pseudonymous writing

[Criseyde]

I really want to start a blog. I think it would be fun, I have a topic that I'm enthusiastic about, and I want to get started as a writer/produce a portfolio, for which a blog would suit fairly well.

I have a problem, though. There's someone who I know runs searches for me at least semi-regularly. I have to Google myself now and then to make sure that no forums or anything come up, because I know that this person will read my posts and try to cause trouble for me. I dread the day that face recognition searches become widespread.

So if I blog under my real name, a. said person will certainly read it (which is not necessarily bad, I guess), and b. I won't be able to link to it from here or any other forum, unless I'm okay with being found, and... I don't think I am.

I'm thinking about blogging under a pseudonym instead. But that's kind of... I don't know. I don't completely like it. It seems like it could make things complicated, and there's nothing wrong with my real name -- it's not especially common, it's not horrible, I don't feel embarrassed by the things I say, etc.

I thought about blogging under my mother's maiden name -- seems easy enough to connect to me, if I need to -- but it is looooooooooooong and hard to spell/pronounce, whereas my real name is easy.

Thoughts?

[Agota]

What's the worst that might happen if that person finds you?

..living in fear should really suck, maybe you can put an end to it somehow?

[Criseyde]

I don't know. It's hard to guess, and I doubt there's much I can do.

[Agota]

I'd really consider the worst possible outcomes and assuming you can deal with them, just ignoring the crazy person and not going out of your way.

You should ask others who have the actual freelance portfolios online, but I assume that a blog written under a nickname won't serve that purpose well. You'd probably be better off creating a website dedicated solely for freelancing, with the samples of your writing, biography and pictures aimed to one purpose: getting clients. That's from freelance writing perspective.

In case you actually want to write a blog, you can definitely use a pseudonym for it. I'm not sure whether you want to blog as a hobby or build a business, but I believe you could build a strong personal brand around a cool pseudonym. Just choose it wisely

However, in case you have mixed feelings about blogging under a pen-name, maybe you should really try to solve the issue with that crazy person? I believe even if you'd use your mother's maiden name, you would still be easily traceable, because once your blog gets going, I think some connection that will enable crazy person to find your blog will occur. Assuming you don't have something that is really worth hiding on the internet under your name, maybe you should just forget about that jackass?

[Agota]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

I thought about blogging under my mother's maiden name -- seems easy enough to connect to me, if I need to -- but it is looooooooooooong and hard to spell/pronounce, whereas my real name is easy.

I wonder is it more difficult to pronounce than my last name..

[poika]

perhaps you could use just your first name. this way you'll be able to use the blog for your portfolio when you need it, but it'll be hard(er) to find by googling your name.

and if you're planning to register a domain name for your blog then it might be a good idea to get the whois privacy service.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by Agota

I'd really consider the worst possible outcomes and assuming you can deal with them, just ignoring the crazy person and not going out of your way.

Yeah... the problem is that I really don't know what the worst possible outcome is.

You should ask others who have the actual freelance portfolios online, but I assume that a blog written under a nickname won't serve that purpose well. You'd probably be better off creating a website dedicated solely for freelancing, with the samples of your writing, biography and pictures aimed to one purpose: getting clients. That's from freelance writing perspective.

In case you actually want to write a blog, you can definitely use a pseudonym for it. I'm not sure whether you want to blog as a hobby or build a business, but I believe you could build a strong personal brand around a cool pseudonym. Just choose it wisely

I do actually want to write a blog. I first thought of the idea as a portfolio thing, but I really and honestly have something that I want to write about.

However, in case you have mixed feelings about blogging under a pen-name, maybe you should really try to solve the issue with that crazy person? I believe even if you'd use your mother's maiden name, you would still be easily traceable, because once your blog gets going, I think some connection that will enable crazy person to find your blog will occur. Assuming you don't have something that is really worth hiding on the internet under your name, maybe you should just forget about that jackass?

I don't feel capable of solving the issue. I've tried. I don't know if it's solvable. Sorry I'm being so cryptic, I don't like that either...

Originally Posted by Agota

I wonder is it more difficult to pronounce than my last name..

Your last name is only one letter longer.

[Agota]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Your last name is only one letter longer.

Oh my, I'm getting competition in unpronounceable last names department.. I will probably marry someone with another crazy last name and then keep my one and add my husbands name as well.. This way I'll be unbeatable!

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by poika

perhaps you could use just your first name. this way you'll be able to use the blog for your portfolio when you need it, but it'll be hard(er) to find by googling your name.

and if you're planning to register a domain name for your blog then it might be a good idea to get the whois privacy service.

That's a good idea, and one that I didn't consider. Do many people do that? It seems like most people blog under either an obvious alias or their full name...

Originally Posted by Agota

Oh my, I'm getting competition in unpronounceable last names department.. I will probably marry someone with another crazy last name and then keep my one and add my husbands name as well.. This way I'll be unbeatable!

My sister also suggested that I just change my legal name, heh.

[poika]

Originally Posted by Criseyde

That's a good idea, and one that I didn't consider. Do many people do that? It seems like most people blog under either an obvious alias or their full name...

i have no idea about the number of people, but i don't think it matters a lot. well my idea was that the blog address would either represent the topic (such as personaldevelopment.xxx) or be some made up name (like orangeclouds.xxx) and then you present yourself by your first name as the author.

[saige]

Hi Criseyde,

I think pseudonym in your case is a great idea. As you already know many writers use pseudonyms for various different reasons. Some even adopt a whole different persona along with the pseudonym.

However, in your case you don't have to feel like you will be adopting another persona at all. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. It can simply be just a pen name and nothing more.

If in the future your writing becomes recognised under your pen name this may create some issues. However for now, if a pen name is what you need to stop procrastinating and get started then go for it.

As for the name, check out some of the baby name websites, they are great resource for names. I am sure you'll find a few you really like and can connect with.

[Brutha]

I first thought of the idea as a portfolio thing, but I really and honestly have something that I want to write about.

Great.

So if I blog under my real name, a. said person will certainly read it (which is not necessarily bad, I guess), and b. I won't be able to link to it from here or any other forum, unless I'm okay with being found, and... I don't think I am.

If you link to the website with a service like bitly I don't think that reverse link lookups would allow someone to go back to this forum from your blog.

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by saige

Hi Criseyde,

I think pseudonym in your case is a great idea. As you already know many writers use pseudonyms for various different reasons. Some even adopt a whole different persona along with the pseudonym.

However, in your case you don't have to feel like you will be adopting another persona at all. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. It can simply be just a pen name and nothing more.

If in the future your writing becomes recognised under your pen name this may create some issues. However for now, if a pen name is what you need to stop procrastinating and get started then go for it.

As for the name, check out some of the baby name websites, they are great resource for names. I am sure you'll find a few you really like and can connect with.

Thank you for your input.

Originally Posted by Brutha

Great.
If you link to the website with a service like bitly I don't think that reverse link lookups would allow someone to go back to this forum from your blog.

YOU ARE A GENIUS!