

Temple Drake
Grace Foster
Claire Hill
Zoe Miller
Lexie Michell
Sian Forest
Dawn Davis
Kate Stone

I would hope that I would be able to come up with a pen name by the time I finish my upcoming adult book. It's in the outline stage at this point. Meanwhile, I'm open for suggestions!!

______________________________

Trudy Edgeworth is a sixth-grade science teacher who lives in Rogers, Arkansas. She is married to the love of her life, Keith, and was blessed with four amazing children. Despite her busy schedule with her career as a teacher, she finds time to pursue her true passion ... writing. She is currently working on a fictional piece for young adults at the request of her students and plans to have it finished in May 2012.

______________________________