Every so often I experience vague creative stirrings, which I am normally able to burn off successfully through sketching or writing. Since I don’t possess an overwhelming surfeit of talent in either sphere of expression, I mostly try to keep these pallid efforts to myself. However, recently I’ve been feeling an uncharacteristic need to bring some of my work to completion, and then inflict it indiscriminately upon innocent, unsuspecting people.
On the other hand, my entire existence is barely sustained by a thin tissue of lies, whereby I’ve managed to convince others that I’m not completely insane. This tenuous deception would be fatally compromised if those around me ever learned what really goes on inside my head. At the very least, they would look at me askance, and I get enough of that as it is with my penchant for words like ‘surfeit,’ ‘askance,’ and ‘penchant.’
Therefore, if possible, I’d like to set up a pseudonym of some sort, through which I could transact business, self-publish, submit work for review or competition, collect rejection notices, etc. What is the procedure to establish such an arrangement?
I just thought up a spiffy name and created an email address for it. I submit writing under the pseudonym, and if something is accepted for paid publication, I advise of my ‘real’ name. I usually submit to known venues as Real Name, writing as Fake Name, so they can pay the “real” me. I haven’t bothered to set up a bank account for my pseudonym.
I use my mother’s maiden name because my real name in unpronounceable. I’ve been using it for almost 20 years. It’s been my understanding that there is no law against using a pseudonym unless you do so for illegal purposes.
Savannah has it. Publishers don’t care what name you choose to use as your by-line (with the obvious exceptions of obscenity, similar to famous person, etc.) as long as they have a name and address to send the check to and report it to the IRS.
You can easily set up a bank account in both names, however, if you want to hide your real name entirely. And you can add names to your home address so that the USPS will deliver letters to that name. Just tell your local post office. If there are any other places to use the name, just tell them. It’s more common than you think.
As lissener says, nobody will blink an eye as long as you don’t do it for fraud and report all income to the IRS. Just set it up in any way that’s convenient for you.
The general procedure for pseudonyms on a manuscript is simple.
At the upper left corner of the first page of the manuscript, type the name and address where you want the check sent.
In the center of the first page, about halfway down, put the title of the piece and then, on the next line, “By Pseudonym.”
The check will go to your real name, and the story will be published under your pseudonym. Most authors who use pseudonyms do this. and no publisher will give you away if you follow this procedure.
As Exapno points out, you can open a personal bank account in any name, as long as you have a legitimate SSN to give the bank (unless the Patriot Act has banned that – you may have to provide ID now).