Is it best to use a pen name or your real name on HP, and how easy is it to change your user name?
I am considering a change of name here on HP, and wondering what the implications would be. Has anybody done it, or have an opinion about it?
Once you have picked a pen name on HP, It is not allowed, nor are you able to change it. Whatever name we have chosen when we started HP, we are stuck with it. Unless you want to open another account.
I think it all depends on your goals on whether you use a pen name or your real name. I had a pen name here when I opened an account over two years ago. Since I published my book in January, I wanted to use my real name as I figured more people could find my hubs easier that way. I know that the rules state that you have to open a new account to change your name, but it wouldn't hurt to send HP an email and see if they will change it for you. The worse that can happen is they say "no" which doesn't change your position here at all. Right?
Thanks for the advice, Abby. I think it's probably easier to stick with what I have.
You can add your real name to the articles, poetry or the pictures you use that belong to you. Just say," Story by ???" I don't think you can change your user name.
You cannot change your name. I set up "Laura in Denver" as a pen name, but I don't live in Denver anymore!
I think it is fine to use your real name unless you plan to trash somebody or if you are embarrassed to use it for some reason. Anyway, once you set it and have your followers, you will be unable to change it without starting anew.
I think I get the picture, now. Looks like Imogen French is here to stay!
You can set up another account under a different name, but you can change your user name on your currently published hubs. I suppose that once you set up a new account, it would be possible to delete hubs published under your old name and republish under you new name, but it might cause more problems than it was worth.
I set up my original HP account under my real name after some thought of the pros and cons. My reasoning was that if I wrote for several writing sites and used my real name, then anyone doing a search for my name would (hopefully) find most of my writing. If I eventually publish a book, I will use my real name, too.
I also like to make connections with other people in the HP community, and I think that using my real name is friendlier. I know I find it easier to relate to someone if I believe I'm communicating with a real person.
There are also probably very good reasons to use a pen name. It's a matter of personal preference.
I chose to use my real name, all except for the number at the end, of course. I've been writing for a while and on one site I used part of my initials and have had a hard time remembering my user name there ever since.
Some authors have used a pen name from the beginning of their writing career and it would make more sense for them to continue in that vein.
I think what type of name you use depends on whether you hope to make money writing or not. I ran across a name here that was silly and I found that the hubs written were odd and even though the person had a lot of followers, none of them commented on his/her articles.
Yes, I think readers do take you more seriously if you use a real name. Thanks for your thoughts.
A Hub with Lots of Followers but No Comment is a Hub that 'is' being taken Seriously. Some Hub authors set their Hubs 'not' to receive any Comment.
Neither Real Name, Silly Name or Pen Name are attributes of a well written Hub that generates Money.
Hi Imogen French,
I think you cannot change your name here.. but what you can do is open a new account with a new name and shift your articles under that name... It would be some task to shift 69 articles along with the formatting.. .I suggest stick with this name unless you are really determined to change it...
Hey another suggestion, you can still put your real name under your assumed name... There is a tab given to do that.. So, if you visit my profile page, you will see both, assumed name and real name..
Regards,
Savio
thanks Savio, yes it does sound like too much trouble to change.
Some Hubbers prefer to use their real name on Hub Pages because the Hubber might have their fingers in other pies - pies that they want you to know about - pies in the community, pies that are globally welcoming (so to speak). The real name identifies which piece of the pie is theirs.
I prefer to use a Pen Name.
In my mind I Am creating a character based on a multifaceted human being, whereas using your real name is limiting.
In theory it means I can be in everybody's business and be opinionated about everything to do with HP - regardless of whether my opinion is needed, real or not.
In practice, time is of the essence - I ain't got the time, so I stick with my interests.
One of my Pen Names worked well when I was being highly critical, but it didn't work when I was being nice, so I created another Pen Name - a more neutral name (above).
Unless you know 'the letter and spirit of the law', HP Terms and Conditions is set like any other Ts & Cs in which 'you have to click' that you've read, understand and agree to all their Ts & Cs, each time you set up another account/username/pen name, so it's hard to say what the real implications are, as most of us don't know 'the letter and spirit of the law'.
If you do have more than one account, you cannot use them concurrently or have lots of windows open. You have to sign in and sign out to switch from one account/username/pen name to another one.
Many celebrities today, use their real name - which I think is just a fashionable trend and pastime. Many 'stars' of the 1920's - 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s used 'stage names'.
Authors use pseudonyms, screen writers will kill off one character and create others.
Gangs have street names.
Family members have pet names or nick names.
It's all relative so Go-Ahead and create a new name for yourself.
Thank You!
I pondered this, as well, and was a little hesitant about using my real name.
But since I also wanted a little attention for my children's book, and the name I used as author-- I thought it best to use that same name. One thing it does do, is to keep you on the high road when posting comments and opinions, for the sake of your wider reputation.
I understand that there are reasons for using a pseudonym, and that is fine, too.
by Erica Sanchez 11 years ago
What does your pen name mean and why did you choose it?Well My pen name is bellawritter23!Bella as we all know Beautiful in Italian....My grandfather would call me his niña bella, so it kind of stuck as I grew. Writter.... with a double tt because hubpages would not allow me to duplicate a pen name...
by Susan Zutautas 12 years ago
Pen name or real name?When replying to a comment and you know the authors real name do you use their real name or their pen name? Authors: Would you prefer people to use your real name when they know it or would you prefer them to use your pen name?
by Elizabeth Fairweather 7 years ago
What are your thoughts on this? I do use a pen name and I'm really torn about it. On the one hand it's convenient so that my private/public life are kept separate and I find I don't have to censor myself while writing. On the other hand, I sometimes wonder if I am not cheating...
by Geri McClymont 6 years ago
If you are a ghost writer (with a pen name), how do you go about defending your work when it is stolen?
by John Coviello 11 years ago
I am considering publishing a novel under a pen name. I'd like to set up author pages where it is published. Where can I find a legal photo of someone else that I can use as the image that goes with my pen name author profile? Thanks!
by William Benner 10 years ago
How many of you Authors use a pen name and why?I been thinking of using a pen name and was wondering how many Authors at HP use pen names.
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